The Bob Lee Gmaj9 tuning transforms your guitar into a rich and harmonically complex instrument, particularly well-suited for lap steel applications as described. This open tuning creates an immediate G Major 9 chord when strummed open, providing a lush foundation for various musical styles including jazz, blues, and country.

Technical Analysis & Harmonic Potential

The notes of this tuning are G2, B2, D3, F#4, A3, and D4 (from low E string position to high E string position). This arrangement directly spells out a G Major 9 chord (G-B-D-F#-A) across the open strings, with the D note reinforced an octave higher on the first string.

The inherent structure of this tuning, as noted in its description, offers a wealth of harmonic possibilities:

• Open G Major 9 Chord: The entire open tuning forms a complete Gmaj9 (G-B-D-F#-A-D). This means you can immediately play a complex and beautiful chord with a single strum, suitable for intricate voicings or as a rich drone.
• G Major Triad: The lowest three strings (G2, B2, D3) clearly form a G Major triad, providing a strong root and foundational harmony.
• D Major Triad: The notes F#4, A3, D4 (when arranged as D-F#-A) on the upper strings combine to form a D Major triad. This represents the V chord of G Major, offering a natural harmonic progression within the open strings.
• B Minor Triad: The middle strings (B2, D3, F#4) create a B Minor triad. This is the relative minor of D Major and the iii chord in G Major, adding a melancholic or introspective quality.
• Versatility: Barring across all strings at any fret will instantly yield a Major 9 chord rooted at that fret position (e.g., 5th fret = Cmaj9, 7th fret = Dmaj9). This makes transposition incredibly intuitive. The presence of the Major 7th (F#) and 9th (A) means this tuning excels in modern jazz and fusion contexts, but its strong major and minor triads also make it powerful for blues, folk, and country, particularly for slide guitar where the open intervals allow for smooth glides and rich sustained chords.

This tuning offers immediate harmonic sophistication and ease of playing complex chords, making it a highly creative tool for any guitarist, especially those exploring open tunings for lap steel or slide guitar.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the Bob Lee Gmaj9 tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard EADGBe. Please note the specific movements for each string:

• 6th String (Low E to G2): Tune up 3 semitones.
• 5th String (A to B2): Tune up 2 semitones.
• 4th String (D to D3): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 3rd String (G to F#4): Tune down 1 semitone.
• 2nd String (B to A3): Tune down 2 semitones.
• 1st String (High E to D4): Tune down 2 semitones.

All string adjustments are within a range where standard gauge strings should be acceptable for most guitars. However, always exercise caution when tuning strings up, especially if your guitar has very light gauge strings or if you plan to keep it in this tuning for extended periods. If you anticipate frequent changes or plan to use significantly heavier string gauges, consider consulting a luthier.

The tuning for each string from thickest (6th) to thinnest (1st) is as follows:

• 6th String (Low E string position): G2
• 5th String (A string position): B2
• 4th String (D string position): D3
• 3rd String (G string position): F#4
• 2nd String (B string position): A3
• 1st String (High E string position): D4