This unique Guitar tuning, which we've named Open E6/9 No Third, presents a bright, open, and harmonically rich soundscape. It feels expansive and resonant, making it ideal for strumming, intricate fingerstyle, or slide guitar where drone notes can truly shine. Its sonic character lends itself well to genres like folk, ambient, indie rock, and even experimental music, offering a luminous and 'sparkling' quality.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned to E2 B2 E3 B3 C#5 F#5. Analyzing these notes reveals a specific chord structure:

• E (Root)
• B (Perfect 5th)
• C# (Major 6th)
• F# (Major 9th/2nd)

This collection of notes forms an E6/9 chord, notably without a major or minor third (G# or G natural). The absence of the third makes the tuning highly versatile, allowing it to imply both major and minor tonalities or create ambiguous, modal textures depending on what notes are added. The repeated E and B notes across octaves (E2-E3, B2-B3) provide a strong, resonant foundation, while the high C#5 and F#5 strings add a distinct 'sparkle' and harmonic extension, sitting two octaves higher than their traditional lower string counterparts.

Chordal Possibilities

• Open E6/9 (No 3rd): Strumming all open strings immediately produces this rich, extended chord, perfect for sustained drones or arpeggiated patterns.
• Barre Chords: By simply barring across all six strings at any fret, you can easily shift this E6/9 (no 3rd) shape up the neck, creating various X6/9 (no 3rd) chords (e.g., F6/9 at the 1st fret, F#6/9 at the 2nd fret).
• Two & Three-Finger Voicings: The open intervals lend themselves to simple two or three-finger shapes that can yield surprising harmonies. For example, by selectively fretting certain strings, one could easily find suspended chords, major or minor triads (by adding the appropriate third), or other extended voicings.
• Modal and Drone Playing: The open fifths (E-B) and the missing third make this tuning excellent for exploring modal scales and creating sustained, ambient textures where the harmony is implied rather than explicitly stated.

How to Tune: Open E6/9 No Third

Here's how to adjust your guitar from standard EADGBe tuning to achieve the Open E6/9 No Third tuning. Always use a reliable tuner and tune carefully.

• 6th String (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Remains E2.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 2 semitones. From standard A2 to B2.
• 4th String (D): Tune up 2 semitones. From standard D3 to E3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune up 4 semitones. From standard G3 to B3. Caution: Tuning up 4 semitones is a significant tension increase. For sustained use, a lighter gauge string is advised to prevent potential string breakage or neck issues.
• 2nd String (B): Tune up 2 semitones. From standard B3 to C#4. Important Note: The target tuning provided for this string in the tuning notes is C#5. Achieving C#5 from standard B3 would actually require tuning up 14 semitones, not 2. This is a very extreme tension increase and would necessitate a much lighter gauge string. Please verify your intended target note and consult a luthier if you plan such a drastic change.
• 1st String (High E): Tune up 2 semitones. From standard E4 to F#4. Important Note: The target tuning provided for this string in the tuning notes is F#5. Achieving F#5 from standard E4 would actually require tuning up 14 semitones, not 2. This is a very extreme tension increase and would necessitate a much lighter gauge string. Please verify your intended target note and consult a luthier if you plan such a drastic change.

Always tune slowly and check your intonation after changing tunings significantly.