Standard tuning is the bedrock for most guitarists, the E-A-D-G-B-E configuration we all know and often love. It’s where we learn our first chords and scales, and it’s the tuning for countless iconic songs. However, venturing beyond standard tuning and exploring alternate Guitar Tunings can be a game-changer, opening up fresh sonic landscapes and sparking new levels of creativity on the fretboard.
Alternate tunings, as the name suggests, involve tuning your guitar strings differently from the standard setup. This simple change can have a profound impact. Suddenly, familiar riffs become easier to play, power chords resonate with new weight, and open chords bloom with richer textures. Some guitarists gravitate towards alternate tunings to achieve a heavier, more aggressive tone, while others find them perfect for nuanced techniques like slide guitar or intricate fingerpicking patterns.
Throughout music history, a diverse array of alternate tunings have emerged, each contributing to the signature sounds of various genres. By learning to navigate these different tunings, you can unlock a wider repertoire of songs, breathe new life into your existing favorites, and absorb the techniques of legendary guitarists who have harnessed these tunings to create unforgettable music. More than just learning new chords, exploring alternate tunings is a fantastic way to reignite your passion for the guitar and discover entirely new musical avenues.
Dive into the world of alternate tunings with Fender Play instructors Scott and Sebastien in this episode of Fender Play LIVE! They offer inspiring insights into how these tunings can fuel your creativity, alongside practical tips to keep your guitar perfectly in tune as you adjust string tension. For a deeper dive, keep reading to explore some of the most popular and influential alternate tunings used by guitarists worldwide.
Fender Play provides a wealth of resources to guide you through alternate tunings, including dedicated lessons on Open E, Open G, and various drop tunings. Expand your sonic palette and learn to play ten songs across six different alternate tunings with the Alternate Tuning Collection available on Fender Play.
Tuning Your Guitar to Alternate Tunings: A Step-by-Step Approach
When venturing into alternate guitar tunings, careful tuning is key. It’s crucial to adjust your strings methodically, one at a time, to avoid any mishaps. Respecting string tension is paramount, especially when tuning strings higher or lower than their standard pitch.
To minimize the risk of string breakage when tuning up, make small, gradual adjustments. Turn the tuning peg in quarter-turn increments, plucking the string after each adjustment to monitor the pitch. Continue this process until the string reaches the desired note. Repeat this process for each string, moving across the guitar neck.
Tuning string by string allows you to use the pitches of adjacent strings as a reference point, helping you accurately reach the target note for each string in your chosen alternate tuning. For added precision, the Fender Online Guitar Tuner is an invaluable tool. Access the Electric Guitar Online Guitar Tuner or the Acoustic Guitar Online Tuner directly online, or download the Fender Tuner app for convenient tuning on your smartphone.
It’s also worth noting that some lower tunings, particularly Drop A, Drop B, and Drop C, require significant pitch reduction across all six strings – often a full step or more. Lowering string pitch reduces tension, which can sometimes lead to string buzz or rattling against the fretboard. If you plan to use these lower tunings regularly, consider switching to heavier gauge strings to compensate for the reduced tension. Alternatively, a professional guitar setup by a luthier can optimize your instrument for these specific tunings.
Now that you understand the fundamentals of tuning to alternate configurations, let’s explore some of the most popular and widely used alternate guitar tunings. Discover how they are used across genres and learn about iconic songs you can play using these unique sonic palettes. Let’s dive in!
Exploring the Best Alternate Tunings for Guitar
Familiarize yourself with nine popular alternate tunings that have shaped the sound of countless guitarists and diverse musical genres. Your personal musical tastes will likely guide you towards certain tunings that resonate with your preferred styles.
Drop D Tuning
Drop D tuning is often the first alternate tuning many guitarists explore due to its simplicity. It involves altering only one string – the low E string – lowering it a full step down to D. The resulting tuning configuration is D-A-D-G-B-E.
This subtle shift opens up a world of possibilities, particularly for heavier styles of music. Drop D tuning simplifies playing power chords, especially in the lower register, often requiring just one finger to barre across three strings. This tuning lends itself to powerful riffs and a heavier overall sound.
You’ll hear Drop D tuning prominently featured in metal and alternative rock. Iconic songs like “Outshined” by Soundgarden, the Foo Fighters’ anthem “Everlong,” Ozzy Osbourne’s powerful ballad “No More Tears,” Rage Against The Machine’s revolutionary “Killing In The Name,” and Nirvana’s melancholic “All Apologies” all showcase the distinctive sound of Drop D.
Learn more about Drop D tuning.
Open D Tuning
Open D tuning takes a more dramatic step away from standard, re-tuning four of the six strings. In Open D, strumming all six open strings produces a resonant D major chord. The tuning configuration, from lowest to highest string, becomes D-A-D-F#-A-D.
This tuning creates a rich, open sound, ideal for genres like folk, blues, and rock. The open D chord provides a foundational drone that resonates beautifully, and the tuning facilitates slide guitar playing, allowing for expressive glissandos and vibrato.
