Tuning Overview: The C#9 Serendipity

This unique guitar tuning, aptly named "C#9 Serendipity," was, as its original discoverer notes, found by accident. It transforms your guitar into an instrument brimming with rich, dominant 9th chord voicings right from the open strings. While initially described as a C#maj9, a closer look reveals that the open strings actually form a powerful C#9 (C sharp dominant nine) chord, featuring the root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth.

Verbal Analysis:

The overall sound of this tuning is thick and resonant, perfect for blues, funk, jazz, and rock where dominant 9th chords frequently add color and tension. The open C#9 chord rings out with a full, slightly jazzy feel, creating a strong harmonic foundation. The clustered notes on the higher strings (C4, D#5, F4) offer interesting melodic possibilities and easily accessible voicings for solos or intricate arpeggios, creating a very full and complex sound.

Technical Analysis:

The tuning's open notes are G#3, C#4, F3, C4, D#5, F4. When these notes are played together, they construct a C#9 chord:

• C# (Root) - Present on String 5 (C#4)
• F (Major Third) - Present on String 4 (F3) and String 1 (F4)
• G# (Perfect Fifth) - Present on String 6 (G#3)
• C (Minor Seventh) - Present on String 3 (C4)
• D# (Major Ninth) - Present on String 2 (D#5)

This specific arrangement results in several interesting intervals and voicings. The root C# is prominently featured, with its major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh, and major ninth all present. The repetition of the F note across different octaves (F3 on String 4 and F4 on String 1) adds richness and body to the open chord, providing a bright, high voicing.

Chord Opportunities:

This tuning naturally lends itself to playing C#9 chords and their inversions across the fretboard with minimal effort. By simply barring across various frets, you can transpose this C#9 shape into other dominant 9th chords. For instance, barring at the 1st fret would yield a D9 chord, and at the 2nd fret an D#9, and so on. The open strings also provide a solid basis for bluesy riffs and improvisations, making it highly versatile for styles requiring a strong dominant feel. Power chords are easily formed by playing the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings, or 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings. The proximity of notes like C and D# on strings 3 and 2 also allows for easy access to extended chords and melodic phrases in the key of C#.

How to Tune (From Standard EADGBe)

To achieve the C#9 Serendipity Tuning from standard EADGBe:

• String 6 (Low E to G#): Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised to prevent breakage and excessive neck tension.
• String 5 (A to C#): Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 4 (D to F): Tune up 3 semitones. This is a moderate upward adjustment, generally manageable with standard strings.
• String 3 (G to C): Tune up 5 semitones. Extreme Caution: This is a very substantial upward adjustment. A lighter gauge string is absolutely essential for this string to avoid breakage and potential damage to your instrument.
• String 2 (B to D#): Tune up 4 semitones. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment; a lighter gauge string is strongly advised.
• String 1 (High E to F): Tune up 1 semitone. This is a minor upward adjustment, typically safe with standard strings.

General Tuning Precaution: Several strings in this tuning require significant upward tension. For strings tuned up 4 or more semitones, it is highly recommended to use a lighter gauge string set to prevent breakage and avoid excessive tension on your instrument's neck. Always tune slowly and carefully, listening for any signs of strain. Consult a guitar technician if you have concerns about your instrument's ability to handle this tuning.

Open String Notes

String 6: G#3

String 5: C#4

String 4: F3

String 3: C4

String 2: D#5

String 1: F4