The Em9 tuning for Guitar is an exceptionally rich and resonant open tuning, often described as "Open Dm9 with Capo 2". This highly versatile tuning is suitable for both electric and acoustic guitars, offering a deep, atmospheric sound that lends itself well to various genres including jazz, blues, contemporary, and cinematic music.

Verbal Analysis

When strummed open, this tuning immediately resolves to an E minor 9 chord (E-G-B-D-F#). The genius of this tuning lies in its construction: by simply barring across any fret, you instantly achieve a new minor 9th chord. For example, a bar at the first fret yields an Fm9, while a bar at the third fret creates a Gm9. This makes it incredibly intuitive for songwriting and exploration, allowing for fluid harmonic movement with minimal effort. The wide intervallic spread of the notes across the strings provides a full, lush voicing that sounds complete on its own. It's particularly effective for creating spacious pads, intricate fingerstyle passages with a strong harmonic foundation, or driving rhythmic patterns where the inherent chord quality adds depth.

Technical Analysis

The open notes of this tuning are meticulously arranged to form an E minor 9 chord: E2, B2, E3, G3, D4, and F#5 (from low to high string). Let's examine the intervals relative to the low E (E2):

• 6th String (E2): Root
• 5th String (B2): Perfect 5th (7 semitones above E)
• 4th String (E3): Octave (12 semitones above E)
• 3rd String (G3): Minor 3rd (15 semitones above E)
• 2nd String (D4): Minor 7th (22 semitones above E)
• 1st String (F#5): Major 9th (31 semitones above E, or major 2nd an octave higher)

This arrangement provides a complete Em9 chord, presenting all its constituent tones (E, G, B, D, F#) in a balanced and playable manner. The doubling of the root (E) at the octave adds to the fullness of the sound. This tuning offers exceptional harmonic density in an open position.

How to Tune

To achieve the Em9 tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), follow these specific string adjustments:

• 6th String (Low E to E2): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 5th String (A to B2): Tune up 2 semitones.
• 4th String (D to E3): Tune up 2 semitones.
• 3rd String (G to G3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 2nd String (B to D4): Tune up 3 semitones. Please exercise caution when tuning this string up. While a 3-semitone increase is generally manageable, it does add significant tension. Always tune slowly and check string tension.
• 1st String (High E to F#5): Tune up 2 semitones.

String 6: E2 (Low E)

String 5: B2

String 4: E3

String 3: G3

String 2: D4

String 1: F#5 (High F#)