EAECDGAD Guitar Tuner

EAECDGAD Open C6/9 Tuning, Dean Murphy. - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open C6/9 Tuning, Dean Murphy.

This tuning is used in Dean Murphy's song Adirondack Monorail.

The Adirondack C6/9 tuning, inspired by Dean Murphy's song 'Adirondack Monorail', offers an expansive and richly resonant soundscape for the 8-string guitar. This unique open tuning creates a lush harmonic foundation, perfect for atmospheric compositions, fingerstyle arrangements, or adding depth to rhythm playing. It's designed to provide a full C6/9 chord with open strings, making it incredibly versatile for a wide array of musical expressions.

Technical Analysis

The open strings of this 8-string tuning are: E1, A1, E2, C3, D3, G3, A3, D4 (from lowest to highest). At its heart, this tuning is a magnificent Open C6/9 chord. Let's break down the components:

Root (C): Provided by C3.
Major Third (E): Found at E1 and E2, adding strong fundamental harmony.
Perfect Fifth (G): Present at G3, reinforcing the chordal structure.
Major Sixth (A): Provided by A1 and A3, defining the '6' in C6/9.
Major Ninth (D): Found at D3 and D4, adding the rich '9' extension.

The tuning features octave doublings (E1/E2, A1/A3, D3/D4) which contribute significantly to its thick, resonant, and bell-like quality. The intervals between adjacent strings are varied, creating interesting voicings:

E1 to A1: Perfect 4th
A1 to E2: Perfect 5th
E2 to C3: Minor 6th
C3 to D3: Major 2nd
D3 to G3: Perfect 4th
G3 to A3: Major 2nd
A3 to D4: Perfect 4th

The combination of perfect intervals and colorful seconds and minor sixths allows for both harmonic stability and melodic potential.

Chordal Possibilities

Strumming all open strings immediately gives you a full, ringing C6/9 chord, which is fantastic for drones or as a foundational voicing. Beyond the open chord:

Barre Chords: By simply barring across any fret, you can easily transpose the C6/9 chord up or down the neck, creating instant C#6/9, D6/9, and so on, maintaining the rich harmonic character.
Related Chords: The presence of C, E, G, A, and D makes it easy to form related chords. For example, by fretting an F on C3 (or finding an F elsewhere), you could imply an Fmaj7 or Fmaj9 over the C root. The D notes (D3, D4) and G (G3) facilitate easy access to G major or D major-family chords with minimal movement.
Minor Voicings: With the open C and E, minor chords (like Am or Em) can be crafted by manipulating other strings, offering a melancholic contrast to the bright open sound.
Bass Foundation: The deep E1 and A1 strings provide a powerful bass range, allowing for a full and rich accompaniment even with minimal fretting.

How to Tune

To achieve the Adirondack C6/9 tuning, follow these specific instructions for each string:

String 8 (Lowest): To reach E1, you need to tune down 2 semitones.
String 7: To reach A1, you need to tune down 2 semitones.
String 6: To reach E2, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 5: To reach C3, you need to tune up 3 semitones.
String 4: To reach D3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 3: To reach G3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
String 2: To reach A3, you need to tune down 2 semitones.
String 1 (Highest): To reach D4, you need to tune down 2 semitones.

Note: All string movements for this tuning are within safe limits. For extreme tunings (exceeding 4 semitones up or down), a change in string gauge is generally recommended to ensure string integrity and optimal tension.

String 8 (Lowest): Tuned to E1.

String 7: Tuned to A1.

String 6: Tuned to E2.

String 5: Tuned to C3.

String 4: Tuned to D3.

String 3: Tuned to G3.

String 2: Tuned to A3.

String 1 (Highest): Tuned to D4.