Music possesses a unique power to propel us beyond our perceived limits, both as performers and individuals. The dedicated study of music broadens our horizons and expands our capabilities in ways we might not initially imagine.
Certain elements ignite our creativity and lead us to explore previously unforeseen possibilities. Sometimes, adopting a fresh technique or an unconventional approach can unlock entirely new dimensions within the musical realm, leading to an exponential growth in creative potential.
Whether you’re feeling creatively stagnant, just beginning your guitar journey, or simply seeking fresh sonic landscapes, delving into the diverse world of Alternate Guitar Tunings can instigate a profound transformation in your playing style and musical expression.
The Foundation: Standard Guitar Tuning
Standard tuning, EADGBE (from thickest to thinnest string), serves as the bedrock for most guitarists. It’s likely the first tuning you ever learned, and for some, it remains the only tuning they’ve ever utilized. The vast majority of guitar-based songs are composed and performed in standard tuning. Strumming the open strings in standard tuning produces an Em7+11 chord – a voicing rarely employed directly, except perhaps for a subtle Stevie Wonder-esque flourish.
You’ve undoubtedly accumulated countless patterns and shapes specifically tailored to standard tuning. If your guitar experience has been exclusively within the confines of standard tuning, effectively harnessing alternate tunings for guitar might necessitate a leap of imagination. However, this exploration can significantly enhance your ear training and reignite the inquisitive mindset of a beginner.
The realm of six-string guitar tunings is vast, encompassing dozens of variations (a helpful list is provided at the end of this article). In this guide, we will delve into several broad categories of alternate guitar tunings, offering insights and guidance on how to effectively explore them.
Let’s embark on this sonic adventure!
Drop and Down Tunings: Expanding the Low End
The term “drop tuning” carries a dual meaning in guitar terminology. One interpretation refers to transposing the entire standard guitar tuning downwards by a specific interval, akin to using a capo in reverse, but across all strings. The other, more common usage, describes primarily lowering the 6th string (low E string) while maintaining the relative tuning of the higher strings. While both are legitimate techniques, clarity is crucial when discussing them. “Down tuning” more accurately describes the reverse capo concept, while “drop tuning” typically refers to adjustments focused on the lower strings.
For guitarists new to alternate guitar tunings, drop and down tunings offer an accessible entry point without demanding a complete overhaul of familiar chord shapes and scale patterns. This makes them particularly appealing if you gravitate towards genres like rock and metal.
Drop D Tuning: DADGBE – A Gentle Shift
Drop D tuning (DADGBE) presents an ideal starting point for guitarists transitioning from standard tuning. It closely mirrors standard tuning, with the crucial modification of lowering the 6th string by a whole step (from E to D). This subtle change allows most standard left-hand fingerings and patterns to remain applicable.
Drop D has become a cornerstone tuning in rock and metal music due to its expanded lower range and the simplified execution of power chords. By simply barring a single fret position across the lowest three (or even just the 6th and 5th) strings, you effortlessly create a fundamental power chord. This streamlined approach greatly facilitates chord progression creation. The absence of a major or minor third interval in power chords lends them a raw, open sonic character.
Alt text: Drop D guitar tuning chart visually showing string notes DADGBE, ideal starting point for alternate tunings.
Interestingly, Drop D also finds application in acoustic and classical guitar music, though often employed to achieve distinctly different sonic textures. Its close resemblance to standard tuning makes seamless transitions between the two tunings remarkably easy.
Notable examples of songs utilizing Drop D tuning include:
- Foo Fighters, “Everlong”
- Joni Mitchell, “Furry Sings the Blues”
- Rage Against the Machine, “Killing In The Name”
- John Dowland, “Lady Hundson’s Alman”
Drop C Tuning: CGCFAD – Stepping into Lower Frequencies
Drop C tuning (CGCFAD) takes Drop D as its foundation and lowers all strings by a further whole step. This pushes the tuning closer to the sonic territory associated with djent music, without plunging so low that specialized equipment like multi-scale or fanned fret guitars become strictly necessary for optimal playability and sound. Consider it Drop D’s more sonically weighty sibling.
Venturing beyond standard pitch ranges necessitates a re-evaluation of your choice of guitar strings. Lowering string pitch reduces tension, while raising pitch increases it. Excessive tension can lead to hand fatigue or even string breakage. Conversely, insufficient tension in electric guitar strings can result in a loose, floppy feel and diminished note sustain. Therefore, selecting the best guitar strings for drop tuning is paramount for sustained commitment to lower tunings. A general guideline is to increase string gauge by approximately one step for each whole step down in tuning. For instance, a standard .010 high E string exhibits around 17.8 pounds of tension, while an .011 high D string registers about 17.1 pounds. As you tune lower, the gauge adjustments must become more significant to compensate for the reduced tension. A professional guitar setup is always a worthwhile investment when exploring lower tunings.
