Tuning Analysis: Open Ab6/F or F Minor 7

Verbal Analysis

This sophisticated tuning, known as "open ab6/F or f minor 7," unlocks a rich and evocative harmonic landscape on your guitar. The open strings immediately form either an F minor 7 chord (F-Ab-C-Eb) or an Ab6 chord (Ab-C-Eb-F), with the C note serving as the lowest bass tone. This creates a deep, resonant quality that lends itself beautifully to genres like jazz, blues, R&B, and certain styles of progressive or atmospheric music. The inherent minor 7th / 6th voicing provides a ready-made complex harmony, allowing players to focus on melodic development and intricate chord voicings with minimal effort. The strategic duplication of the D# (Eb) and G# (Ab) notes across octaves adds a natural shimmer and harmonic density, making arpeggiated figures particularly lush and sustained chords exceptionally full.

Technical Analysis

The 'open ab6/F or f minor 7' tuning deviates significantly from standard EADGBe, with all strings tuned down. The open notes from low to high are D#3, G#3, C3, F3, G#4, D#5. When analyzed, these notes (C, D#, F, G# – or C, Eb, F, Ab using enharmonic equivalents) clearly define an F minor 7 chord (F-Ab-C-Eb) or an Ab6 chord (Ab-C-Eb-F). The tuning is characterized by its intervallic structure: the lowest D#3 and the fourth string C3 are a major 6th apart, while the fourth string C3 and third string F3 form a perfect fourth. The third string F3 and the fifth string G#3 (Ab3) form an augmented second (or minor third). Notably, the G# (Ab) note is present on both the 5th and 2nd strings, separated by an octave, while the D# (Eb) is found on the 6th and 1st strings, also an octave apart. All strings are tuned down, which will generally result in a slightly lower string tension, potentially aiding in bends and vibrato, though it remains well within limits that do not typically necessitate a change in string gauge.

Chord Opportunities and Playability

The most striking feature of this tuning is the open F minor 7 or Ab6 chord available by simply strumming all six strings. This provides an instant foundation for songwriting and improvisation in the associated keys. Barring across various frets will naturally yield transpositions of this chord or related minor 7th and 6th voicings, opening up a wealth of harmonic possibilities with simple finger shapes. For example, a single finger barring the 3rd or 4th fret could create new, complex chords with ease. The duplicated notes (D#/Eb and G#/Ab) facilitate drone notes and allows for creative voicing by omitting certain strings while still maintaining the core harmony. The relatively close intervals between some of the lower strings (e.g., C3 to F3) also make it easy to craft bluesy or jazzy dominant and minor seventh voicings with minimal fretting.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'open ab6/F or f minor 7' tuning, adjust your guitar strings as follows. All string movements are moderate and generally within safe limits for standard string gauges (tuning down 4 semitones or less).

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#3.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 3 semitones to G#4.
• String 1 (High e): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.

String 6 (D#3): As the lowest D# (Eb) in the tuning, this string provides a deep, foundational bass note, contributing to the richness and depth of the open F minor 7 or Ab6 chord.

String 5 (G#3): Tuned to G# (Ab), this string supplies a crucial minor third or fifth interval, reinforcing the harmonic identity and serving as the lower octave of the duplicated G# note.

String 4 (C3): This is the absolute lowest note in the tuning. C3 provides a strong root or fifth, creating a solid and resonant base that can imply a C minor context or support the F minor 7 chord with an inverted feel.

String 3 (F3): Tuned to F, this string delivers the root of the F minor 7 chord, serving as a clear melodic and harmonic center for the open tuning and subsequent chordal explorations.

String 2 (G#4): An octave higher than String 5, this G# (Ab) provides a shimmering, bright repetition of the minor third, adding sparkle, fullness, and harmonic density to the overall sound.

String 1 (D#5): The highest string, tuned to D# (Eb), completes the upper voicing of the F minor 7 or Ab6 chord. It offers a clear, bright top note that extends the harmonic range and adds a final polish to the open sound.