This is the Open D Sharp Minor 9 tuning for Guitar, a 'super neat tuning in a minor 9 chord' as described. It provides a rich, full minor 9 sound with all open strings, offering immediate harmonic depth and unique voicing possibilities.

Verbal Analysis

Imagine a deep, melancholic yet sophisticated sound that rings out with a single strum. That's the essence of Open D Sharp Minor 9. This tuning is designed to resonate a full D# minor 9 chord (D#, F#, A#, C#, E#) right out of the open strings, making it incredibly expressive for atmospheric pieces, blues, jazz-influenced music, or anything requiring a rich, complex minor tonality. The open chord quality means you can easily create drone effects, intricate arpeggios, and percussive rhythms without constantly fretting complex shapes. The doubling of the A# (perfect fifth) on the top two strings adds a brilliant shimmer and sustain, reinforcing the chord's stability and resonance.

Because the open strings form a complete D# minor 9 chord, slide guitar techniques will sound fantastic, effortlessly gliding through the minor 9 harmony. Standard minor 7 shapes will also be easily accessible by simply fretting a single string to create a different minor 7 chord. Experimenting with capos will unlock this tuning in other minor 9 keys, offering a new palette of sounds across the fretboard.

Technical Analysis

The Open D Sharp Minor 9 tuning for Guitar sets the strings to the following notes, from lowest (6th) to highest (1st): D3#, F3#, C4#, F3, A4#, A4#.

• 6th String (D3#): This is the Root of the D# minor 9 chord.
• 5th String (F3#): This provides the Minor Third (m3) of the chord, giving it its minor quality.
• 4th String (C4#): This is the Minor Seventh (m7), adding the characteristic dominant 7th flavor to the minor chord.
• 3rd String (F3): This note serves as the Major Ninth (M9) of D# (E#). It's voiced an octave lower than the M9 would typically appear in a close-voiced chord, adding to the tuning's unique spread and depth.
• 2nd String (A4#): This is the Perfect Fifth (P5), providing harmonic stability.
• 1st String (A4#): This also provides the Perfect Fifth (P5), an octave above the 2nd string, enriching the chord's upper register and sustain.

The open string notes D#3, F3, F#3, C#4, A#4, A#4, when arranged in ascending order, form the complete D# minor 9 chord: D# (Root), F (Major 9th/E#), F# (Minor 3rd), A# (Perfect 5th), C# (Minor 7th). This specific voicing with the major 9th on the third string (F3) and the minor seventh on the fourth string (C4#) creates a rich, full, and slightly dissonant (in a good way) harmonic cluster, perfect for intricate melodic and harmonic work.

This tuning naturally lends itself to a variety of chord shapes based around the open D# minor 9. Simple barre chords or two-finger shapes can easily create variations or related chords:

• D#m7: By muting or avoiding the 3rd string (F3/M9), you can easily achieve a powerful D#m7.
• Related Minor Chords: Moving a minor 9 shape up or down the neck as a single unit (e.g., with a slide or barre) will yield other minor 9 chords.
• Suspended Chords: By slightly altering a few strings, you could quickly access suspended voicings, e.g., by raising the minor third to a perfect fourth.
• Power Chords: Simple two-note power chords are easily found on the lower strings, offering a strong rhythmic foundation.

Tuning Notes for Open D Sharp Minor 9

Here are the target notes for each string, from the thickest (6th) to the thinnest (1st):

• 6th String: D3# (D sharp, 3rd octave)
• 5th String: F3# (F sharp, 3rd octave)
• 4th String: C4# (C sharp, 4th octave)
• 3rd String: F3 (F natural, 3rd octave)
• 2nd String: A4# (A sharp, 4th octave)
• 1st String: A4# (A sharp, 4th octave)

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Open D Sharp Minor 9 tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these specific string adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone from E to D3#.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 3 semitones from A to F3#.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 1 semitone from D to C4#.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones from G to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone from B to A4#.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 6 semitones from E to A4#.

Important Tuning Advisory:

Please exercise caution when adjusting your guitar's tuning. While most of the string movements for this tuning are relatively minor, the 1st string requires a significant drop of 6 semitones (a tritone).

• String Gauge Recommendation: For any string being tuned down by more than 4 semitones (or up by more than 4 semitones), it is generally advised to consider using a different gauge string. Tuning the 1st string down by 6 semitones may result in a very loose string with reduced tension, potentially affecting playability, intonation, and tone. If you plan to use this tuning frequently, a heavier gauge for the 1st string might provide better results and stability.
• Always use a reliable electronic tuner for accuracy.
• Tune slowly and carefully to avoid putting undue stress on your guitar neck or breaking strings.
• After tuning, check the intonation, especially if using a new string gauge or if the tuning changes significantly.