One guitar, five setups
Five alternate tunings. One guitar.
Standard tuning is home base. These five tunings change the open strings enough to make new chords, riffs and slide lines fall under your fingers. Pick a preset and hear the strings low to high before you touch a peg.
Preset player
Hear the tuning before you change it.
Pick a preset, then play individual strings or the whole set low to high. These are reference pitches — use a clip-on tuner for the actual adjustment.
Drop D tuning
D2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4
Low E down a whole step to D
Reference tones only. Tune down to the target note; if you overshoot, go below and come back up so the string holds pitch.
The five tunings at a glance
| Tuning | Low → high | Best for | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop D | D2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · E4 | Rock riffs, one-finger power chords and drop-D songs | The low D is looser than standard; do not tune it up to E by habit. |
| E♭ standard | E♭2 · A♭2 · D♭3 · G♭3 · B♭3 · E♭4 | Lower vocals, blues, and a slightly heavier feel with the same shapes | All shapes stay the same, but they sound a semitone lower. A capo at fret 1 returns you to standard pitch. |
| Open G | D2 · G2 · D3 · G3 · B3 · D4 | Slide guitar, blues and open-chord strumming | The open strings sound a G major chord. Standard chord shapes do not work the same way. |
| DADGAD | D2 · A2 · D3 · G3 · A3 · D4 | Celtic, folk and modal accompaniment | There is no major third in the open strings, so the tuning sounds modal rather than plainly major or minor. |
| Open D | D2 · A2 · D3 · F♯3 · A3 · D4 | Slide guitar, blues and open major chords | The open strings are D major. Use a light touch with a slide; the strings are lower and looser than standard. |
Drop D
D–A–D–G–B–E. Lower the 6th string from E to D. That is the whole tuning. The bottom three strings become D–A–D, so one finger across the low three strings gives you a D5 power chord; move the shape and you get the same riff in another key.
Use it for rock riffs, drop-D songs and any part that wants a heavier low end. The low D is looser than the low E, so check the tuning again after a few minutes of playing.
E♭ standard
E♭–A♭–D♭–G♭–B♭–E♭. Every string goes down one semitone. All your standard shapes still work, but the whole guitar sounds lower. It is the easiest alternate tuning if you want a darker or more comfortable key for a singer.
A capo at the 1st fret puts you back at standard pitch. If you tune down, tune up to the target from below; do not overshoot and then drop back down to pitch.
Open G
D–G–D–G–B–D. Strum the open strings and you hear a G major chord. The low three strings are D–G–D, which gives a strong root–fifth–root foundation for slide guitar and blues.
Standard chord shapes do not behave the same way here. Learn the open G chord and a few movable shapes; do not force a standard C shape and expect a C chord.
DADGAD
D–A–D–G–A–D. The low E goes to D, the B goes to A, and the high E goes to D. The open strings have no third, so the tuning sounds suspended and modal rather than plainly major or minor.
It is common in Celtic, folk and modal accompaniment. Because the open strings already form a drone, simple shapes and open strings often sound fuller than they would in standard tuning.
Open D
D–A–D–F♯–A–D. The open strings form a D major chord. The low E goes to D, the G goes to F♯, the B goes to A and the high E goes to D. It is a natural slide tuning and a good way to hear how a major chord changes when the third is built into the open strings.
Open G and Open D are both slide tunings, but they are not interchangeable: the chord, the slide positions and the bass notes are different.
How to tune to a preset
- Start from standard tuning and use a clip-on tuner, one string at a time.
- Lower the target string until the tuner shows the new note. If you overshoot, go below it and come back up.
- Tune the lowest string first, then work upward.
- Play the open strings together and check that the chord or drone sounds clean.
- Re-check after a few minutes; lowered strings can settle and drift.
The preset player above gives you the target pitches, but it is not a microphone tuner. Use a clip-on tuner or a tuner app for the actual adjustment.
Before you leave standard tuning
Lower tunings reduce string tension, which is generally safe for the guitar. If you keep a guitar in Open G, Open D or DADGAD permanently, have the nut and intonation checked and consider a heavier string gauge. Do not tune a string above its target to “make it fit”; that is how strings break and nuts wear.
Start with standard tuning until you can tune all six strings reliably. Then try Drop D, then Open G or Open D for slide, and DADGAD when you want a modal sound.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest alternate tuning to try first?
Drop D. Only the low E string changes, down a whole step to D. You can hear the difference immediately and the rest of the fretboard still feels familiar.
Do I need to change strings for alternate tunings?
Not for occasional use. If you keep a guitar in a much lower tuning permanently, have the nut, truss rod and intonation checked and consider a heavier gauge so the strings are not too loose.
Can I use standard chord shapes in Open G or Open D?
Not in the same way. The open strings form a major chord, so familiar shapes produce different notes. Learn the new tuning's open chord and a few movable shapes instead of forcing standard shapes.
Does tuning down damage the guitar?
No. Lower tension is generally easier on the instrument than tuning above standard. Tune down to the target, not up past it. If a string feels extremely loose, the guitar may need a setup or a heavier gauge.
What is the difference between Open G and Open D?
Open G is D–G–D–G–B–D and sounds a G major chord. Open D is D–A–D–F♯–A–D and sounds a D major chord. Both are popular for slide guitar, but the chord and slide positions are different.
Why does DADGAD sound neither major nor minor?
The open strings are D–A–D–G–A–D. There is no major third (F♯) or minor third (F) in the open tuning, so it sounds suspended and modal. The notes you add with your fingers decide the colour.