The "Fm9 Nostalgic" tuning is a distinctive and rich arrangement, notably utilized by the celebrated guitarist Ichika Nito. This tuning conjures a melancholic yet full-bodied sound, perfect for intricate melodic lines and complex harmonic textures often found in modern fingerstyle and progressive music.

Verbal Analysis:

This tuning, true to its name, immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia with its inherently minor 9th quality. The open strings spell out the notes F, Ab (G#), C, Eb (D#), and G, forming a complete Fm9 chord across a wide register. This foundation makes it exceptionally versatile for playing various voicings of Fm9, Fm7, and F minor triads without fretting. The distribution of these notes across the fretboard, particularly the presence of G3 on string 3 and G#3 (Ab3) on string 5, allows for intriguing harmonic clusters and suspensions, inviting experimental chord shapes and arpeggios. The wide intervals and octave repetitions (like D#4 and D#5 on strings 4 and 1, or G#3 and G3 on strings 5 and 3) contribute to a grand, expansive sound, giving a sense of depth and resonance to open string passages. It's particularly well-suited for ambient, jazzy, or emotionally charged compositions, reflecting the innovative style of Ichika Nito.

Technical Analysis:

The tuning configures the guitar strings to the following open notes, from lowest to highest: F2, G#3, D#4, G3, C4, D#5. Let's analyze the intervals between adjacent strings:

• String 6 (F2) to String 5 (G#3 / Ab3): This is an interval of a compound minor 3rd (15 semitones). This wide jump creates a deep, resonant bass foundation.
• String 5 (G#3 / Ab3) to String 4 (D#4 / Eb4): A perfect 5th (7 semitones). This is a standard and harmonious interval, providing a strong tonal center.
• String 4 (D#4 / Eb4) to String 3 (G3): A large descending interval of a minor 6th (9 semitones down). This significant drop allows for interesting open voicings and stretches, making for unique harmonic possibilities.
• String 3 (G3) to String 2 (C4): A perfect 4th (5 semitones). A common and comfortable interval for chord shapes and melodies.
• String 2 (C4) to String 1 (D#5 / Eb5): Another compound minor 3rd (15 semitones). This octave jump adds brilliance and an airy quality to the higher register, contributing to the full sound of the open Fm9 chord.

The overall effect is a rich, layered sound with a strong Fm9 chord voicing, offering both familiar harmonic territories and opportunities for unique fingerings due to the varied string intervals.

The open strings are tuned as follows, from thickest (6th) to thinnest (1st):

• String 6: F2
• String 5: G#3
• String 4: D#4
• String 3: G3
• String 2: C4
• String 1: D#5

How to Tune:

To achieve the "Fm9 Nostalgic" tuning from standard EADGBe, adjust each string as described below:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 1 semitone to F2.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 1 semitone to G#3.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 1 semitone to D#4.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 1 semitone to C4.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 1 semitone to D#5.

Note: All string adjustments are within a range of 1 semitone up or down. Therefore, standard guitar string gauges should be perfectly suitable for this tuning.