Open Guitar Tunings - Complete Guide
Master slide guitar, fingerstyle, and unique chord voicings with our comprehensive open tunings library
What Are Open Tunings?
Open tunings are alternative guitar tunings where the open strings (unfretted) form a complete chord—typically a major or minor triad. When you strum all six strings without pressing any frets, you hear a harmonious, resonant chord instead of random notes.
This creates entirely new sonic possibilities: easier slide guitar playing (one finger across all strings makes a chord!), rich harmonic resonance from sympathetic string vibrations, and chord voicings impossible in standard tuning. Open tunings have been essential to blues, folk, Hawaiian slack key, and experimental music for over a century.
Why Use Open Tunings?
- Slide Guitar Magic: One finger across all strings = instant chords
- Sympathetic Resonance: Strings vibrate together creating rich, bell-like tones
- Unique Voicings: Chord shapes impossible in standard tuning
- Fingerstyle Power: Bass, harmony, and melody all resonate together
- Creative Inspiration: New tunings spark new musical ideas
Open Tuning History & Culture
Open tunings have deep roots in American music history. Delta blues pioneers like Robert Johnson and Son House used open tunings for their bottleneck slide work in the 1920s-30s. Hawaiian musicians developed "slack key" guitar (open tunings with lowered string tension) in the 1800s, creating a uniquely beautiful style.
The folk revival of the 1960s saw artists like Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, and Davey Graham push open tunings into new territories, creating complex fingerstyle compositions. DADGAD, popularized by Graham, became the foundation of Celtic guitar. The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards used Open G exclusively for decades, making it synonymous with rock rhythm guitar.
Today, open tunings are essential in blues, folk, indie, experimental, and even metal genres. Modern fingerstyle virtuosos like Andy McKee and Antoine Dufour use open tunings almost exclusively, creating percussive, orchestral sounds from a single acoustic guitar.
How to Tune to Open Tunings
- Start in Standard Tuning: Ensure your guitar is accurately tuned to standard (E-A-D-G-B-E) first
- Identify Which Strings Change: Each open tuning requires specific strings to be raised or lowered. Open G, for example, requires lowering strings 6, 5, and 1.
- Tune Down First, Then Up: If lowering tension, do those strings first. This reduces overall tension on the neck and makes fine-tuning easier.
- Use Our Free Chromatic Tuner: Select your target open tuning from our free online tuner for accurate pitch detection.
- Strum and Listen: Once tuned, strum all open strings. You should hear a complete, harmonious chord.
- Fine-Tune and Check: Verify each string individually, then strum again for final adjustment.
⚠️ Important: String Tension Considerations
Open tunings often involve lowering string tension (especially tunings below standard pitch). This can affect:
- Action & Buzzing: Lower tension may require truss rod adjustment to prevent fret buzz
- Intonation: String tension affects intonation—you may need a setup
- String Choice: Some players use slightly heavier strings for lower-pitched open tunings
- Don't Mix Tunings Constantly: Frequently changing tunings stresses the neck and hardware
Many players keep separate guitars for different tunings, or stick to one or two favorite open tunings long-term.
Open Major Tunings
Form major chords when strummed open - bright, happy sound
Open G
D-G-D-G-B-D
The most popular open tuning. Forms a G major chord when strummed open. Perfect for slide guitar and blues.
Genres
Famous Artists
Rolling Stones, Black Crowes, Keith Richards, Ry Cooder
Open D
D-A-D-F♯-A-D
Creates a D major chord. Excellent for fingerstyle and slide playing. Very popular in folk and blues.
Genres
Famous Artists
Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens, John Fahey
Open E
E-B-E-G♯-B-E
Standard tuning's 6th string up to E. Higher tension makes it great for slide. Classic Delta blues tuning.
Genres
Famous Artists
Derek Trucks, Duane Allman, Robert Johnson
Open A
E-A-C♯-E-A-E
Creates an A major chord. Popular for slide guitar and fingerstyle. Bright, resonant sound.
