Alternate Tuning Fundamentals
Alternate tunings unlock new harmonic possibilities, simplify complex fingerpicking patterns, and give your acoustic guitar a unique voice. Understanding the principles behind different tuning types helps you choose the right tuning for your musical goals.
Types of Alternate Tunings
Open Tunings
All strings tuned to form a complete major or minor chord when played open.
- • Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)
- • Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
- • Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)
- • Open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E)
Modal Tunings
Tunings based on modal scales, offering unique harmonic colors.
- • DADGAD (D-A-D-G-A-D)
- • DADGBE (Drop D variation)
- • EADEAE (Asus4 tuning)
- • CGDGAD (Csus2 tuning)
Dropped Tunings
One or more strings lowered while maintaining familiar chord shapes.
- • Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)
- • Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)
- • Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)
- • Celtic tuning (D-A-D-G-A-D)
Benefits of Alternate Tunings
Musical Advantages
- • Natural resonance: Open strings create sympathetic vibrations
- • Unique harmonies: Chord voicings impossible in standard tuning
- • Drone effects: Sustained bass notes enhance melodic lines
- • Easier techniques: Complex sounds with simple fingerings
- • Genre authenticity: Traditional sounds of folk, Celtic, and world music
Technical Benefits
- • Fingerpicking flow: Patterns that complement hand mechanics
- • String accessibility: Better bass-melody separation
- • Harmonic intervals: Natural consonance between strings
- • Creative inspiration: Fresh approaches to familiar progressions
- • Extended range: Access to lower bass notes
Choosing Your First Alternate Tuning
Beginner Recommendations
1. Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)
Perfect starting point - only changes one string, familiar chord shapes remain mostly intact.
2. DADGAD (D-A-D-G-A-D)
Forgiving and versatile, sounds good even with simple fingerings, excellent for Celtic and folk music.
3. Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)
Classic blues and slide tuning, easy to understand chord relationships, great for fingerpicking.
Popular Open Tunings
Open tunings form complete chords when all strings are played without fretting. These tunings are foundational to blues, folk, and fingerstyle playing, offering rich harmonic content and simplified chord formations.
Open G Tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D)
Tuning Process
- • 6th string: E down to D (2 semitones down)
- • 5th string: A down to G (2 semitones down)
- • 4th string: D stays D
- • 3rd string: G stays G
- • 2nd string: B stays B
- • 1st string: E down to D (2 semitones down)
Key Characteristics
- • Forms a G major chord when played open
- • Excellent for slide guitar and blues
- • Used by Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell
- • Rich harmonic overtones
- • Great for fingerpicking patterns
- • Easy barre chords at any fret
Basic Chord Shapes in Open G
G Major
Open strings (0-0-0-0-0-0)
C Major
5th fret barre (5-5-5-5-5-5)
D Major
7th fret barre (7-7-7-7-7-7)
Open D Tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
Tuning Process
- • 6th string: E down to D (2 semitones down)
- • 5th string: A stays A
- • 4th string: D stays D
- • 3rd string: G down to F# (2 semitones down)
- • 2nd string: B down to A (2 semitones down)
- • 1st string: E down to D (2 semitones down)
Applications
- • Perfect for slide guitar
- • Excellent for fingerpicking
- • Used by Bob Dylan, Nick Drake
- • Great for folk and country
- • Natural minor pentatonic access
- • Rich bass resonance
Open C Tuning (C-G-C-G-C-E)
Open C creates a warm, rich tonality perfect for fingerstyle arrangements. The low C provides a deep bass foundation, while the open voicing creates natural harmonic intervals throughout the fretboard.
Notable Advantages
- • Deep, resonant low C bass note
- • Excellent for fingerstyle arrangements
- • Used by contemporary acoustic artists
- • Natural major scale patterns
- • Beautiful open chord voicings
String Considerations
- • Requires heavier low string for proper tension
- • May need setup adjustment for action
- • Consider balanced string sets
- • Monitor intonation carefully
- • Break-in period for optimal sound
DADGAD: The Complete Guide
DADGAD is arguably the most popular alternate tuning for acoustic guitar. Created by Davey Graham in the 1960s, it's become the go-to tuning for Celtic music, contemporary fingerstyle, and world music genres.
