This unique guitar tuning is aptly named the D minor 9 Open Tuning as its open strings directly form a rich D minor 9 chord.

Verbal Analysis

Designed to immediately evoke a sophisticated, melancholic, or jazzy atmosphere, this tuning allows players to effortlessly strum a full D minor 9 chord without fretting any notes. The arrangement of the notes across the fretboard facilitates quick access to D minor harmonies and related scales, making it ideal for songwriting, accompaniment, or exploring melodic ideas within the D minor mode. The lower F string provides a strong root/third foundation, while the high D string offers a bright, ringing D. The presence of two C notes (C3 and C4) reinforces the minor seventh, adding depth. This tuning can inspire new chord voicings and lead lines, especially when playing over D minor or D Dorian progressions.

Technical Analysis

The open strings are tuned as follows, from low (6th string) to high (1st string): F2, A2, C3, E3, C4, D4. When these notes are stacked, they clearly form a D minor 9 chord (D - F - A - C - E). The open strings provide the following chord tones:

• 6th String (F2): The minor third (F) of Dm.
• 5th String (A2): The perfect fifth (A) of Dm.
• 4th String (C3): The minor seventh (C) of Dm9.
• 3rd String (E3): The major ninth (E) of Dm9.
• 2nd String (C4): A higher octave of the minor seventh (C).
• 1st String (D4): The root (D) of Dm9.

This specific voicing places the minor third (F) as the lowest note, giving the chord a full, rich inversion sound. The presence of the root (D) on the highest string makes it easy to incorporate melodic phrases that resolve to the root. While the open strings themselves are a D minor 9, sliding a single barre across the fretboard will yield other minor 9 chords, although the specific chord quality will depend on the intervals created by the non-unison open string intervals. This tuning is excellent for creating drone effects or intricate arpeggios within the D minor context.

The notes for the D minor 9 Open Tuning are:

String 6 (Low E): F2

String 5 (A): A2

String 4 (D): C3

String 3 (G): E3

String 2 (B): C4

String 1 (High e): D4

How to Tune

To achieve the D minor 9 Open Tuning from standard EADGBe tuning, follow these steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E to F2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change from A to A2 (0 semitones).
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D to C3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G to E3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone from B to C4.
• String 1 (High e): Tune down 2 semitones from E to D4.

Important Note: When adjusting string tension, always proceed with caution. While none of the string movements in this tuning exceed 4 semitones up or down, it's always advisable to tune slowly to avoid string breakage or damage to your instrument, especially when tuning strings up.