Tuning Analysis: B9 Dominant Open Tuning

This unique tuning, born from a creative exploration of intervals within a 'near standard' framework, unlocks a rich sonic landscape. It's a fantastic tuning for players looking to delve into blues, jazz, or even ambient styles, offering a lush and full sound that resonates beautifully. The player's original intention of finding 'cool intervals' has resulted in a truly inspiring open voicing.

Verbal Analysis

Striking all strings open immediately reveals a vibrant and complex B9 chord, giving this tuning an incredibly resonant and harmonically complete feel. It's designed for open, ringing sounds, making it ideal for slide guitar, fingerstyle playing, or creating expansive soundscapes with minimal effort. The blend of lowered strings around a few standard ones provides a unique tension and character, moving away from conventional voicings while retaining a familiar anchor on the A and B strings.

This tuning encourages exploration beyond traditional chord shapes. You'll find yourself discovering new melodic possibilities and voicings that are either difficult or impossible to achieve in standard tuning. The inherent B9 chord lends itself to creating soulful blues licks, sophisticated jazz progressions, or deeply atmospheric pieces. The slightly lowered pitch on most strings also gives a slacker, more relaxed feel, contributing to its warm resonance.

Technical Analysis

• Open Chord Voicing: The most striking feature is the full B9 chord (B, D#, F#, A, C#) that rings out when all six strings are played open. This makes it incredibly easy to establish a B dominant harmony for rhythm or lead work.
• Intervals (relative to B, the root of the open chord):
  • String 6 (D#3): Major 3rd
  • String 5 (A2): Minor 7th
  • String 4 (C#4): Major 9th (or Major 2nd)
  • String 3 (F#4): Perfect 5th
  • String 2 (B3): Root
  • String 1 (D#5): Major 3rd (octave higher)
• Chord Possibilities:
  • Beyond the open B9, you can easily imply B7 or B major chords by simply manipulating a few notes.
  • The presence of D# (string 6 & 1), F# (string 3), and A (string 5) forms a D# diminished triad (D# F# A), which can be explored as a passing chord or for darker sounds.
  • Chords related to B, D#, F#, A, C# will naturally resonate well, making it suitable for progressions that involve these tones. Simple barre chords higher up the neck will reveal new, surprising voicings.
• Scale Implications: The open strings predominantly feature notes from the B Mixolydian mode (B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A). This strong dominant character is excellent for improvisation in blues and jazz idioms over B7 or B9 chords, as well as for creating vibrant, modal melodies.

Open String Notes & How to Tune

Here are the open notes for the B9 Dominant Open Tuning, along with instructions on how to adjust your guitar from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning.

Please be mindful of string tension when tuning. All string movements here are minor (only 1 semitone down for most strings), so a change of string gauge is not necessary. However, always tune carefully and gradually.

Open Notes:

• String 6 (Low E): D#3
• String 5 (A): A2
• String 4 (D): C#4
• String 3 (G): F#4
• String 2 (B): B3
• String 1 (High E): D#5

How to Tune from Standard E-A-D-G-B-E:

• String 6 (E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#3.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 1 semitones to C#4.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitones to F#4.
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at B3.
• String 1 (E): Tune down 1 semitones to D#5.