Welcome to Adeeb Muhammed's Dark Cmaj9 Tuning, an open tuning designed to evoke a profound and resonant sound, as described in 'Adeeb Muhammed's theory of open tunings'. This tuning takes the rich harmonic landscape of a C major 9th chord and imbues it with an unusually deep and introspective character, truly living up to its name of being 'darker than dark'. It's perfect for players looking for a unique sonic palette for fingerstyle, atmospheric compositions, or slide guitar where complex harmonies can ring out with minimal effort.

Technical Breakdown:

• Open Notes: The strings are tuned to D2 G2 B2 G3 C4 E4.
• Harmonic Structure: When strummed open, these notes collectively form a full Cmaj9 chord (C E G B D). However, the specific arrangement of these notes across the fretboard creates a distinctive voicing:
  • String 6 (D2): The 9th of C, providing a deep, resonant foundation.
  • String 5 (G2): The 5th of C, reinforcing the chord's stability in the lower register.
  • String 4 (B2): The Major 7th of C, introducing a sophisticated, slightly unresolved tension.
  • String 3 (G3): Another 5th of C, creating a powerful octave drone or a rich unison with string 5.
  • String 2 (C4): The root of the chord, placed in a higher register to provide clarity and lead the harmony.
  • String 1 (E4): The Major 3rd of C, completing the core major tonality and adding brightness.
  The lowest note being D (the 9th) rather than C (the root) significantly contributes to the 'dark' and expansive feel, allowing the higher C and E to float above, creating a sense of openness and depth.

Chordal Possibilities:

• Open Chord: A full, rich Cmaj9 chord rings out effortlessly by simply strumming all open strings. This provides an immediate, lush harmonic foundation that is both complex and inviting.
• Movability: By barring all strings at a single fret, you can easily shift this Cmaj9 shape up or down the neck to access other major 9th chords. For instance, barring at the 2nd fret would yield a Dmaj9 chord, making it a highly versatile tuning for songwriting in various keys.
• Drones and Harmonics: The repeated Gs on strings 5 and 3 are excellent for creating drones and sustained notes, especially effective with fingerstyle playing or Ebows. This allows for a meditative or atmospheric quality. The close proximity of B2 and C4 (string 4 and 2) offers interesting opportunities for subtle dissonance and resolution within melodies and arpeggios.
• Related Chords: Given the open Cmaj9 structure, exploring inversions and partial voicings of C and G chords, as well as sus chords, becomes intuitive. For example, simply muting strings 6 and 4 (D and B) and playing G2-G3-C4-E4 would provide a strong Gsus4/C voicing, showcasing the flexibility for chord construction beyond the open tuning.

How to Tune:

To achieve Adeeb Muhammed's Dark Cmaj9 Tuning, begin from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust your strings as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A2 to G2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones from D3 to B2.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from G3 to G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitones from B3 to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from E4 to E4.

Note: All string adjustments are within a safe range for standard guitar string gauges, making this tuning accessible without needing to change your strings.