The D# Minor 7th Open Tuning is a compelling and harmonically rich guitar setup. It's best understood as a standard DAFGCE tuning that has been transposed up a semitone, as if a capo were placed on the first fret. This transposition elevates the entire sonic landscape, providing a brighter, sharper tonality that can inspire fresh musical ideas or accommodate specific vocal ranges that sit a half-step higher.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to D#3, A#3, F#4, G#4, C#5, F4 (from the low E to the high E string). Analysing the intervals, we find a consistent pattern mirroring the DAFGCE tuning, but a half-step higher:

• 6th String (D#3) to 5th String (A#3): Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
• 5th String (A#3) to 4th String (F#4): Minor 6th (8 semitones)
• 4th String (F#4) to 3rd String (G#4): Whole Step (2 semitones)
• 3rd String (G#4) to 2nd String (C#5): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
• 2nd String (C#5) to 1st String (F4): Major 3rd (4 semitones)

The most striking feature of this tuning is the robust open chord it presents. The notes D# (root), F# (minor 3rd), A# (perfect 5th), and C# (minor 7th) combine to form a clear D# minor 7th chord. Additionally, the G# acts as an 11th (perfect 4th from D#), and the F (on the high E string) functions as a minor 9th (or b9) relative to D#, resulting in a sophisticated D#m7(b9, add11) voicing when strummed open. This complex harmony allows for incredibly full and evocative open strumming, making it an excellent choice for blues, jazz, or experimental genres.

Because this tuning is essentially a direct transposition of DAFGCE, guitarists familiar with DAFGCE can easily adapt, applying their existing knowledge of chord shapes and melodic patterns, simply playing them a semitone higher.

How to Tune

To achieve the D# Minor 7th Open Tuning, start from standard EADGBE tuning (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4) and adjust each string as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitone to A#3.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 4 semitones to F#4. Caution: Tuning up by 4 semitones places significant tension on the string. For prolonged use or if your guitar is not suited for high tension, consider using a lighter gauge string for this position to prevent potential damage.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 1 semitone to G#4.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones to C#5.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 1 semitone to F4.

Always tune carefully and ensure your instrument can handle the altered string tension. Exceeding a change of 4 semitones (up or down) from standard tuning typically suggests that a different string gauge might be more appropriate.

The open string notes for this tuning are:

• 6th String: D3#
• 5th String: A3#
• 4th String: F4#
• 3rd String: G4#
• 2nd String: C5#
• 1st String: F4