Alt text: Drop C guitar tuning chart displaying string notes CGCFAD, popular for heavier music genres.
Examples of songs featuring Drop C tuning include:
- Killswitch Engage, “Holy Diver”
- Pretty Reckless, “Going to Hell”
- System of a Down, “Aerials”
- Arch Enemy, “War Eternal”
B Standard Tuning: BEADF#B – Embracing Baritone Depths
An alternative to the “drop string” approach is to down-tune the entire guitar evenly. B Standard tuning (BEADF#B), often informally called “Drop B” due to the overall pitch shift down to B, offers a baritone-esque sonic character. However, “B Standard” is a more accurate descriptor as it preserves the familiar chord shapes and intervallic relationships of standard tuning, merely transposed lower. The further you deviate from E standard, the more critical precise guitar intonation becomes. Intonation ensures accurate tuning across the fretboard, typically calibrated with the 12th fret as the midpoint.
B Standard allows you to leverage your existing left-hand technique without relearning chord shapes, while unlocking a dramatically different and heavier sonic palette.
Alt text: B Standard guitar tuning chart showing string notes BEADF#B, offering baritone-like sound while retaining standard shapes.
Examples of songs in B Standard tuning:
- Soundgarden, “Searching With My Good Eye Closed”
- Black Midi, “953”
- Type O Negative, “Black No.1”
- Electric Wizard, “Funeralopolis”
Open Tunings: Chords at Your Fingertips
Open tunings are characterized by creating a complete chord when the guitar is strummed without fretting any strings. They are named after the root note of this open chord. These tunings can produce major or minor chords, with major open tunings being more prevalent in popular guitar music.
Several core techniques are applicable across most open tunings.
Similar to Drop D, barring across the guitar neck in open tunings provides a straightforward method for creating chord progressions. While not all progressions will be musically desirable, a sequence of major chords, for instance, is often more practically useful than a long string of minor chords. Conversely, in an open minor tuning, forming a major chord is generally simpler than the reverse. Utilizing a slide in open tunings employs the same principle of barring, but with the distinct sonic qualities inherent to slide guitar playing.
Arpeggios are naturally facilitated in open tunings. Incorporating melody within chords and arpeggios becomes a hallmark technique for open tuned guitars. Strumming the open chord while fretting one or more strings, and then moving these fretted notes along the fretboard, unlocks a wealth of interesting effects and musical possibilities. Open tunings are an excellent and accessible way to familiarize yourself and your guitar with the world of alternate guitar tunings.
Open D Tuning: DADF#AD – Bluegrass and Beyond
Open D tuning (DADF#AD) is particularly favored in bluegrass music, where the keys of G and D are dominant. This tuning lends itself exceptionally well to rapid fingerpicking styles.
Here are a couple of starting points to explore Open D:
Form an E7 chord shape (020100 in standard tuning). In Open D, this shape becomes a suspended D chord (DBDGAD). Move this same shape up two frets (040300). This yields a DC#DAAD chord, hinting at a major 7th quality.
Next, try an “E chord” shape (022100 in standard tuning). In Open D, this creates a “very suspended” chord (DBEGAD; a sus2,4,6). Strum the chord, then release your fretting hand on the subsequent strum to create a sense of resolution.
These are just a few basic ideas to ignite your creative exploration in Open D.
Alt text: Open D guitar tuning chart DADF#AD, ideal for bluegrass and fingerpicking styles.
Numerous songs utilize Open D tuning, including:
- Joni Mitchell, “Big Yellow Taxi”
- Bruce Cockburn, “Sunwheel Dance”
- Pearl Jam, “Even Flow”
- My Bloody Valentine, “Sometimes”
Open G Tuning: DGDGBD – Blues, Folk, and Slide Staple
Open G tuning (DGDGBD) is frequently encountered in blues, folk, and slide guitar music.
The Rolling Stones famously employed Open G extensively, with Keith Richards often removing the 6th string entirely from many of his guitars to ensure the root (G) was the lowest note. The Black Crowes are also renowned proponents of Open G.
Alt text: Open G guitar tuning chart DGDGBD, popular in blues, folk, and slide guitar genres.