Explore the sounds of Open D tuning in Joni Mitchell’s classic “Big Yellow Taxi” and the anthemic “The Cave” by Mumford and Sons. These songs exemplify how Open D can create both delicate textures and powerful, driving rhythms.
Learn more about Open D tuning.
Drop C Tuning
Drop C tuning builds upon the Drop tuning concept, but with a lower overall pitch. While Drop D only lowers the low E string, Drop C requires you to lower all six strings on your guitar. The resulting tuning is C-G-C-F-A-D. The name “Drop C” comes from the fact that the lowest string is “dropped” down to a C note.
Drop C maintains a similar chord and fingering relationship to Drop D, but the overall sound is significantly lower, darker, and heavier. This tuning is a staple in metal and hard rock genres, providing a deep, bottom-heavy tone perfect for aggressive riffs and powerful rhythms.
Hear Drop C tuning in action in songs like “My Curse” by Killswitch Engage, “Happy Song” by Bring Me the Horizon, and “Confined” by As I Lay Dying. These tracks showcase the powerful and aggressive character of Drop C.
Learn more about Drop C tuning.
Open G Tuning
Open G tuning, like Open D, creates an open chord when all strings are strummed – in this case, a G major chord. This tuning requires adjusting several strings to create the G-B-D chord tones within the open string configuration. From lowest to highest, Open G tuning is D-G-D-G-B-D.
Open G is a favorite among blues, folk, and classic rock guitarists. Perhaps the most iconic Open G proponent is Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. He utilized this tuning extensively in countless classic riffs, including “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and “Street Fighting Man.”
Beyond the Rolling Stones, Open G’s versatility is evident in songs like Joni Mitchell’s “Little Green” and “Nathan LaFraneer,” Muddy Waters’ blues standard “Walkin’ Blues,” Led Zeppelin’s acoustic masterpiece “Goin’ to California,” and the Black Crowes’ soulful “Hard to Handle.”
Learn more about Open G tuning.
Open C Tuning
Open C tuning delivers a full, resonant C major chord when you strum all the open strings. This tuning requires significant downward tuning of several strings, resulting in looser string tension compared to standard tuning. The tuning configuration for Open C, from lowest to highest, is C-G-C-G-C-E.
Open C’s rich and powerful sound lends itself to a diverse range of genres, from folk and rock to indie and alternative music. Its versatility is showcased in songs like Led Zeppelin’s “Friends,” Soundgarden’s “A Thousand Days Before,” “King of Spain” by The Tallest Man on Earth, and Ben Howard’s introspective “The Fear.”
Learn more about Open C tuning.
Drop B Tuning
Drop B tuning takes your guitar into even heavier sonic territory. It lowers the low E string by a significant two and a half steps, and the remaining five strings are tuned down by one and a half steps relative to standard tuning. The resulting Drop B tuning is B-Gb-B-E-Ab-Db.
This ultra-low tuning is a natural fit for darker, heavier music genres like metal, doom metal, and sludge metal. Drop B’s crushing low-end is prominent in metal masterpieces such as “Duality” by Slipknot and “Whispers in the Dark” by Skillet, and it’s a common tuning used by bands like Tool, Pentagram, Disturbed, and Sevendust.
Learn more about Drop B tuning.
Open E Tuning
Open E tuning is a brighter open tuning that offers a slight variation on standard tuning. It allows you to play an E major chord simply by strumming all open strings. To achieve Open E, you tune your strings (lowest to highest) to E-B-E-G#-B-E.
This versatile tuning finds its place in blues, folk, and rock genres. Blues legend Bo Diddley famously used Open E tuning on his self-titled track “Bo Diddley.” Keith Richards also favored Open E, using it on Rolling Stones classics like “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Gimme Shelter.” Folk icon Bob Dylan used Open E extensively on his seminal album Blood on the Tracks.
Learn more about Open E tuning.
Drop A Tuning
Drop A tuning pushes the boundaries of low-end even further. It involves tuning all strings down a fourth and then lowering the low E string an additional step. The resulting tuning is A-E-A-D-F#-B.
Drop A is a staple in hard rock and heavy metal, delivering incredibly deep and powerful tones. You’ll recognize Drop A tuning in songs like “Citizen Erased” by Muse, Slipknot’s aggressive “Psychosocial,” and “Gravity’s Union” by Coheed and Cambria.
Learn more about Drop A tuning.
Unlock Your Guitar’s Potential with Alternate Tunings
Exploring alternate guitar tunings is an essential step in your guitar journey. It’s a gateway to new sounds, techniques, and creative possibilities. Whether you’re seeking heavier tones, open chord resonance, or simply a fresh perspective on the fretboard, alternate tunings offer a wealth of sonic exploration.
Learning guitar takes dedication and practice, and understanding alternate tunings is a fundamental skill that expands your musical toolkit. Experiment with these tunings, discover your favorites, and unlock a universe of songs and musical ideas. Take your playing to the next level and begin your free trial with Fender Play today to access a vast library of lessons and songs to guide your exploration of guitar tunings and beyond.
