Verbal Analysis

Experience an immediate, rich, and resonant F#add9 chord with this unique tuning. Strumming the open strings instantly produces a bright and full sound that's perfect for expansive harmonic textures or as a foundation for intricate melodic lines. The creator's note of "Messing around on site until I found something I liked" perfectly captures the experimental spirit of this delightful arrangement, which feels both familiar and refreshingly new. It offers a solid, harmonically complete base that can inspire a wide range of musical ideas, from serene arpeggios to powerful, sustained chords.

Technical Analysis

This tuning arranges the open strings of your guitar to spell out an F#add9 chord. The notes are F#3, A#3, G#3, F#4, A#4, C#5, from the lowest (6th) string to the highest (1st) string. Breaking this down:

• The 6th string provides the root F# (F#3).
• The 5th string gives the major third A# (A#3).
• The 4th string introduces the major ninth G# (G#3), adding a sophisticated quality.
• The 3rd string reinforces the root F# (F#4), an octave higher, creating a strong fundamental presence.
• The 2nd string offers another major third A# (A#4), echoing the 5th string.
• Finally, the 1st string completes the triad with the perfect fifth C# (C#5).

This structure means that simply strumming the open strings will yield a beautiful F#add9 chord. The presence of octaves on the F# and duplicated major thirds on A# provides a very full sound. This tuning lends itself well to drone-based playing and experimenting with melodic phrases that move around the core F#add9 tonality. Barring across the neck at various frets will easily produce other add9 chords, allowing for quick transposition. For example, barring at the 1st fret would yield a Gadd9, and at the 2nd fret, a G#add9. Standard chord shapes will be re-contextualized, encouraging new fingerings and explorations of the fretboard within this unique intervallic landscape.

How to Tune

To achieve the 'F#add9' tuning for your guitar, follow these instructions for each string:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune up 2 semitones to F#.
• 5th String (A): Tune up 1 semitone to A#.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 6 semitones to G#. Caution: This is a significant drop of more than 4 semitones. Consider using a heavier gauge string for optimal tension and tone.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F#.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 1 semitone to A#.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 3 semitones to C#.

Always tune carefully and check your intonation after making significant changes.

The notes for the 'F#add9' tuning from the lowest (6th) to the highest (1st) string are:

• 6th String: F#3
• 5th String: A#3
• 4th String: G#3
• 3rd String: F#4
• 2nd String: A#4
• 1st String: C#5