Overview: Jacob Collier's Signature Harmony

This intriguing guitar tuning, affectionately known as "Jacob Collier's D#m6 Open," is inspired by the innovative setups the renowned musician uses in many of his compositions. While the tuning's name in the source JSON, D A E A B E Capo 1st fret, suggests a target sound with a capo on the 1st fret, the actual physical open string notes are D# A# F A# B F. This creates a rich and unique harmonic landscape, especially when considering the optional capo.

Technical Analysis: D# Minor 6th Foundations

Without a capo, the open strings are tuned to D#3, A#3, F3, A#4, B3, F4 (from low E to high E string). An immediate harmonic analysis reveals that these notes collectively form a D# minor 6th chord (D# - F - A# - B).

• The 6th string (D#3) serves as the root.
• The 5th string (A#3) provides a perfect 5th above the root.
• The 4th string (F3) establishes a minor 3rd, giving the tuning its melancholic minor quality.
• The 3rd string (A#4) reinforces the perfect 5th, an octave higher, adding sparkle.
• The 2nd string (B3) introduces the major 6th, a characteristic interval that provides a sophisticated and somewhat jazzy color.
• The 1st string (F4) completes the harmony with another minor 3rd, an octave higher.

This arrangement with repeated notes at different octaves creates a full, resonant open chord that is both lush and emotionally deep. The presence of the major 6th lends itself to complex harmonic textures.

Playing Style & Chords: Open Harmony and Capo Potential

This tuning is exceptionally well-suited for fingerstyle guitar, creating beautiful, ringing arpeggios and drones without much effort. The open D# minor 6th chord can serve as a rich foundation for compositions in D# minor or related modes. Barring across all strings at any fret will instantly yield a minor 6th chord (e.g., barring at the 1st fret produces an E minor 6th chord). The proximity of certain notes (e.g., A# on 5th and 3rd strings, F on 4th and 1st strings) also opens up possibilities for interesting voicings and melodic lines.

When a capo is applied at the 1st fret, the effective open notes transform into E3, B3, F#3, B4, C4, F#4. This shifted harmony creates an E-centric sound that features a perfect 5th (B), a major 9th (F#), and a minor 6th (C). This resulting chord (Eadd9(no3)add13 or E B F# C) is highly evocative, leaning into modern jazz and experimental soundscapes, perfect for ethereal textures and complex chordal arrangements, truly embodying Jacob Collier's innovative approach to harmony. While not the D A E A B E implied by the original tuning name, this E B F# B C F# configuration offers its own unique and equally compelling palette.

Current Open String Notes (Without Capo)

• 6th String (Low E): D#3
• 5th String (A): A#3
• 4th String (D): F3
• 3rd String (G): A#4
• 2nd String (B): B3
• 1st String (High E): F4

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the "Jacob Collier's D#m6 Open" tuning, adjust your guitar strings from standard EADGBe tuning as follows. Please tune carefully and consult a digital tuner.

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone from E to D#.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitone from A to A#.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 3 semitones from D to F. (Exercise caution: this is a significant tension increase).
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 3 semitones from G to A#. (Exercise caution: this is a significant tension increase).
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from B to B.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 1 semitone from E to F.

Important Tuning Considerations:Generally, tuning a string up or down by more than 4 semitones from its standard pitch can put excessive stress on the string and your instrument, and in such cases, a different gauge string is often advised. For this tuning, the 4th and 3rd strings are tuned up by 3 semitones, which is at the upper end of recommended tension increases. While generally safe, proceed with care and monitor your guitar's neck relief.