Understanding DADGAD
Tuning Process
- • 6th string: E down to D (2 semitones down)
- • 5th string: A stays A
- • 4th string: D stays D
- • 3rd string: G stays G
- • 2nd string: B down to A (2 semitones down)
- • 1st string: E down to D (2 semitones down)
Harmonic Structure
- • Creates a Dsus4 chord when played open
- • Natural drone on D strings (6th, 4th, 1st)
- • Perfect 4th and 5th intervals prominent
- • Modal character (neither major nor minor)
- • Sympathetic string resonance
- • Open to both major and minor harmonies
Essential DADGAD Chords
Basic Shapes
- • Dsus4: Open (0-0-0-0-0-0)
- • D major: 2nd fret on G string (0-0-2-0-0-0)
- • G major: 5th fret partial barre
- • A major: 7th fret shapes
- • C major: 10th fret barre
Advanced Voicings
- • Em7: Multiple positions
- • Cadd9: Rich open voicings
- • Am7: Natural fingerings
- • F major: Unique positions
- • Bb major: Accessible shapes
Celtic Chords
- • Modal chords: Natural to the tuning
- • Drone combinations: Bass-melody integration
- • Quartal harmonies: 4th-based voicings
- • Open strings: Always available
- • Hammer-ons/pull-offs: Easy ornaments
DADGAD Techniques & Patterns
Fingerpicking Patterns
- • Thumb bass: Alternate between 6th and 4th strings
- • Melody on top: 1st and 2nd strings for melody
- • Middle harmony: 3rd string fills harmonic gaps
- • Travis picking: Adapted for DADGAD spacing
- • Celtic rolls: Traditional ornaments
Melodic Approaches
- • Scale patterns: D major, G major, A major
- • Modal scales: Dorian, Mixolydian naturally accessible
- • Pentatonic runs: Both major and minor
- • Celtic ornaments: Cuts, crans, and triplets
- • Drone integration: Melody over sustained bass
Practice Progression for DADGAD
Week 1-2: Learn basic open chord shapes and simple fingerpicking patterns
Week 3-4: Practice moving between chord positions while maintaining drone strings
Week 5-6: Incorporate Celtic ornaments and modal scales
Week 7+: Learn complete pieces like "The Water is Wide" or simple Davey Graham arrangements
Dropped Tunings & Variations
Dropped tunings lower one or more strings while keeping others in familiar relationships. These tunings offer the benefits of alternate tunings while maintaining some standard chord shapes and techniques.
Drop D Tuning (D-A-D-G-B-E)
Benefits for Beginners
- • Only changes one string (6th string down to D)
- • Most standard chords remain unchanged
- • Easy power chords on bottom three strings
- • Familiar fingerpicking patterns still work
- • Great gateway to alternate tunings
Musical Applications
- • Folk and country music foundations
- • Rock and metal power chord riffs
- • Fingerstyle arrangements with bass emphasis
- • Celtic music drones and melodies
- • Contemporary acoustic compositions
Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)
Double Drop D takes Drop D further by also lowering the 1st string to D, creating a symmetrical tuning with D notes on both outer strings. This opens up unique chord voicings and fingerpicking possibilities.
Advantages
- • Symmetrical D notes for drone effects
- • Rich harmonic intervals across strings
- • Perfect for fingerstyle arrangements
- • Easy octave doubling for melodies
- • Natural bass-treble separation
Common Songs
- • "Going to California" - Led Zeppelin
- • Many Neil Young compositions
- • Traditional folk arrangements
- • Contemporary fingerstyle pieces
- • Acoustic rock ballads
Other Useful Dropped Tunings
Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)
- • Deeper, darker tone than Drop D
- • Popular in modern rock and metal
- • Requires heavier string gauge
- • Powerful low-end presence
- • Great for aggressive fingerpicking styles
Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)
- • Extremely low tuning for heavy styles
- • Requires significant setup adjustments
- • Heavy gauge strings essential
- • Used in doom and heavy metal
- • Experimental acoustic applications
Genre-Specific Tunings
Different musical genres have gravitated toward specific alternate tunings that complement their harmonic and melodic characteristics. Understanding these associations helps you choose the right tuning for your musical style.
