A Deep Dive into the Fmaj9 (Midwest Emo-esque) Tuning

This unique guitar tuning, aptly named "Fmaj9 (Midwest Emo-esque)", offers a rich, complex harmonic landscape that bridges the sophisticated jazz voicings of an F major ninth chord with the expressive, often melancholic sounds characteristic of Midwest Emo.

Technical Analysis & Open Chords

The open strings of this tuning reveal a beautiful Fmaj9 chord: F2 - C3 - E3 - G3 - A3 - E4. Breaking this down, we have:

• F (Root): Provided by the 6th string.
• C (Perfect 5th): Found on the 5th string.
• E (Major 7th): Present on the 4th string, creating a distinctly open major seventh quality.
• G (Major 9th): The 3rd string provides the ninth, adding a characteristic jazz extension.
• A (Major 3rd): The 2nd string gives us the major third, completing the fundamental F major triad.
• E (Major 7th, octave higher): The 1st string reiterates the major seventh, providing shimmering high-end resonance.

The intervals stacked from the lowest F are Root, P5, M7, M9, M3, M7. This configuration makes for a very full and resonant Fmaj9 chord with all essential tones present and duplicated. This creates a very lush and expressive harmonic foundation.

Chordal & Playing Possibilities

Beyond the open Fmaj9, this tuning lends itself well to:

• Easy Maj9 Voicings: Sliding shapes up and down the neck will quickly yield other major ninth chords, with the unique open string relationships maintaining their character.
• Midwest Emo Textures: The inherent dissonance and beauty of the Fmaj9 can be exploited for complex arpeggios and interwoven melodies typical of the genre. Experiment with partial chords and suspensions, especially using the open A and E strings.
• Capo Exploration: The original description suggests trying a capo at the 1st fret (resulting in F#maj9) "for less jazzy sound, more midwest emo sound." This subtle shift can change the harmonic character and feel, opening up new creative avenues.
• Riffing: The spread voicing provides excellent opportunities for intricate fingerstyle patterns and melodic riffing, where individual notes can ring out.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Fmaj9 (Midwest Emo-esque) tuning from standard E Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), follow these steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone to F2.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 3 semitones to C3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.

Important Note: While none of the string movements in this tuning exceed the threshold of 4 semitones up or down, it's always advisable to tune carefully, especially when increasing string tension. For tunings involving movements greater than 4 semitones (up or down), a different string gauge is generally recommended to prevent string breakage and ensure optimal tone.

String 6 (Lowest String): F2

String 5: C3

String 4: E3

String 3: G3

String 2: A3

String 1 (Highest String): E4