Guitar Open Tunings - Complete Guide to Open G, Open D, and DADGAD

Why Use Open Tunings?

Open tunings transform the guitar into a different instrument. Chord shapes become simpler, new voicings become possible, and slide playing becomes intuitive. Many iconic songs rely on open tunings for sounds impossible in standard tuning.

Open G Tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D)

The Rolling Stones tuning. Lower strings 1, 5, and 6 by one whole step each.

Standard:  E  A  D  G  B  E
Open G:    D  G  D  G  B  D
Change:    ↓1 ↓1  =  =  = ↓1

Open strum = G major chord

Chord shapes in Open G:
Fret 0:  G major    (000000)
Fret 5:  C major    (555555)
Fret 7:  D major    (777777)
Fret 12: G major    (12-12-12-12-12-12)

Open G Riff: Keith Richards Style

Open G tuning — often played without 6th string:

B|---0---0---3---0---0---0---3---0--|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|
D|---0---0---0---0---2---2---0---0--|
G|---0---0---2---0---2---2---2---0--|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|

Open D Tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D)

The classic slide guitar tuning. Lower strings 1, 2, 3, and 6.

Standard:  E  A  D  G  B  E
Open D:    D  A  D  F# A  D
Change:    ↓1  =  = ↓½ ↓1 ↓1

Open strum = D major chord

Chord shapes in Open D:
Fret 0:  D major    (000000)
Fret 5:  G major    (555555)
Fret 7:  A major    (777777)
Fret 12: D major    (12-12-12-12-12-12)

DADGAD Tuning

A modal tuning producing a Dsus4 chord. Hugely popular in Celtic and acoustic music. Used by Jimmy Page ("Kashmir"), Pierre Bensusan, and Andy McKee.

Standard:  E  A  D  G  B  E
DADGAD:    D  A  D  G  A  D
Change:    ↓1  =  =  = ↓1 ↓1

Open strum = Dsus4 (neither major nor minor)

Useful shapes in DADGAD:
D:       000000
G:       555555 (barre)
A:       777777 (barre)
Dm:      000230
Em:      222020

DADGAD Fingerpicking Pattern

DADGAD tuning:

D|-----0-------0-------0-------0---|
A|---0-------0-------0-------0-----|
G|-----0-------0-------2-------2---|
D|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|
A|---------------------------------|
D|-0-------0-------0-------0-------|

Quick Reference: Popular Open Tunings

Next Steps

Start with Drop D as a gateway to alternate tunings. Then explore fingerpicking patterns in open tunings — they create beautiful cascading harmonics impossible in standard tuning.