Celtic & Folk Music
Primary Tunings
- • DADGAD: The most popular Celtic tuning
- • Drop D: Simple but effective for drone notes
- • CGDGAD: Rich harmonic content for ballads
- • Modal variations: Custom tunings for specific pieces
Characteristics
- • Drone strings provide modal foundation
- • Open tunings facilitate traditional ornaments
- • Easy access to quartal and quintal harmonies
- • Natural fingerpicking patterns for reels and airs
Blues & Slide Guitar
Essential Tunings
- • Open G: Classic slide and fingerpicking tuning
- • Open D: Deep, resonant blues foundation
- • Open E: Bright, cutting tone for slide
- • Open A: Alternative to Open E
Applications
- • Simple barre techniques across all strings
- • Natural blues scale patterns
- • Easy slide guitar execution
- • Rich harmonic content for fingerpicking blues
Contemporary Fingerstyle
Modern fingerstyle players often use custom tunings to create unique harmonic landscapes and technical possibilities not available in standard tuning.
Popular Choices
- • DADGAD variations
- • Open C and variations
- • Custom modal tunings
- • Percussive-friendly setups
Techniques
- • Percussive elements
- • Harmonic integration
- • Two-handed tapping
- • Extended range utilization
Artists
- • Andy McKee
- • Preston Reed
- • Don Ross
- • Michael Hedges
Fingerpicking Techniques by Tuning
Each alternate tuning offers unique fingerpicking possibilities. Understanding how to adapt your technique to different tunings maximizes their musical potential and helps you develop a personal style.
Open Tuning Techniques
Bass-Melody Integration
- • Thumb independence: Bass lines on lower strings
- • Melody lines: Upper strings for melodic content
- • Harmonic fills: Middle strings provide chord tones
- • Drone utilization: Open strings as sustained notes
- • Rhythmic patterns: Adapted to tuning's natural flow
Chord Voicing Techniques
- • Partial chords: Selective string usage
- • Open string integration: Harmonizing with fretted notes
- • Moving bass lines: Chromatic and scalar approaches
- • Harmonic layers: Multiple voices within patterns
- • Dynamic control: Accent patterns and touch sensitivity
DADGAD-Specific Patterns
Celtic Patterns
Basic Celtic Pattern
- • Thumb: 6th string (D) as drone
- • Index: 4th string (D) rhythmic bass
- • Middle: 3rd string (G) harmonic fill
- • Ring: 2nd string (A) melody notes
- • Pinky: 1st string (D) high melody/drone
Ornament Integration
- • Hammer-ons and pull-offs on melody strings
- • Grace notes using open strings
- • Slides between drone positions
- • Rhythmic cuts and crans
- • Triplet ornament patterns
Practice Development Strategies
Progressive Learning
- • Week 1: Open string familiarity and basic chord shapes
- • Week 2-3: Simple patterns with thumb bass/finger melody
- • Week 4-5: Intermediate patterns with harmonic integration
- • Week 6+: Complex pieces and personal style development
Technical Focus Areas
- • Right-hand finger independence
- • Left-hand chord transitions
- • Rhythm and timing with drones
- • Dynamic control and expression
- • Style-specific ornaments and techniques
Capo Strategies & Combinations
Capos dramatically expand the possibilities of alternate tunings by transposing them to different keys while maintaining all the harmonic relationships. This creates an infinite variety of tonal colors from a single tuning.
