EACEGBE Guitar Tuner

EACEGBE Am9 - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Am9

A 7-string guitar tuning that splits the normal D string into 2 strings, C and E. This tuning provides several linear barre chord shapes to work from across the fingerboard. Scale tones are within easy reach of these barres. The open strings make a nice, lush chord.

This is a unique and lush 7-string guitar tuning, internally named "Am9", designed to unlock a rich harmonic landscape and facilitate specific chord voicings. The open strings themselves form a beautiful A minor 9 chord (E-A-C-E-G-B-E), providing a resonant foundation for compositions.

Verbal Analysis

The "Am9" tuning transforms a standard 7-string setup into a highly musical and ergonomic configuration. The original description notes that it effectively "splits the normal D string into 2 strings, C and E," which highlights a fundamental re-voicing of the guitar's middle range. By significantly raising the lower strings, it brings the low E (string 7) to an open E2, and the A string (string 6) to A2. This re-arrangement creates a fascinating set of intervals across the middle of the neck, leading to an easy grasp of linear barre chord shapes and ensuring that scale tones are within easy reach of these barres.

The open Am9 chord offers a dark, sophisticated, and ambient quality, perfect for jazz, progressive rock, or emotive soundscapes. Soloing and melodic lines also benefit, as scale tones and arpeggios are often within a short reach of these primary barre positions, making complex voicings more accessible. The tuning provides several linear barre chord shapes to work from across the fingerboard, enhancing playability and harmonic possibilities.

Technical Analysis

The open tuning notes are: E2-A2-C3-E3-G3-B3-E4.
The intervals between the strings are as follows (from low to high):

String 7 (E2) to String 6 (A2): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
String 6 (A2) to String 5 (C3): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
String 5 (C3) to String 4 (E3): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
String 4 (E3) to String 3 (G3): Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
String 3 (G3) to String 2 (B3): Major 3rd (4 semitones)
String 2 (B3) to String 1 (E4): Perfect 4th (5 semitones)

This unique intervallic structure creates an open voicing of an A minor 9 chord (A-C-E-G-B), with the lowest E (String 7) acting as a resonant pedal tone or the 5th of A minor. Specifically, strings 6 through 2 (A2-C3-E3-G3-B3) directly spell out an Am9 chord. The concentration of minor and major thirds in the middle strings (C3-E3-G3-B3) suggests easy fingerings for various 7th chords. For instance, an open barre across strings 5-4-3-2 would yield a Cmaj7 (C-E-G-B), an E minor 7 (E-G-B-C, with C as a b5 or b13), or a G major 7 with a B in the bass (G-B-C-E). Shifting these shapes up the fretboard allows for quick access to various maj7, min7, and dominant 7 voicings, making this tuning highly versatile for harmonic exploration and chord melody playing. The doubled E notes (E2, E3, E4) also add a rich, ringing quality.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Am9" tuning from a standard 7-string tuning (typically B-E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these specific adjustments for each string. Please pay close attention to the number of semitones and consider string gauge recommendations for significant movements.

String 7 (Lowest String): Tune up 5 semitones from B2 to E2. (Recommendation: Tuning up 5 semitones is a substantial change. To ensure proper tension, prevent breakage, and maintain optimal playability, a lighter gauge string is highly advisable for this string.)
String 6: Tune up 5 semitones from E2 to A2. (Recommendation: Tuning up 5 semitones is a substantial change. A lighter gauge string is highly advisable for this string to prevent excessive tension and potential issues.)
String 5: Tune up 3 semitones from A2 to C3.
String 4: Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
String 2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to B3.
String 1 (Highest String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.