Tuning Overview: Open D Major 7 Add 9

This unique tuning, often praised as versatile for genres ranging from folk, country, and blues to more modern styles like midwest emo and skramz, creates a rich, full-bodied sound. The open strings resonate beautifully, immediately presenting a sophisticated D Major 7 (add 9) chord. This makes it particularly effective for drone playing, slide guitar, and easily accessible melodic lines over a consistent harmonic foundation.

Technical Analysis of the Open Strings

The specific notes for this tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string, are D2, F#3, C#4, E3, A3, C#5. Analyzing these notes reveals the harmonic structure:

• 6th String (D2): The root of the D chord.
• 5th String (F#3): The major third, giving the chord its major quality.
• 4th String (C#4): The major seventh, adding a rich, resonant quality.
• 3rd String (E3): The major second (or ninth), contributing to the extended harmony.
• 2nd String (A3): The perfect fifth, providing harmonic stability.
• 1st String (C#5): Another major seventh, an octave higher, reinforcing the Dmaj7 sound.

This arrangement allows for immediate access to Dmaj7 and Dmaj9 voicings simply by strumming the open strings. Sliding a single finger or bar across all strings at any fret will produce an analogous Major 7 (add 9) chord, making modal exploration and key changes very intuitive. Due to the inherent openness and the presence of the 3rd and 7th, other related chords like Dsus2 or even Dsus4 (by targeting the G note) can be easily formed by minor adjustments. Minor chords would require more deliberate fingering to flatten the F# to F natural.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBE)

To achieve this tuning from standard EADGBE, please follow these instructions carefully. All movements specified are tuning down, so exercise care to avoid over-loosening your strings. For strings requiring significant tuning changes, a different gauge string may be advisable, though all changes below are within a moderate range (within 4 semitones) for standard gauges.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones to F#2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone to C#3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#4.

Important Note on Octave Discrepancies: It's crucial to acknowledge a potential discrepancy between the semitone movements provided and the explicitly listed final notes for this tuning. When tuning from standard EADGBE according to the semitone movements above, the resulting notes for the 5th, 4th, and 1st strings (F#2, C#3, C#4 respectively) are an octave lower than what is specified in the full tuning notes (F#3, C#4, C#5). This suggests that either the original stringing might be non-standard (e.g., higher gauge for lower strings, or lighter gauge for higher strings to reach higher octaves with down-tuning instructions), or the tuning_notes represent the intended final sound regardless of the path. Always use a reliable chromatic tuner and refer to the precise target notes (D2, F#3, C#4, E3, A3, C#5) to ensure accurate tuning for your instrument.

Open String Notes:

• 6th String (Low E): D2
• 5th String (A): F3#
• 4th String (D): C4#
• 3rd String (G): E3
• 2nd String (B): A3
• 1st String (High E): C5#