The "Nine-String Open G Tuning" (originally named "Triple G") is a powerhouse open tuning designed for a 9-string guitar, creating an incredibly rich and resonant soundscape. As its original description states, it's built upon "Three open G chords stacked on top," meaning the entire instrument, when played open, produces a massive G Major chord, spanning three octaves from G1 to D4.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning feels incredibly expansive and sonorous. Its fundamental characteristic is its sheer harmonic density in G Major. Guitarists will find it exceptionally intuitive for slide playing, creating huge, droning riffs, and exploring rhythmic patterns with a very full, low-end presence. The consistency across the strings makes it very easy to develop melodic and harmonic ideas within the G major framework. It's perfectly suited for genres requiring a deep, resonant foundation, from ambient soundscapes to heavy, extended-range rock and metal, or even blues and folk with a unique twist.

Technical Analysis

The tuning's structure is a perfect replication of a G Major triad (G-B-D) across all nine strings. The notes are systematically arranged as G1-B1-D2-G2-B2-D3-G3-B3-D4. This highly consistent interval structure simplifies chord formation significantly. The open strings themselves form a complete G Major chord.

Due to this configuration, barring any single fret across all strings will instantly yield another major chord. For example:

• Barring the 1st fret creates a G# Major chord.
• Barring the 2nd fret creates an A Major chord.
• Barring the 3rd fret creates an A# Major chord.
• And so on, making chord progressions within the major key very accessible with minimal fret hand movement.

Beyond simple barring, the repeated G-B-D pattern makes it straightforward to locate scale tones and arpeggios for the G Major scale. This consistency across the neck can inspire new melodic and harmonic approaches, especially when utilizing open strings as drones against fretted notes.

How to Tune

Tuning to Nine-String Open G requires significant adjustments for most strings from a standard 9-string tuning. Please proceed with caution, especially with strings tuned significantly up.

• String 9: Tune up 6 semitones. (Warning: Tuning up 6 semitones is a substantial increase in tension. Consider a lighter gauge string if your current string feels too tight or is prone to breaking.)
• String 8: Tune up 5 semitones. (Warning: Tuning up 5 semitones is a substantial increase in tension. Consider a lighter gauge string if your current string feels too tight or is prone to breaking.)
• String 7: Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 6: Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 5: Tune up 2 semitones.
• String 4: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1: Tune down 2 semitones.

The open notes for the "Nine-String Open G Tuning" are as follows, from the lowest (9th) string to the highest (1st) string:

• String 9: G1
• String 8: B1
• String 7: D2
• String 6: G2
• String 5: B2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: G3
• String 2: B3
• String 1: D4