Alternate tunings

Tuning up

The site’s tuner knows these tunings: pick one from the list and tune each string. Tuning a string down is safe; never tune a string above its standard note.

Drop D: D A D G B E

Only the low E string goes down a whole step, to D. The power chord on the three low strings can then be played with a single finger laid flat. The sound is deeper and heavier: it’s the tuning of rock and metal.

e|-----------|
B|-----------|
G|-----------|
D|-0-0-5-3-0-|
A|-0-0-5-3-0-|
D|-0-0-5-3-0-|

Open G: D G D G B D

Played open, the guitar sounds a G chord. An index-finger barre across any fret gives a major chord: 5^th fret, C; 7^th fret, D. It’s the tuning of the blues and of many rock riffs.

d|-0-5-7-0-|
B|-0-5-7-0-|
G|-0-5-7-0-|
D|-0-5-7-0-|
G|-0-5-7-0-|
D|-0-----0-|

DADGAD: D A D G A D

A chord that’s neither major nor minor (Dsus4), and it rings. The open strings sound under the melody, like a harp or bagpipes: it’s the tuning of Celtic music and modern fingerstyle.

d|-0-2-0-----0-|
A|-0-----2-0-3-|
G|-0---------2-|
D|-0---------0-|
A|-0-----------|
D|-0---------0-|

The tabs for these demos show the tuning on the left: each line carries the name of its string.

Writing with them

1. Play the open strings, then wander one finger along a single string, letting the others ring.
2. Look for two chords you like, moving only one or two fingers.
3. Record the idea: in a new tuning, you forget your reflexes, and ideas come fast.

You’ve got it when…

• You tune your guitar to Drop D, open G and DADGAD, then back to standard
• You play a riff in Drop D and three chords in open G
• You’ve found a song idea in one of the three tunings