Verbal Analysis

This tuning, named "C Minor 9th Open Tuning," presents a rich and complex sonic landscape. As described in its origin, it's a "fix" that transforms a potentially dissonant setup into something quite deliberate and expressive. The open strings resonate with a deep, melancholic, yet sophisticated character, immediately suggesting genres like jazz, blues, contemporary classical, or even certain styles of metal and ambient music. The presence of a root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and ninth (C, Eb, G, Bb, D) creates an inherent harmony that allows for full, lush voicings with minimal effort. It invites exploration of smooth chord progressions and evocative melodic lines, making open-string strumming immediately gratifying and harmonically interesting.

Technical Analysis

The tuning establishes the open notes as D2-G2-C3-G3-A#4-D#5 (low to high). Interpreting A# as Bb and D# as Eb, the notes are D-G-C-G-Bb-Eb. This configuration strongly outlines a C minor 9th chord (C-Eb-G-Bb-D) across the open strings. The C string (4th string) acts as a powerful root, supported by its perfect fifth G (5th and 3rd strings) and the minor third Eb (high E string, D#5). The Bb (B string, A#4) provides the minor seventh, while the D (low D string, D2) adds the 9th, creating a full and harmonically sophisticated texture.

• Intervalic Relationships (from low D):
  • D2 to G2: Perfect 4th (+5 semitones)
  • G2 to C3: Perfect 4th (+5 semitones)
  • C3 to G3: Perfect 5th (+7 semitones)
  • G3 to A#4 (Bb4): Minor 3rd (+3 semitones)
  • A#4 (Bb4) to D#5 (Eb5): Perfect 4th (+5 semitones)
• Open Chords: Strumming all open strings will produce a rich C minor 9th chord.
• Fingering Opportunities: The two G strings (5th and 3rd) and the C string (4th) provide a strong foundation for moving common chord shapes. Barre chords can be easily adapted to create various inversions or extensions of C minor 9th, C minor 7th, or even related dominant 7th chords (e.g., G7, F7) with proper root manipulation. The consistent Perfect 4th interval between the lowest three strings (D-G-C) makes for familiar bass line patterns and allows for powerful, low voicings. The high A# and D# strings, being relatively close in pitch (Bb-Eb, a perfect 4th), offer a bright, jazzy top end to chords and melodic runs.

How to Tune

To achieve the C Minor 9th Open Tuning (D-G-C-G-A#-D#), follow these steps carefully. Please note that significant changes in string tension may require professional setup or lighter gauge strings, especially if moving beyond +/- 4 semitones. While the individual string movements below are within this range, the higher absolute pitches for the top two strings (A#4 and D#5) might imply lighter gauges were already in use or are recommended.

• 6th String (Low E): To achieve D2, Tune down 2 semitones.
• 5th String (A): To achieve G2, Tune down 2 semitones.
• 4th String (D): To achieve C3, Tune down 2 semitones.
• 3rd String (G): To achieve G3, Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 2nd String (B): To achieve A#4, Tune down 1 semitones.
• 1st String (High E): To achieve D#5, Tune down 1 semitones.

6th String: D2

5th String: G2

4th String: C3

3rd String: G3

2nd String: A#4

1st String: D#5