Open Tunings Guide for Guitar

1 What Are Open Tunings?

An open tuning is any guitar tuning where the open strings form a chord when strummed without fretting any notes. In standard tuning (EADGBE), the open strings produce a dissonant cluster that is not a recognizable chord. In an open tuning like Open G (DGDGBD), strumming all six open strings produces a full, resonant G major chord. This simple change unlocks an entirely different approach to the instrument.

Open tunings have deep roots in American music. Delta blues players like Robert Johnson, Son House, and Charley Patton used open tunings extensively because they allowed powerful one-finger barre chord voicings and slide guitar playing. The tuning made the guitar more accessible to self-taught musicians and created the raw, resonant sound that defined early blues. From there, open tunings spread into country, folk, rock, and world music traditions.

The practical advantages of open tunings are significant. Because a full chord sounds on the open strings, you can create rich drone effects, play barre chords with a single finger, and access voicings that are physically impossible in standard tuning. The trade-off is that chord shapes you know from standard tuning no longer work, and you need to relearn your fretboard navigation. For many players, this fresh start is actually an advantage: it breaks habitual patterns and inspires new musical ideas.

There are dozens of open tunings, but a handful dominate popular music. Open G, Open D, Open E, and DADGAD (technically a suspended tuning) cover the vast majority of open-tuned music. Learning even one of these tunings well adds an entirely new dimension to your playing and opens doors to musical genres and textures that standard tuning simply cannot replicate.

2 Open G Tuning: The Keith Richards Sound

Open G tuning (DGDGBD, from low to high) is the most widely used open tuning in rock and blues. Keith Richards built the Rolling Stones' rhythm guitar sound around Open G, often removing the low 6th string entirely to play five-string voicings. Songs like "Start Me Up," "Brown Sugar," and "Honky Tonk Women" are all played in Open G. The tuning produces a thick, jangling chord sound that is instantly recognizable.

Open G Tuning: D G D G B D

String:   6th   5th   4th   3rd   2nd   1st
Standard: E     A     D     G     B     E
Open G:   D     G     D     G     B     D
Change:   -2    -2    0     0     0     -2

Tuning steps:
  6th string: tune DOWN a whole step (E to D)
  5th string: tune DOWN a whole step (A to G)
  4th string: stays the same (D)
  3rd string: stays the same (G)
  2nd string: stays the same (B)
  1st string: tune DOWN a whole step (E to D)

Open strings = G major chord (G B D)

Barre chord shapes:
  Fret 2 = A major     Fret 5 = C major
  Fret 7 = D major     Fret 12 = G major (octave)
        

The beauty of Open G is that major chords are available as simple barre shapes across any fret. Lay a finger flat across all strings at the 5th fret and you have a C major chord. Move to the 7th fret for D major. This makes Open G ideal for slide guitar, where the slide naturally forms barre shapes, and for rhythm guitar styles that emphasize percussive strumming and droning open strings.

Keith Richards' approach to Open G involves removing the 6th string and using the 5th string (G) as the bass note, creating a tight, punchy sound without low-end muddiness. His chord voicings often fret only two or three strings while letting the open strings ring, producing a mix of fretted notes and drones that gives the Rolling Stones their characteristic swampy, loose sound. Learning a few Richards-style voicings is the fastest way into Open G playing.

3 Open D Tuning: The Slide Player's Standard

Open D tuning (DADF#AD) tunes the open strings to a D major chord and is the preferred tuning for many slide guitarists. Elmore James, Duane Allman, and Ry Cooder all used Open D extensively. The tuning produces a deep, warm resonance because the lowest string is the root note, giving bass-heavy voicings a powerful foundation that Open G does not quite match.

