This unique tuning, aptly named Fretless Baritone F#susb6(b9) Tuning, is described as a 'random tuning found on a fretless guitar'. It offers a deeply resonant and harmonically complex sonic landscape, perfectly suited for the expressive capabilities of a fretless baritone instrument. The combination of a low root, prominent fifth, and the highly dissonant minor ninth (b9) creates a dark, suspended, and experimental character that pushes beyond conventional guitar voicings.

Open String Notes

• String 6: F2#
• String 5: C3#
• String 4: B2
• String 3: D3
• String 2: F4#
• String 1: G3

Analysis and Sonic Character

Technically, the open strings are tuned to F#2, C#3, B2, D3, F#4, G3. With F# as the implied root, the tuning features a strong Perfect Fifth (C#3) and an Octave (F#4), giving it a foundational resonance. The inclusion of B2 serves as a Perfect Fourth or a Major Seventh below the F# octave. D3 introduces a Minor Sixth (b6), adding a melancholic or modal flavor. The most striking interval is the G3, which is a highly dissonant Minor Ninth (b9) against the root F#2, and a Minor Second above the F#4 octave.

This combination creates an immediate tension and richness, characteristic of suspended chords with added extensions. The tuning avoids a major or minor third, leaving it harmonically ambiguous and open to interpretation. Its 'fretless baritone' designation suggests a deep, growling timbre with expressive slide potential, allowing players to navigate the inherent dissonances with fluidity and nuance. This tuning would excel in genres like ambient, experimental, jazz fusion, or even progressive metal, where unconventional voicings and microtonal inflections are desired.

Chords and Playability

The open strings themselves form a complex F# chord, primarily an F#suspended voicing with a flat 6th and flat 9th. While not a conventional open chord, striking all strings creates a dense, dark, and sustained sound that resolves into the tuning's name, F#susb6(b9).

• Open Chord Voicings: The F#2, C#3, B2, D3, F#4, G3 open string collection is inherently a rich, dissonant cluster. Simply strumming the open strings will yield the characteristic F#susb6(b9) sound, making it excellent for drones, ambient pads, or as a starting point for melodic exploration.
• Power Chords: Due to the low F#2 and the C#3 on adjacent strings, easy power chords (F#5) are readily available on the lowest two strings, offering a powerful foundation for riffing.
• Modal Explorations: The presence of B and D against the F# root suggests a potential for Lydian or Dorian scales when explored melodically. The G natural provides a strong Dorian or Phrygian flavor.
• Dissonance & Resolution: The prominent G3 (b9) allows for striking dissonances that can be explored and potentially resolved by bending or sliding on the fretless neck, creating highly expressive melodic lines.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Fretless Baritone F#susb6(b9) tuning, start from standard EADGBe tuning and adjust each string as follows. Please note that several strings require significant downward tuning, which may necessitate a heavier string gauge to maintain tension and avoid breakage.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 10 semitones to reach F2#. Tuning down 10 semitones is a significant adjustment; a heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper tension and tone.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 8 semitones to reach C3#. This is a substantial drop, and a heavier gauge string would be beneficial.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 3 semitones to reach B2. While less extreme, a heavier gauge may still be considered for consistency.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 5 semitones to reach D3. This large drop suggests a heavier gauge string for optimal performance.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 5 semitones to reach F4#. Again, a significant drop where a heavier gauge string is recommended.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 9 semitones to reach G3. This is a very large downward adjustment, making a heavier gauge string essential for playability and string integrity.

Due to the extreme nature of many of these string movements (exceeding 4 semitones up or down), it is highly recommended to use a different, likely heavier, gauge of strings specifically designed for baritone and/or lower tunings to prevent string breakage and ensure proper intonation and playability.