The "Open A6/9" tuning presents a rich and harmonically complex sound when played open, making it immediately inspiring for a variety of musical ideas. As described in its origin, it's particularly well-suited for twinkly arpeggios and crafting melodies over a droning single chord. This tuning, found serendipitously on a classical guitar, hints at its versatile nature for both delicate and sustained sonic textures.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning are: E2, B2, C#4, F#4, A3, E4. When played open, these notes collectively form an A6/9 chord. Let's break down why:

• A (Root): Provided by the A3 on String 2.
• C# (Major 3rd): Provided by the C#4 on String 4.
• E (Perfect 5th): Provided by E2 on String 6 and E4 on String 1, creating a strong root/fifth foundation across octaves.
• F# (Major 6th): Provided by the F#4 on String 3.
• B (Major 9th): Provided by the B2 on String 5.

This specific voicing gives a full, luminous quality to the open chord. The strategic placement of E notes on the lowest and highest strings offers a natural drone capability, allowing for intricate melodic lines to be woven over a stable harmonic bed.

Chordal Opportunities

Beyond the open A6/9, this tuning lends itself to several accessible chord shapes:

• Barre Chords: By simply barring all strings at any fret, you can easily transpose the A6/9 chord up the neck. For example, a barre at the 1st fret yields A#6/9, at the 2nd fret B6/9, and so on. This makes navigating through various keys relatively straightforward for a wide range of songs.
• Drones and Pedals: The presence of the root (A) and fifth (E) on multiple strings (A3, E2, E4) makes this tuning excellent for drone-based music. You can hold these notes open while fretting other strings to create moving harmonies against a static background.
• Melodic Possibilities: The intervalic relationships (e.g., A3, C#4, F#4, E4 are all within a relatively compact range) mean that fingerpicked melodies and arpeggios will sound cohesive and harmonically rich, particularly over the droning lower notes. The A6/9 provides a sophisticated palette, encouraging exploration of jazz-inflected or ambient soundscapes.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the "Open A6/9" tuning from standard E-A-D-G-B-e (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4) tuning, follow these specific instructions for each string. Please note that significant changes (more than 4 semitones up or down) might require a different gauge string for optimal tension and playability. This tuning, however, features moderate adjustments.

• String 6 (Low E): Starting from E2, keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is E2.
• String 5: Starting from A2, tune up 2 semitones. The target note is B2.
• String 4: Starting from D3, tune down 1 semitones. The target note is C#4.
• String 3: Starting from G3, tune down 1 semitones. The target note is F#4.
• String 2: Starting from B3, tune down 2 semitones. The target note is A3.
• String 1 (High E): Starting from E4, keep as is; no change (0 semitones). The target note is E4.