DADGAD Tuning
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Popular Songs in DADGAD
Practice these carefully selected songs to get familiar with DADGAD tuning. Each song showcases different techniques and chord progressions possible with this tuning.
View all 12 songs in DADGADKashmir
Led Zeppelin
Epic DADGAD masterpiece with complex fingering and exotic scales.
The Water is Wide
Traditional
Beautiful traditional ballad perfect for learning DADGAD fingerpicking.
Drifting
Andy McKee
Modern acoustic guitar masterpiece showcasing DADGAD's capabilities.
Two Steps Behind
Def Leppard
Shows how DADGAD works in rock ballads.
Going to California
Led Zeppelin
Another Zeppelin classic demonstrating DADGAD's folk potential.
Black Mountainside
Led Zeppelin
Intricate DADGAD fingerpicking piece inspired by Bert Jansch.
Why These Songs Work Well in DADGAD
These songs were specifically chosen because they take advantage of DADGAD tuning's unique characteristics. Whether it's the open chord voicings, easier fingering patterns, or the distinctive sound that this tuning provides, each song demonstrates why many guitarists choose DADGAD for their music. Practice these songs to develop your ear for this tuning and discover new playing techniques.
š” Practice Tips for DADGAD
- ā¢ Start with the beginner-level songs to get comfortable with the tuning
- ā¢ Focus on how chord shapes differ from standard tuning
- ā¢ Listen to the original recordings to understand the intended sound
- ā¢ Practice transitioning between DADGAD and standard tuning
- ā¢ Experiment with the open strings to discover new chord voicings
About DADGAD Tuning
DADGAD tuning (D-A-D-G-A-D) is a suspended tuning ā the open strings form a Dsus4 chord rather than a major or minor chord. This ambiguous, neither-major-nor-minor quality gives DADGAD its distinctive ethereal, ringing sound that works beautifully for Celtic, folk, and fingerstyle music.
British folk guitarist Davey Graham developed DADGAD in the 1960s after hearing Moroccan oud music. Jimmy Page adopted it for Led Zeppelin tracks like "Kashmir," "Black Mountain Side," and "White Summer." Modern acoustic virtuosos like Pierre Bensusan and Andy McKee have pushed the tuning to extraordinary technical levels.
DADGAD rewards fingerpicking and open-string drone techniques. The three D strings (6th, 4th, and 1st) create a powerful drone foundation, while the A and G strings provide melodic movement. Many players find that DADGAD unlocks musical ideas that would never occur to them in standard tuning ā the unfamiliar fretboard layout forces creative exploration.
Recommended String Gauges for DADGAD
Slightly heavier strings than standard work best for DADGAD. The 6th and 1st strings are both tuned down (EāD), and the 2nd string drops from B to A. Heavier gauges maintain tension and produce the full, resonant drone sound that DADGAD is known for. Phosphor bronze acoustic strings are the classic choice.
Common Chords in DADGAD
Dsus4 (open)
Strum all strings open. The signature DADGAD sound ā a suspended chord that feels both resolved and floating.
D Major
Fret the 3rd string at the 2nd fret (F#) while strumming open strings. Turns the Dsus4 into a bright D major.
D Minor
Fret the 3rd string at the 1st fret (G#/Ab) to create Dm. The contrast with the open Dsus4 is hauntingly beautiful.
G Major
Various voicings possible ā one common shape uses the 5th fret. DADGAD excels at rich, ringing G voicings.
How to Tune to DADGAD (D2-A2-D3-G3-A3-D4)
From standard tuning, three strings change: the 6th, 2nd, and 1st. The 5th (A), 4th (D), and 3rd (G) stay the same.
Tune the 6th string down from E to D. Same as Drop D ā match it against the open 4th string (one octave lower).
Tune the 2nd string down from B to A. Fret the 2nd string at the 12th fret ā it should match the open 5th string (A, one octave up).
Tune the 1st string down from E to D. Fret the 1st string at the 12th fret ā it should match the open 4th string (D, two octaves up).
Strum all strings open ā you should hear a shimmering Dsus4 chord. The sound is characteristically open and ambiguous, neither clearly major nor minor.