Tuning Analysis: Open D Minor 6th

This intriguing tuning for the Guitar, named "Open D Minor 6th," is described as a "more sophisticated open d minor." It presents a unique harmonic landscape that, upon closer technical inspection, reveals a rich sound perfect for various musical genres.

Verbal Analysis

Imagine a deep, resonant foundation with bright, shimmering higher notes. This tuning immediately evokes a sense of openness and harmonic richness. Strumming the open strings will yield a full, ringing chord, making it very accessible for songwriting and improvisation. The open voicing provides a clear harmonic starting point, often lending itself well to slide guitar, fingerpicking, and creating drones. Its sophisticated nature suggests a departure from standard open tunings, offering new voicings and melodic possibilities that can inspire fresh musical ideas.

Technical Analysis

The target notes for this tuning are D2, F#3, D3, F#4, A3, B3. When these notes are stacked, they form the intervals D (root), F# (major third), A (perfect fifth), and B (major sixth). This technically creates a D Major 6th chord (D-F#-A-B) across the open strings, rather than a D minor 6th (which would require an F natural). Therefore, while named "Open D Minor 6th," the harmonic content of the open strings is actually a D Major 6th chord, which adds to its unique character.

The open string configuration (D-F#-D-F#-A-B) provides a powerful and full D Major 6th voicing. The repeated D and F# notes across different octaves add density and sustain, creating a chime-like quality and a wide harmonic spread.

Chordal Possibilities

• Open D Major 6th: Strumming all open strings instantly gives you a beautiful, resonant D Major 6th chord. This makes it incredibly easy to establish the key and creates a strong harmonic base.
• Barre Chords: Due to the consistent interval structure across the strings, you can easily create other Major 6th chords by simply barring all strings at a higher fret. For example, barring at the 2nd fret would yield an E Major 6th (E-G#-E-G#-B-C#). This makes transposing very straightforward and enables easy movement up and down the neck.
• Modal Play: The open D Major 6th provides a strong foundation for exploring various modes. The B as the 6th creates a natural Dorian or Aeolian (minor) flavour if you lean on the A (5th), or Lydian-Dominant if you emphasize the F# (Major 3rd) against the D root.
• Drone Bass: The low D string (D2) provides an excellent, deep drone note, allowing higher melodic lines and chords to be played over a stable bass, enhancing texture and depth.

Target Tuning Notes

Here are the specific notes for each string in this tuning, from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st):

• 6th String (Low E): D2
• 5th String (A): F#3
• 4th String (D): D3
• 3rd String (G): F#4
• 2nd String (B): A3
• 1st String (High E): B3

How to Tune

To achieve the "Open D Minor 6th" tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, adjust your strings as follows. Please take care, especially with significant changes:

• 6th String (Standard E2 to D2): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 5th String (Standard A3 to F#3): Tune down 3 semitones.
• 4th String (Standard D3 to D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (Standard G4 to F#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
• 2nd String (Standard B3 to A3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 1st String (Standard E4 to B3): Tune down 5 semitones.
  ⚠️ Caution: Tuning down 5 semitones is a significant change. If this feels too loose or difficult to achieve with your current string gauge, consider using a heavier gauge string to maintain proper tension and tone.