F#ADADF# Guitar Tuner

F#ADADF# | G♭ADADG♭ Open D/F# - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open D/F#

An open D/F# for funsies. Maybe good maybe not...

Verbal Analysis

The 'Open D/F# Tuning' is an evocative and rich open tuning that immediately presents a D Major chord with an F# in the bass (D/F#) when all open strings are strummed. Building on the original description's spirit of fun and experimentation, this tuning offers a vibrant and full sound, making it particularly well-suited for slide guitar, blues, folk, or powerful rhythmic strumming. The open bass note of F# provides a strong foundation for the D Major harmony while encouraging exploration of its first inversion, offering a slightly different sonic flavor than a standard Open D tuning.

Technical Analysis

This tuning arranges the open strings to F#3, A2, D3, A3, D4, and F5# (from low to high). The unique notes present are D, F#, and A, which constitute a D Major triad. With the lowest string tuned to F# (the major third of D), the open chord is a D Major in its first inversion (D/F#). The intervals across the strings are:

F#3 (Major third of D, serving as the bass note)
A2 (Perfect fifth of D)
D3 (Root of D)
A3 (Perfect fifth of D, an octave higher)
D4 (Root of D, an octave higher)
F5# (Major third of D, two octaves higher than F#3)

This configuration provides a strong harmonic base. Barring all strings at any fret will reliably produce a major chord with its major third in the bass (e.g., 1st fret yields D#/G Major, 2nd fret yields E/G# Major, etc.), making transposition across the fretboard very intuitive for major keys. The repetition of the A and D notes on the inner strings also creates excellent opportunities for drone effects and melodic phrasing, allowing for rich textures in fingerstyle or dynamic strumming. Minor chords can be achieved by carefully fretting or altering the F# notes to F natural where appropriate, such as fretting the 6th string at the 11th fret (F natural) and the 1st string at the 11th fret (F natural) while playing D on the 4th string and A on the 5th and 3rd strings to form a D minor chord.

Open String Notes (Low to High)

String 6: F3#
String 5: A2
String 4: D3
String 3: A3
String 2: D4
String 1: F5#

How to Tune from Standard EADGBe

To achieve the 'Open D/F# Tuning' from standard EADGBe (E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4), follow these specific adjustments for each string, based on the provided string movements:

String 6 (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones. From its standard E2, tune up to F#2.
String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Remains at A2.
String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). Remains at D3.
String 3 (G): Tune up 2 semitones. From its standard G3, tune up to A3.
String 2 (B): Tune up 3 semitones. From its standard B3, tune up to D4. Please take care when tuning up 3 semitones, as this increases string tension.
String 1 (High E): Tune up 2 semitones. From its standard E4, tune up to F#4.