Verbal Analysis: Andy McKee's F# Minor 11

This unique tuning, deeply rooted in the style of Andy McKee's 'Art of Motion', offers a rich, complex, and highly resonant sonic landscape. It immediately establishes a melancholic yet full foundation with an open F# minor chord across the low F# (6th string), A (5th string), and C# (4th string). This triad sets a contemplative and intricate mood, ideal for fingerstyle acoustic guitarists exploring modern compositions.

The higher strings (G#3rd, B2nd, E1st) extend this harmony, contributing to what can be technically interpreted as an F# minor 11 chord (F# A C# E G# B). This extended harmony creates a sophisticated, open sound, facilitating ringing arpeggios, dense voicings, and the creation of lush, sustained textures. It encourages exploration of melodies that utilize open string drones and provides convenient access to harmonies that would be challenging in standard tuning.

Technical Analysis: F# A C# G# B E

The tuning establishes the following pitches for the guitar strings, from lowest to highest: F#3, A2, C#4, G#4, B3, E4. When played open, these notes collectively form an F# minor 11 chord, making it exceptionally well-suited for pieces composed in or around the key of F# minor. The individual notes provide a detailed harmonic structure:

• String 6 (F#3): Serves as the root of the F# minor chord.
• String 5 (A2): Provides the minor third, defining the minor quality.
• String 4 (C#4): Completes the fundamental F# minor triad as the perfect fifth.
• String 3 (G#4): Adds a major ninth (or second) interval above the root F#.
• String 2 (B3): Contributes the eleventh (or fourth) interval above the root F#.
• String 1 (E4): Provides the minor seventh, creating a rich extended harmony.

The careful selection of these pitches fosters both harmonic complexity and ease of play for specific chord voicings and melodic patterns. The open F# minor triad on the lower strings is a particularly strong feature, providing a deep and resonant base for intricate fingerstyle work.

How to Tune from Standard EADGBe:

To achieve the F# Minor 11 tuning (F#AC#G#BE) from a standard EADGBe setup, follow these string adjustments:

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

String 6: F#3

String 5: A2

String 4: C#4

String 3: G#4

String 2: B3

String 1: E4