Open D Tuning: D A D F# A D

String:   6th   5th   4th   3rd   2nd   1st
Standard: E     A     D     G     B     E
Open D:   D     A     D     F#    A     D
Change:   -2    0     0     -1    -2    -2

Tuning steps:
  6th string: tune DOWN a whole step (E to D)
  5th string: stays the same (A)
  4th string: stays the same (D)
  3rd string: tune DOWN a half step (G to F#)
  2nd string: tune DOWN a whole step (B to A)
  1st string: tune DOWN a whole step (E to D)

Open strings = D major chord (D F# A)

Barre chord shapes:
  Fret 2 = E major     Fret 5 = G major
  Fret 7 = A major     Fret 12 = D major (octave)
        

Open D is particularly effective for fingerstyle playing because the bass strings (D-A-D) form a root-fifth-root pattern that provides a strong foundation for alternating bass patterns. Folk and acoustic blues players use this tuning to create full, self-contained arrangements where the thumb handles the bass while the fingers pick out melody and chords on the upper strings. Joni Mitchell used Open D (and its variants) for many of her most famous songs.

For slide guitar, Open D positions all the important blues keys within easy reach. The open strings give you D major, a barre at the 5th fret gives G major, and the 7th fret gives A major, covering the I-IV-V in the key of D. This makes Open D the natural choice for playing Delta blues slide guitar in the style of Robert Johnson, Son House, and modern players like Derek Trucks.

One practical advantage of Open D over Open E (which produces the same chord type but a whole step higher) is that all retuned strings are lowered rather than raised. This means less tension on the neck and strings, reducing the risk of string breakage and making the guitar more comfortable to play. Many vintage and lightweight guitars that cannot handle the extra tension of Open E work perfectly well in Open D.

4 Open E Tuning: Full-Bodied and Resonant

Open E tuning (EBEG#BE) produces an E major chord on the open strings and is essentially Open D raised by a whole step. The higher pitch gives Open E a brighter, more cutting quality compared to Open D's warmth. Duane Allman used Open E for many of his most famous slide parts, including the iconic solo on "Statesboro Blues." The tuning is also associated with Bob Dylan, who used it on acoustic blues tracks.

The main consideration with Open E is string tension. Three strings are tuned up from standard pitch (5th string A to B, 3rd string G to G#, 4th string remains D but the context of higher surrounding strings matters), which increases tension on the neck. On acoustic guitars, this can cause structural issues over time. On electric guitars, the increased tension is generally manageable but may require a truss rod adjustment and heavier gauge strings for optimal playability.

Open E is particularly popular for slide guitar because the key of E is fundamental to blues music. The open strings give you the I chord (E), the 5th fret gives the IV chord (A), and the 7th fret gives the V chord (B), perfectly mapping the standard blues I-IV-V progression. Many players who learn slide in Open D eventually move to Open E for the brighter tone and the convenience of playing in E, the most common blues key.

Beyond slide, Open E works well for droning, raga-influenced guitar styles. The low E string serves as a constant bass drone while fretted notes on the upper strings create melodic lines. This approach was used by the Rolling Stones on tracks like "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (though Richards later adapted the riff for standard tuning in live performance) and by many psychedelic and experimental guitarists who draw on Indian classical music influences.

5 Open C and Other Tunings Worth Exploring

Open C tuning (CGCGCE) produces a C major chord and offers an exceptionally wide pitch range, with the low C sitting a full two whole steps below standard low E. This creates a massive, orchestral sound that is impossible to achieve in standard tuning. Led Zeppelin's "Friends" uses Open C to create its dramatic, almost sitar-like ringing quality. John Butler's instrumental "Ocean" showcases Open C's full range with cascading harmonics and thundering bass notes.

Open A tuning (EAEAC#E) is Open G raised by a whole step, or equivalently, it tunes the open strings to an A major chord. Like the relationship between Open D and Open E, Open A provides brighter tone than Open G at the cost of increased string tension. Some blues players prefer Open A for its cutting quality, especially for slide work in the key of A. Using a capo on the 2nd fret of Open G is a safer alternative.

