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Guitar
Open D Tuning Online
Open D guitar tuning notes:
D2A2D3F#3A3D4
This Open D tuner is preset to DADF#AD guitar tuning. Tune D2-A2-D3-F#3-A3-D4 from low D to high D for slide, folk, and fingerstyle.
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Popular Songs in Open D
Practice these carefully selected songs to get familiar with Open D tuning. Each song showcases different techniques and chord progressions possible with this tuning.
Songs
12
Beginner
3
Genres
8
IntermediateDelta Blues1965
Death Letter
Son House
Classic delta blues in Open D tuning, perfect for slide guitar.
Great for practicing open d techniques
IntermediateIndie Folk2022
Spring Into Summer
Lizzy McAlpine
Beautiful fingerpicking and delicate vocals showcasing Open D's warm, resonant quality.
Great for practicing open d techniques
AdvancedMetal2004
Circle
Slipknot
Heavy, atmospheric track showcasing Open D in metal context.
Great for practicing open d techniques
IntermediateFolk Rock1968
The Way Young Lovers Do
Van Morrison
Beautiful use of Open D for folk-rock arrangements.
Great for practicing open d techniques
BeginnerFolk Rock1992
Harvest Moon
Neil Young
Gentle Open D strumming pattern perfect for beginners.
Great for practicing open d techniques
IntermediateFolk1970
Big Yellow Taxi
Joni Mitchell
Classic folk song showcasing Open D's bright, ringing quality.
Great for practicing open d techniques
Why These Songs Work Well in Open D
These songs were specifically chosen because they take advantage of Open Dtuning'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 Open D for their music. Practice these songs to develop your ear for this tuning and discover new playing techniques.
Start Here in Open D
Harvest Moon
Neil Young
Soon Forget
Pearl Jam
California Stars
Wilco
Practice Tips for Open D
- Start with the beginner-level songs to get comfortable with the tuning
- Focus on how chord shapes differ from standard tuning
- Listen to the original recordings to understand the intended sound
- Practice transitioning between Open D and standard tuning
- Experiment with the open strings to discover new chord voicings
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Learn Open D After You Tune
Use this page as a short practice route: tune to D2-A2-D3-F#3-A3-D4, hear how the open strings behave, then move into songs, related tunings, and chord shapes that make Open D useful.
Difficulty
Beginner
Best approached as a beginner guitar tuning.
Songs
12
Filter the song list by difficulty and genre once you are tuned.
Best for
Open D tuning online, Open D guitar tuner, D-A-D-F#-A-D tuning notes, slide guitar chords and fingerstyle songs
First practice targets
Harvest Moon
Neil Young
Soon Forget
Pearl Jam
California Stars
Wilco
About Open D Guitar Tuning (DADF#AD)
Open D tuning for guitar (D-A-D-F#-A-D) turns the open strings into a full D major chord. Strum all six strings without fretting and you get a big, resonant D chord with doubled roots and fifths.
Use this Open D tuner online as a DADF#AD note check: 6th string D2, 5th string A2, 4th string D3, 3rd string F#3, 2nd string A3, and 1st string D4.
Open D is a favorite for slide guitar, fingerstyle, and acoustic songwriting because the open strings ring together naturally. It gives you simple major chords by barring across one fret, while still leaving room for melodic movement on the middle strings.
Compared with Open G, Open D feels lower and deeper. The low D string gives the tuning a strong bass foundation, and the F# on the 3rd string supplies the major quality that separates Open D from DADGAD's suspended sound.
Open D is also written as DADF#AD tuning because the strings run D-A-D-F#-A-D from lowest to highest. It is not the same as D standard tuning, which keeps standard intervals at D-G-C-F-A-D instead of forming an open D major chord.
Target tuning
D-A-D-F#-A-D
Open D guitar tuning notes from the 6th string to the 1st string.
Open chord
D major
Strumming every open string gives you a D major chord for slide and fingerstyle.
From standard
EADGBE to DADF#AD
Lower the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings while A and D stay in place.
Open D Tuning Notes (DADF#AD)
From lowest to highest: D2-A2-D3-F#3-A3-D4
6th string
73.42 Hz
Low D, the root of the open D major chord and a strong bass drone for slide and fingerstyle parts.
5th string
110.00 Hz
A string, unchanged from standard tuning and the fifth of the open D chord.
