Alternate guitar tunings are tunings other than standard E, A, D, G, B, E, such as Drop D, where the low E string is tuned down to D, open G, where the open strings make a G major chord, and DADGAD, where the open strings make a Dsus4 chord. Alternate tunings give new sounds, new chord shapes, and new possibilities.
What are alternate guitar tunings?
Alternate guitar tunings are tunings other than standard E, A, D, G, B, E, such as Drop D, where the low E string is tuned down to D, open G, where the open strings make a G major chord, and DADGAD, where the open strings make a Dsus4 chord. Alternate tunings give new sounds, new chord shapes, and new possibilities, because the open strings are different, and the chords are different, and the guitar sounds different, even though the player is the same. The alternate tunings are used for different styles: Drop D is used in rock and metal, because it gives a low, heavy bass, and a power chord with one finger; open G is used in blues and folk, because it gives a ringing, open sound, and a slide guitar; and DADGAD is used in Celtic and folk, because it gives a modal, droning sound, and a different chord vocabulary. The standard tuning is the most versatile, but the alternate tunings are the most specialised, and each one is the best for its style. The guitar tuner tunes the guitar to any tuning, and the note frequency calculator shows the pitch of any note.
How alternate tunings work
An alternate tuning works by changing the pitch of one or more strings, so the open strings make a different chord, or a different interval, and the guitar sounds different. Drop D changes only one string, the low E, down a whole tone, to D, so the open strings are D, A, D, G, B, E, and the low D gives a deeper bass, and the power chord can be played with one finger, barring the 6th, 5th and 4th strings. Open G changes three strings, the 6th, 5th and 1st, so the open strings are D, G, D, G, B, D, and the open strings make a G major chord, G, B, D, and the guitar can be played with a slide, barring the strings. DADGAD changes three strings, the 6th, 2nd and 1st, so the open strings are D, A, D, G, A, D, and the open strings make a Dsus4 chord, D, G, A, and the tuning is modal, with no major or minor 3rd, so the chords are open and ambiguous, and the tuning is used for Celtic and folk, where the drone is important. The D major guitar chord and the G major guitar chord are the chords the alternate tunings are built on, and the key of D major is the key Drop D is built for.
Worked example — Drop D tuning. Tune the low E string down a whole tone, from E2, 82.41 Hz, to D2, 73.42 Hz, and the open strings are now D, A, D, G, B, E, and the guitar is in Drop D tuning. Play a power chord, barring the 6th, 5th and 4th strings at the 5th fret, with one finger, and the notes are G, D, G, which are the root, the 5th, and the root of G, and the power chord is played with one finger, because the 6th and 5th strings are a perfect 5th apart, D and A, and the 4th string is the octave, D. The Drop D tuning gives a low, heavy bass, and a power chord with one finger, and it is used in rock and metal, for the heavy sound. The key of D major lists the chords the tuning is built for.
How to practise alternate tunings
Practise alternate tunings by tuning your guitar to one, and playing the open strings, and the chords, so the new tuning becomes familiar, and the new sounds are learned.
- Tune your guitar to Drop D, by tuning the low E string down a whole tone, to D, and play the open strings, D, A, D, G, B, E, listening for the low bass.
- Tune your guitar to open G, by tuning the 6th, 5th and 1st strings, and play the open strings, D, G, D, G, B, D, listening for the G major chord.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in D major in Drop D tuning, and listen for the chords to sound different, with the low bass.
- Practise with the guitar tuner to tune to any alternate tuning, and check the tuning by playing the open strings.
- Learn the chord shapes in the new tuning, by playing the open chords, and the barre chords, and naming the chords, so the tuning is learned, not just tuned.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to retune to standard — An alternate tuning changes the strings, and forgetting to retune to standard will make the guitar sound wrong, when the next song is in standard tuning. Retune to standard, E, A, D, G, B, E, when the alternate tuning song is done, or the next song will be out of tune.
- Tuning a string too low — A string tuned too low will be loose, and it will buzz, and it will not hold its pitch, because the tension is too low. Tune the string to the right pitch, not lower, and check it with a tuner, so the tension is right.
- Using the wrong chord shapes — An alternate tuning changes the chord shapes, because the open strings are different, and using standard tuning chord shapes in an alternate tuning will make the chords wrong. Learn the chord shapes for the new tuning, and the chords will be right.
Quick reference
This table shows the three common alternate tunings, with the open strings and the style each one is used for, so you can see the tunings side by side and choose the one that fits the song. Drop D gives a low bass, open G gives a ringing chord, and DADGAD gives a modal drone, and each one is the best for its style.
| Tuning | Open strings | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Drop D | D – A – D – G – B – E | Rock and metal, low bass |
| Open G | D – G – D – G – B – D | Blues and folk, slide guitar |
| DADGAD | D – A – D – G – A – D | Celtic and folk, modal drone |
Use the table to try an alternate tuning: pick one, tune your guitar to it, play the open strings, and listen for the new sound, and learn the chord shapes in the new tuning. When you can play in an alternate tuning, you have a new sound, and the guitar has new possibilities.
Frequently asked questions
What are alternate guitar tunings?
Alternate guitar tunings are tunings other than standard E, A, D, G, B, E, such as Drop D, open G, and DADGAD, which give new sounds, new chord shapes, and new possibilities, because the open strings are different.
What is Drop D tuning?
Drop D tuning is tuning the low E string down a whole tone, to D, so the open strings are D, A, D, G, B, E, and the guitar has a low, heavy bass, and a power chord can be played with one finger.
What is open G tuning?
Open G tuning is tuning the open strings to make a G major chord, D, G, D, G, B, D, so the open strings are G, B, D, and the guitar can be played with a slide, barring the strings, and it is used in blues and folk.
What is DADGAD tuning?
DADGAD tuning is tuning the open strings to D, A, D, G, A, D, so the open strings make a Dsus4 chord, D, G, A, and the tuning is modal, with no major or minor 3rd, and it is used in Celtic and folk, for the droning sound.
Should I learn alternate tunings as a beginner?
Not at first. Learn standard tuning first, because it is the most versatile, and most music is written for it, and then learn alternate tunings, one at a time, when you want a new sound, or a new style, and the standard tuning is solid.