Genres
Famous Artists
Keb' Mo', Kelly Joe Phelps, Bob Brozman
Open C
C-G-C-G-C-E
Lower tension creates a rich, warm tone. Excellent for fingerstyle and slide in lower registers.
Genres
Famous Artists
Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake
Open F
F-A-C-F-C-F
Uncommon but beautiful tuning. Requires careful string selection for proper tension.
Genres
Famous Artists
Various experimental players
Open B
B-F♯-B-F♯-B-D♯
High tension tuning. Bright, chimey sound perfect for slide and open chord work.
Genres
Famous Artists
Derek Trucks (select songs)
Open Minor Tunings
Form minor chords when strummed open - dark, melancholic sound
Open Dm
D-A-D-F-A-D
Forms a D minor chord. Dark, moody sound perfect for melancholic fingerstyle pieces.
Genres
Famous Artists
Nick Drake, Kings of Leon, Various indie artists
Open Em
E-B-E-G-B-E
Standard tuning with 3rd string down to G. Creates haunting, melancholic soundscapes.
Genres
Famous Artists
Various folk players
Open Gm
D-G-D-G-A♯-D
G minor open tuning. Rich, dark tones perfect for moody compositions.
Genres
Famous Artists
Various experimental players
Open Am
E-A-E-A-C-E
Creates an A minor chord. Versatile for both fingerstyle and strumming.
Genres
Famous Artists
Various folk players
Modal & Celtic Tunings
Neither major nor minor - create unique harmonic possibilities
DADGAD
D-A-D-G-A-D
The most famous modal tuning. Neither major nor minor, creates beautiful open harmonies. Essential for Celtic and folk music.
Genres
Famous Artists
Led Zeppelin, Davey Graham, Pierre Bensusan, Andy McKee
Double Drop D
D-A-D-G-B-D
Standard tuning with both E strings dropped to D. Powerful bass with familiar chord shapes in middle strings.
Genres
Famous Artists
Neil Young, Indigo Girls
DADGBD
D-A-D-G-B-D
Similar to DADGAD but with B instead of A on 2nd string. Creates different harmonic possibilities.
Genres
Famous Artists
Various Celtic players
DGDGBD (Modal G)
D-G-D-G-B-D
Variation of Open G. Creates unique voicings and harmonic possibilities.
Genres
Famous Artists
Joni Mitchell, Various folk players
CGDGBD (Modal C)
C-G-D-G-B-D
Lower tension, rich harmonics. Popular for fingerstyle compositions.
Genres
Famous Artists
Leo Kottke, Various fingerstyle players
Playing Tips for Open Tunings
Slide Guitar
Open tunings are perfect for slide guitar. Use a glass or metal slide at the 12th, 7th, or 5th frets for major chords. One finger across all strings creates full, resonant chords instantly.
Fingerstyle Approach
Let open strings ring! The magic of open tunings is sympathetic resonance. Play melody notes on high strings while bass notes and open strings create a drone. Experiment with hammer-ons and pull-offs on fretted strings against open string drones.
Capo Usage
A capo in open tuning creates instant key changes while maintaining the open tuning's resonance. Open G with capo on 2nd fret = Open A. This is how Keith Richards plays so many songs in different keys using the same chord shapes.
Open Tunings vs Drop Tunings
Open Tunings
- ✓ All open strings form a chord
- ✓ Perfect for slide guitar
- ✓ Rich sympathetic resonance
- ✓ Common in blues, folk, Celtic music
- ✓ Examples: Open G, Open D, DADGAD
Drop Tunings
- ✓ Only lowest string is "dropped"
- ✓ Easier power chords (one finger)
- ✓ Heavier, aggressive sound
- ✓ Common in rock, metal, grunge
- ✓ Examples: Drop D, Drop C, Drop B
Related Resources
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