Alternate tunings
Drop D, open tunings, DADGAD and lowered tunings; what they change, what they're for and how to switch without harming the guitar.
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Drop D, open tunings, DADGAD and lowered tunings; what they change, what they're for and how to switch without harming the guitar.
Applied
An alternate tuning changes the pitch of one or more open strings. The shapes you know stop working the same way, but you gain ringing open strings, one-finger chords and deeper basses. It pays to know standard tuning well first.
Compare the open strings of four common tunings:
| Tuning | Strings 6 to 1 | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | E A D G B E | Reference |
| Drop D | D A D G B E | Only the 6th drops a whole step |
| Open G | D G D G B D | 6th, 5th and 1st drop a whole step |
| Open D | D A D F♯ A D | A D chord on open strings |
| DADGAD | D A D G A D | A suspended sound, no third |
| Half step down | E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭ | Everything a semitone lower |
Go from standard to Drop D without a tuner, checking against strings that are already in tune:
Step 1 of 3 · Lower the 6th
Keep in mind that the CAGED system and many fingerings only work in standard tuning.
In open G, the strings from 6th to 1st are 5, 1, 5, 1, 3 and 5. Once you know where each degree lies, you can find the third to make minor chords (one fret below the 3) and the seventh for dominant chords.
Lowering a string reduces its tension; raising it increases it. Prefer tunings that lower strings (open G or open D) over those that raise them, such as open E, which pulls three strings above normal tension. If you drop two whole steps or more, use a heavier gauge so the strings don't go floppy and buzz. Big tension changes can alter neck relief and intonation: if you keep a guitar in another tuning for good, check the setup or ask a technician.