Open Tunings for Guitar: Drop D, DADGAD, and Alternative Tunings
What Are Open Tunings for Guitar?
With an open tuning, the guitar is tuned so that the open strings together already form a chord or a specific harmonic sound structure.
Unlike standard tuning E-A-D-G-B-E, one or more strings are tuned lower or higher. This not only changes chord voicings but often the entire feel of playing on the fretboard.
Open tunings are particularly popular for slide guitar, blues, folk, and acoustic guitar. However, alternative tunings are also used in rock and modern guitar music to create new timbres and unusual voicings.
Not every alternative tuning automatically has to result in a complete open chord. Terms like 'open tuning' and 'alternative guitar tuning' are therefore often used somewhat broadly in everyday language.
Drop D – The Simplest Alternative Guitar Tuning
For many guitarists, Drop D is the easiest introduction to alternative guitar tunings.
Only the low E string is tuned down a whole step to D. The tuning then becomes D-A-D-G-B-E.
The big advantage: The bottom three strings now form a power chord that can be played with a single finger. That's why Drop D is particularly widespread in rock, metal, and modern guitar music.
At the same time, the upper five strings remain unchanged compared to standard tuning. Many familiar chord voicings and scales therefore still work as usual.
DADGAD – Open Sounds and Floating Chords
DADGAD is one of the most well-known alternative guitar tunings. The strings are tuned to D-A-D-G-A-D.
The open strings do not produce a classic major or minor chord. Instead, a floating, open sound character emerges, which is excellent for modal music, folk, fingerstyle, and atmospheric guitar parts.
Due to the repeated D and A notes, many resonances occur between fretted and open strings. Even simple chord shapes can therefore sound very broad and complex.
However, DADGAD requires a rethinking of the fretboard. Familiar chord shapes from standard tuning cannot simply be adopted unchanged.
Further Alternative Guitar Tunings
In addition to Drop D and DADGAD, there are numerous other guitar tunings.
With lower tunings, several or all strings are tuned down. This changes string tension, sound, and feel, and is often used for heavier or particularly deep guitar sounds.
Open major and minor tunings are particularly popular for slide guitar. The open strings already form a complete chord, allowing chords across all six strings to be played with a straight barre.
Which tuning makes sense depends heavily on the musical style, playing technique, and desired sound. An alternative tuning is not an end in itself – it should open up musical possibilities that are difficult or impossible to achieve in standard tuning.
How to Safely Tune Your Guitar to an Open Tuning
Tune each string individually and carefully check which target note it needs to reach.
Especially when tuning down, you should pay attention to hitting the correct pitch range. A chromatic tuner can recognize the note, but it doesn't automatically tell you which string should have which target note in the chosen tuning.
Fixed tuning modes are therefore particularly practical. You select the desired guitar tuning, and the tuner guides you through the appropriate target notes for each individual string.
In Fixed Mode, TUNE-O-MATIC guides you string by string through alternative guitar tunings like Drop D or DADGAD.
TUNE-O-MATIC offers various fixed guitar tunings such as Standard Tuning, Drop D, DADGAD, and Low C. This allows you to set alternative tunings in a controlled manner, string by string.
Consider Different String Tension for Alternative Tunings
If you tune your guitar significantly lower, the string tension decreases. The strings feel softer and can vibrate more strongly with a powerful strum.
For permanently lower tunings, a different string gauge may therefore be advisable. Thicker strings compensate for some of the lost tension and often provide a more stable playing feel.
Changing string gauge or a permanently altered tuning can also affect the guitar's setup. Neck relief, string action, and intonation should therefore be checked after major changes.
We explain how to properly check your guitar's intonation in our detailed setup article.
Open Tunings Open Up New Possibilities on the Guitar
Alternative guitar tunings don't just change the pitch of individual strings. They change the way you think about chords, melodies, and the fretboard.
Drop D extends standard tuning with a powerful low D and simple power chords. DADGAD creates open, floating soundscapes. Other open tunings enable new chord shapes and particularly resonant sounds.
Take your time to musically explore a new tuning. First, play only the open strings, look for simple chords, and pay attention to which notes resonate with each other.
With a guitar tuner that supports fixed alternative tunings, you can safely switch between different tunings at any time.
GIT-O-MATIK combines a guitar tuner, metronome, and timing analysis in one practice software for guitarists.