Open Cmaj9 tuning

Guitar with open Cmaj9 tuningThe Open C major 9th tuning is an alternative tuning for guitar.

To get the open Cmaj7 tuning on your guitar you tune it like this: CGDGBE. The strings that differ from the standard should be turned so the string tension is decreased and not the opposite. Note the 1-4 string same as standard tuning, which are the 5th and 6th strings; therefore, many fingerings are similar to that you are used to. The only difference with the Cmaj7 tuning is the 4th string, which is tuned down one step from E to D, which also lessen the pressure on that string. Compared to the Dropped C tuning, only the 5th string differ.

More info

Including an octave perspective, the tuning is written as C2-G2-D3-G3-B3-E4, meaning the lowest string is a C note in the second octave, the second lowest string is a G note in the second octave and so on. Standard tuning reference: E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4.

Chords

Cmaj9

  • Cmaj9 chord diagram 000000

C

  • C chord diagram 002010

C6/9

  • C6/9 chord diagram 000210

C6/11

  • C6/11 chord diagram 003210

Em7

  • Em7 chord diagram 400030

Em9

  • Em9 chord diagram 404030

G/D

  • G/D chord diagram 200003

Gmaj7/D

  • Gmaj7/D chord diagram 200002

G6

  • G6 chord diagram X00000

Gmaj13

  • Gmaj13 chord diagram X04430

Am9/C

  • Am9/C chord diagram 002200

B7sus4

  • B7sus chord diagram X42200

Comments

Understandably, there are many ways to play different C chords. Cmaj9 can also be played as 040000, 050000 and 000500 and many more fingerings. The G chords can obviously be played without the 6th string and use the 5th string as root, for instance X00002 for Gmaj7. Am9/C can also be played as 022000, which is a symmetrical alternative. Another option for Em7 is 400400.


Chord collection: Chord chart Cmaj9 Tuning (PDF)

Additional chords in Open Cmaj9 tuning:

Cmaj7: 002000
Cadd11: 003010
Dm11/C: 000231
Emadd9: 404000
Em11: 400200
Em13: 400020
Am7/G: X02210
G9: X00201

Chord progressions

Progressions in this specific tuning:

Eadd11/C (022100) - Add9,add11/C (077600) - Badd11/C (099800) - Add9,add11/C (077600) - Cmaj7 (055400)

Em7 (400030) - Em9 (404030) - C/D (202010) - G6/D (202000)

E/A (X22100) - C#m7 (X44200) - F#m11 (X44200)

Asus2/G (707000) - A9/G (767000) - Asus2/G (707000) - Am9/G (757000)

G (X00787) - F6/G (X00565) - Dm/G (X00231) - G6 (X00453)

C6/11 (003210) - Cmaj9 (005430) - C (0 0 10 9 8 0)

Cmaj13 (097900) - Cmaj9 (075700) - Cmaj13 (020200)

For more progressions including charts, see The Alternate Tunings ebook.

Video


See also Open C tuning and CGDGCD tuning

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