DADGAD tuning deserves special mention, though it is technically not an open chord tuning. The open strings form a Dsus4 chord (D without the third), creating an ambiguous quality that is neither major nor minor. This ambiguity is what makes DADGAD the favorite tuning of Celtic guitarists like Pierre Bensusan and Davey Graham. The suspended character lends itself to modal melodies and creates a harp-like resonance that standard tuning cannot match.

Other tunings worth exploring include Open Dm (DADFAD), which provides a minor chord on the open strings for darker, more melancholic music; Nick Drake's tuning (CGCFCE) used on "Pink Moon"; and various Nashville or high-strung tunings where certain strings are tuned up an octave for a shimmering, 12-string-like effect. The world of alternate tunings is vast, and each tuning unlocks its own set of musical possibilities.

6 Slide Guitar in Open Tunings

Open tunings and slide guitar are a natural pairing because the slide can fret all strings at the same fret to produce clean major chords. In standard tuning, a slide across all six strings produces dissonant intervals that require careful string muting. In an open tuning, the same technique produces perfect major chords at every fret, making slide playing dramatically more accessible and musically useful.

The basic slide technique in open tunings is straightforward: position the slide directly over the fretwire (not behind it, as with normal fretting), apply light, even pressure, and maintain contact with all strings you want to sound. Mute the strings behind the slide with the fingers trailing behind it, and use your picking hand to mute strings you do not want to ring. In Open D or Open E, placing the slide at the 12th fret gives you the octave of the open chord, a natural home base for slide playing.

Slide Guitar in Open D: Basic Blues Positions

Open (0)  = D major  (I chord)
Fret 5    = G major  (IV chord)
Fret 7    = A major  (V chord)
Fret 12   = D major  (I chord, octave)

Simple Slide Blues Lick in Open D:

D|--0---3---0------12~--12\--0---------|
A|--0---3---0------12~--12\--0---------|
F#|--0--3---0------12~--12\--0---------|
D|--0-----------0-----------0---------|
A|--0-----------0-----------0---------|
D|--0-----------0-----------0---------|

~ = vibrato with slide    \ = slide down
Let bass strings ring as drone while slide works on treble strings
        

Advanced slide players in open tunings use partial barre technique, where the slide covers only two or three strings while the remaining strings are fretted normally or left open. This allows mixing slide melody on the treble strings with fretted bass notes or chords, creating the illusion of two guitarists playing simultaneously. This technique requires precise slide control and string muting but produces some of the most expressive sounds available on the instrument.

7 Adapting Your Playing to Open Tunings

The biggest adjustment when moving to open tunings is accepting that your standard tuning chord shapes and scale patterns no longer apply. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, treat it as liberation from habitual patterns. Many guitarists find that open tunings spark a burst of creativity precisely because they cannot fall back on familiar shapes. Your ear becomes your primary guide, and you discover voicings and melodies you would never have found in standard tuning.

Start your exploration by simply playing the open strings and listening to the chord they produce. Then experiment with fretting one note at a time on each string and listening to how it changes the chord. Find the intervals that sound beautiful and the ones that create useful tension. This exploratory approach, rather than trying to learn a complete new theory system, is how most great open-tuning guitarists discovered their signature sounds.

Transferring songs between standard tuning and open tunings is an excellent learning exercise. Take a song you know well in standard tuning and figure out how to play it in Open G or Open D. The voicings will be different, the bass notes will change, and you may need to rearrange certain passages. But the process teaches you the tuning's geography far faster than abstract exercises. Conversely, explore songs originally written in open tunings, such as classic blues recordings or Rolling Stones tracks, to understand how the tuning shaped those compositions.

If you plan to use open tunings regularly, consider dedicating a guitar to your favorite alternate tuning rather than constantly retuning a single instrument. Frequent retuning stresses strings and can affect intonation and setup. A second guitar in Open G or DADGAD that is always ready to go eliminates the barrier of retuning and encourages you to pick it up more often. Many professional guitarists keep multiple guitars in different tunings on stage for exactly this reason.