FG#CGBD# Guitar Tuner

FG#CGBD# | FA♭CGBE♭ Sad - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Sad

open fmaj9 tuning turned into minor You could make some very sad midwest with this

Verbal Analysis:

This intriguing tuning, aptly named "Somber F Minor Tuning," conjures a melancholic and reflective atmosphere. Originating from what might have been an Fmaj9 tuning, it has been skillfully altered to embrace a minor tonality, inviting a sound palette perfect for introspective and emotionally charged music. The overall feel is one of depth and slight unease, capable of evoking the "sad midwest" vibe mentioned in its original description. The open strings offer a rich, complex sonority that is both familiar and strikingly unique, blending a strong minor foundation with intriguing dissonances.

Technical Analysis:

The open notes for this tuning are, from low to high: F2 - G#3 - C3 - G3 - B3 - D#5. Analysing these notes relative to the 6th string (F2), we find:

String 6 (F2): The Root.
String 5 (G#3): A minor 3rd above F, establishing a strong minor tonality immediately.
String 4 (C3): A perfect 5th above F, completing an F minor triad (F-G#-C).
String 3 (G3): A major 9th (or major 2nd) above F, adding color and openness.
String 2 (B3): An augmented 4th or diminished 5th (tritone) above F. This note introduces significant tension and dissonance, hinting at an altered dominant or Locrian mode flavor.
String 1 (D#5): A minor 6th (or enharmonically an augmented 5th) above F. This note can also be interpreted as an Eb, forming an F minor 7th chord.

Collectively, the open strings form a complex chord best described as an F minor 7 (add 9, b5) or F minor (b5, add 6, add 9). The presence of the G# (m3), C (P5), and D# (Eb, m7) firmly roots the tuning in F minor 7. The G (9th) adds an open, suspended quality, while the B natural (b5) introduces a stark, almost bluesy or jazz-infused dissonance, creating a dark, yet rich sonic landscape.

Chordal Opportunities:

Given its intricate open voicing, this tuning lends itself to a wide range of unique chordal possibilities:

Open F Minor Shapes: The F minor triad is inherent across strings 6, 5, and 4. Barring across these strings will yield various F minor voicings up the neck, with the higher strings adding rich extensions.
Dissonant & Melancholic Voicings: The tritone (B) and minor 6th (D#) create opportunities for complex, jazzy, or blues-inflected chords. Experiment with omitting certain notes to create less dense but equally evocative voicings. For instance, an open F minor with the D# (Eb) on top creates a beautiful F minor 7th sound.
Inversions and Suspensions: The G (9th) allows for sus2-like sounds within minor contexts, while the strong root and fifth on the lower strings make for solid bass notes, facilitating easy exploration of chord inversions.
Modal Explorations: The F Locrian mode is suggested by the presence of the B (b5) against the F minor triad. Exploring this mode could lead to very dark and unsettling harmonic progressions, perfect for experimental or atmospheric music.

This tuning is a playground for guitarists seeking to break away from conventional voicings and explore a more somber, harmonically rich, and emotionally profound sound.

How to Tune (from Standard E-A-D-G-B-E):

String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone from E2 to F2.
String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone from A3 to G#3.
String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change from G3. It remains G3.
String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change from B3. It remains B3.
String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone from E4 to D#4.

Important Note on String Gauges: For optimal playability and to prevent string breakage, it is generally advised to consider using a different string gauge if tuning up or down by more than 4 semitones. In this tuning, all string movements are within the safe range for standard gauges, meaning no immediate change to string gauge is typically required, but always exercise caution when adjusting string tension.