DADGAD Capo Positions
Popular Positions
- • 2nd fret: EAEAE (brighter, Celtic)
- • 3rd fret: F-B♭-F-B♭-C-F (modal)
- • 5th fret: G-C-G-C-D-G (warm, folk)
- • 7th fret: A-D-A-D-E-A (bright, energetic)
- • 10th fret: C-F-C-F-G-C (rich, full)
Tonal Characteristics
- • Lower positions: Brighter, more cutting
- • Mid positions: Balanced, versatile
- • Higher positions: Warmer, more mellow
- • String tension varies with position
- • Harmonic content changes subtly
Musical Applications
- • Key modulation within songs
- • Matching vocal range requirements
- • Playing with other instruments
- • Exploring different harmonic colors
- • Live performance flexibility
Open Tuning Capo Applications
Open G Transformations
- • 2nd fret: Open A (brighter blues)
- • 3rd fret: Open B♭ (horn-friendly key)
- • 5th fret: Open C (piano-friendly)
- • 7th fret: Open D (mandolin/fiddle keys)
- • Each position maintains chord relationships
Practical Benefits
- • Instant key changes without retuning
- • Matching band arrangements quickly
- • Exploring harmonic variations
- • Accommodating vocal range changes
- • Live performance versatility
Capo Selection & Setup
Types of Capos
- • Spring-loaded: Quick changes, even pressure ($15-30)
- • Screw-adjustment: Precise pressure control ($20-40)
- • Trigger-style: One-handed operation ($25-50)
- • Partial capos: Advanced harmonic effects ($30-60)
- • Rolling capos: Multiple position capability ($40-80)
Setup Considerations
- • Proper intonation with capo placement
- • String buzzing prevention
- • Even pressure across all strings
- • Quick change capability for live use
- • Fretboard radius compatibility
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DADGAD tuning and why is it so popular?
DADGAD (D-A-D-G-A-D) is an alternate tuning where the 1st, 2nd, and 6th strings are tuned down. It's popular because it creates natural drones, allows easy access to Celtic and folk sounds, and enables complex fingerpicking patterns with simple finger positions.
What are the most common open tunings for acoustic guitar?
The most common open tunings are Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D), Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D), Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E), and Open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E). These tunings allow you to play a major chord without fretting any strings.
Do alternate tunings damage your guitar?
Properly executed alternate tunings don't damage guitars. However, frequent dramatic pitch changes can stress strings and the neck. Use gradual tuning changes, quality strings, and consider having multiple guitars for different tunings if you change frequently.
What's the best alternate tuning for beginners?
DADGAD is excellent for beginners because it's forgiving, sounds good with simple fingering, and doesn't require extreme string tension changes. Drop D is even easier as it only changes one string, making chord shapes familiar.
How do capos work with alternate tunings?
Capos are incredibly useful with alternate tunings, allowing you to transpose the tuning to different keys instantly. For example, DADGAD with a capo on the 2nd fret becomes EAEAE, opening up new tonal possibilities without retuning.
What songs should I learn in DADGAD tuning?
Great DADGAD songs include 'Kashmir' by Led Zeppelin, 'The Water is Wide' (traditional), Pierre Bensusan's arrangements, and works by Davey Graham. These showcase the tuning's drone capabilities and unique harmonic qualities.
Can I use a regular guitar tuner for alternate tunings?
Yes, chromatic tuners work perfectly for alternate tunings since they detect any pitch. Some tuners have preset alternate tuning modes, but any quality chromatic tuner will handle custom tunings accurately.
What's the difference between dropped tunings and open tunings?
Dropped tunings (like Drop D) lower specific strings while keeping others in standard relationships. Open tunings configure all strings to form a complete chord when played open. Both serve different musical purposes and techniques.
Are heavier strings better for alternate tunings?
String choice depends on the specific tuning. Lower tunings often benefit from heavier strings for proper tension and tone, while higher tunings may need lighter strings to prevent breakage. Balanced sets designed for alternate tunings are available.
How do I create my own alternate tuning?
Start with a musical goal (specific chord, scale, or sound). Consider string tension limits, experiment with intervals that inspire you, and test for practical playability. Many great tunings come from modifying existing ones or addressing specific musical needs.