4th string
146.83 Hz
D string, unchanged from standard tuning and one octave above the low D.
3rd string
185.00 Hz
F# string, lowered from G to create the major third that makes Open D a true D major tuning.
2nd string
220.00 Hz
A string, lowered from B and an octave above the 5th string.
1st string
293.66 Hz
High D, lowered from E and the top root note of the open D major chord.
Recommended String Gauges for Open D Guitar Tuning
.011-.050 or .012-.054
Open D lowers the 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings from standard tuning, so slightly heavier strings help the guitar feel stable. Standard .010s work for casual playing, but .011s or .012s give better tension for slide, open-string sustain, and acoustic fingerstyle.
Common Chords in Open D Guitar Tuning
D Major (open)
Strum all strings open for the core Open D sound.
G Major (fret 5)
Bar all strings at the 5th fret for G major, the IV chord in D.
A Major (fret 7)
Bar all strings at the 7th fret for A major, giving you the V chord.
D5 Drone
Let the 6th, 4th, and 1st strings ring while adding melody notes on the middle strings.
How to Tune a Guitar to Open D (D2-A2-D3-F#3-A3-D4)
1
Select the Open D preset and start from standard tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E. Keep the 5th string at A and the 4th string at D.
2
Tune the 6th string down from E2 to D2. It should match the open 4th string one octave lower.
3
Tune the 3rd string down from G3 to F#3. This creates the major third that makes Open D sound like D major.
4
Tune the 2nd string down from B3 to A3. It should match the open 5th string one octave higher.
5
Tune the 1st string down from E4 to D4. It should match the open 4th string two octaves higher.
6
Strum all six strings open and listen for a clear D major chord: D-A-D-F#-A-D. Recheck the lowered strings after a minute because they can settle slightly flat.
Open D Tuning FAQ
Quick answers for choosing strings, learning songs, and practicing this tuning.
What notes are in Open D tuning?
Open D tuning uses D-A-D-F#-A-D from lowest to highest string. With exact octaves, the notes are D2, A2, D3, F#3, A3, and D4.
Is Open D the same as DADF#AD tuning?
Yes. Open D and DADF#AD tuning refer to the same open-string notes: D-A-D-F#-A-D from lowest to highest string.
How do I tune a guitar to Open D from standard?
From standard E-A-D-G-B-E, lower the 6th string to D2, the 3rd string to F#3, the 2nd string to A3, and the 1st string to D4. Keep the 5th string at A2 and the 4th string at D3.
What chords can you play in Open D tuning?
Strumming all strings open gives you D major. Barre the 5th fret for G major, the 7th fret for A major, and the 12th fret for D major one octave higher.
What is Open D tuning used for?
Open D tuning is used for slide guitar, acoustic fingerstyle, folk songs, blues, and songwriting that needs a big ringing D major sound. The open strings give you instant D major, and straight-barre shapes make G and A easy to find.
Is Open D good for slide guitar?
Yes. Open D is one of the most popular slide guitar tunings because the open strings form a D major chord and straight-barre shapes give you easy I-IV-V chord movement.
Is Open D the same as DADGAD tuning?
No. Open D is D-A-D-F#-A-D and forms a D major chord. DADGAD is D-A-D-G-A-D, replacing F# with G for a suspended sound.
Is Open D the same as D standard tuning?
No. Open D is D-A-D-F#-A-D and forms a D major chord when strummed open. D standard is D-G-C-F-A-D and keeps standard tuning intervals one whole step lower.
What string gauge works best for Open D?
Many players use .011-.050 or .012-.054 for Open D, especially for slide guitar and acoustic fingerstyle. Standard .010s can work, but heavier strings give the lowered notes more tension and sustain.
What is Open D tuning best for?
Open D is especially useful for Open D tuning online, Open D guitar tuner, D-A-D-F#-A-D tuning notes. It changes the way open strings and chord shapes feel, so spend a few minutes listening to the open strings before learning full songs.
Is Open D tuning good for beginners?
Open D is a beginner tuning. Beginners can use it, but it helps to learn the target notes first and start with slower songs before trying fast chord changes.
What songs use Open D tuning?
Popular examples in Open D include Death Letter by Son House, Spring Into Summer by Lizzy McAlpine, Circle by Slipknot. Use the song list on this page to filter by difficulty and pick a first practice target.