Tuning Analysis: Austin Rich

The "Austin Rich" tuning, aptly described in its essence as an open DM9 (D Major 9th), offers a captivating and lush sonic landscape for your guitar. It evokes a feeling of spaciousness and introspection, ideal for genres like ambient, folk, fingerstyle, or even jazz-inflected compositions. The open strings resonate to form a sophisticated D Major 9th chord with an added 11th, creating a rich harmonic bed that is immediately pleasing to the ear. This tuning encourages creative voicings and arpeggios, allowing players to discover intricate melodies and harmonies with relative ease.

Technically, this is a non-standard guitar tuning, diverging significantly from the conventional E Standard. The open string notes, from low (6th) to high (1st), are G2-A2-E3-F#4-C#5-D4. When analyzed from a D root perspective, these notes precisely outline a Dmaj9(add11) chord: D (root, String 1), C# (Major 7th, String 2), F# (Major 3rd, String 3), E (Major 9th, String 4), A (Perfect 5th, String 5), and G (Perfect 4th/11th, String 6). A particularly noteworthy aspect is the interval between the 2nd (C#5) and 1st (D4) strings, where the 1st string is tuned lower in pitch than the 2nd. This deliberate arrangement facilitates an open D chord with the root on the highest physical string while the major 7th rings higher, contributing to a full, resonant open chord that can be easily shifted up the neck to explore other major 9th voicings.

Open Chords and Voicings

With the open strings sounding a beautiful Dmaj9(add11), this tuning naturally lends itself to creating expansive D Major 9th and D Major 7th chords. By barring across various frets, you can easily transpose this rich voicing to other keys. Due to the low G string, you might also find interesting G-based voicings or suspended chords that leverage the G2 and A2 for unique low-end drone effects. The arrangement is highly conducive to fingerpicking patterns and arpeggios that emphasize the extended harmonies, allowing the individual notes of the Dmaj9(add11) to shimmer.

How to Tune Your Guitar

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E2 to G2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune up 2 semitones from D3 to E3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitone from G3 to F#4.
• String 2 (B): Tune up 2 semitones from B3 to C#5.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E4 to D4.

The changes in string tension from standard tuning are within a manageable range for standard gauge strings. However, as a general precaution, tuning adjustments exceeding 4 semitones (either up or down) are typically best achieved with a different string gauge to maintain optimal tension and prevent string breakage. Always tune carefully and in small increments.

String 6 (Low E): G2

String 5 (A): A2

String 4 (D): E3

String 3 (G): F#4

String 2 (B): C#5

String 1 (High E): D4