Examples of songs using Open G tuning:
- Rolling Stones, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”
- The White Stripes, “Death Letter”
- Chet Atkins, “Spanish Fandango”
- Black Crowes, “Twice As Hard”
Joni Mitchell also utilized another variation of Open G (GGDGBD) in “Electricity” and “For The Roses.”
Open C Tuning: CGCGCE (or CGCGCC) – Versatile and Heavy
Open C tuning (typically CGCGCE, alternate CGCGCC) is often associated with 12 string guitars but is also widely used on six-string guitars. The recurring C and G notes across the lower five strings make this tuning remarkably intuitive and well-suited to heavy, riff-oriented playing, similar to drop tunings.
Open C is also one of the most adaptable open tunings. The E on the 1st string gives it a major tonality, but this note can be easily avoided for a more ambiguous or minor sound.
Alt text: Open C guitar tuning chart CGCGCE, versatile for both heavy riffs and melodic playing.
Examples of Open C tuning in songs:
- Elliot Smith, “Independence Day”
- Big Thief/Adrianne Lenker, “Wolf”
- Stephen Stills – “Love The One You’re With”
- John Butler Trio, “Ocean”
DADGAD Tuning: DADGAD – Celtic and Beyond
DADGAD tuning (DADGAD) derives its name from the string note sequence.
DADGAD tuning shares similarities with open tunings in that it creates a chord when strummed openly – in this case, a suspended fourth chord. Consequently, many techniques applicable to open tunings are also effective in DADGAD.
DADGAD is prevalent in Celtic music, but also finds application in folk, metal, rock, and numerous other genres. Jimmy Page famously used it in “Kashmir,” “Black Mountain Side,” and “White Summer.” Pierre Bensusan’s acoustic guitar work heavily features DADGAD, and he has even authored books on the subject.
DADGAD resonates best in the keys of D minor and B minor, making it advisable to focus your repertoire within these keys. The “suspended” nature of DADGAD allows unfretted strings to produce sympathetic vibrations and a rich resonance. DADGAD also naturally complements the melodic character of Celtic/Irish/Scottish music, often featuring melodies over sustained drones from the lower strings.
To further enhance the “suspended” quality, fretting the 4th string at the second fret adds a “sus2” element to the D major chord. Because DADGAD omits the 3rd of the chord, it can theoretically function in both major and minor key contexts.
Alt text: DADGAD guitar tuning chart DADGAD, popular in Celtic music and known for lush resonance.
Basic chords in DADGAD:
- Dmaj – OO542OO
- Gmaj – 55O4OO
- Asus – OO22OO
- B7 – X2122X
- Emin7 – 22OOXX
- F#min7 – 4422XX
- Cmaj – X34O3O
Examples of songs using DADGAD tuning:
- Led Zeppelin, “Kashmir”
- Russian Circles, “Xavii”
- John Fahey, “Voice of the Turtle”
- Ani Defranco, “If It Isn’t Her”
Open E Tuning: EBEG#BE – Slide and Airy Riffs
Open E tuning (EBEG#BE) is a popular alternate guitar tuning due to its sonic similarity to standard E tuning. Open E tuning is well-suited for slide guitar and creating airy, spacious riffs. Its familiarity to standard E major allows for easy transitions and melodic explorations within a familiar harmonic context.
Alt text: Open E guitar tuning chart EBEG#BE, ideal for slide guitar and riffs in E major context.
Examples of songs in Open E tuning:
- The Allman Brothers Band, “Statesboro Blues”
- Bo Diddley, “Bo Diddley”
- The Smiths, “Headmaster’s Ritual”
- Bob Dylan, “Blood on the Tracks”
Open F9 (‘American Football’) Tuning: FACGCE – Math Rock and Emo Innovation
Open F9 tuning (FACGCE) produces a unique and somewhat bright F9 chord. It has gained favor among modern bands exploring math rock and emo styles. These genres often embrace open tunings for the creative possibilities that arise when incorporating tapping and pull-offs with open strings. One of the early and prominent examples in this style is ‘Never Meant’ by American Football, giving rise to the tuning’s nickname, “American Football tuning.”
Contemporary players like Yvette Young of Covet and Tim Collis of TTNG have further pushed the boundaries of this tuning and playing style.
Alt text: Open F9 guitar tuning chart FACGCE, popular in math rock and emo, nicknamed “American Football tuning”.
Examples of songs using Open F9 tuning:
- Covet, “Pelagic”
- TTNG, “Crocodile”
- American Football, “Never Meant”
- Into It. Over It., “Midnight: Carroll Street”
Intervallic Tunings: Beyond Perfect Fourths
Standard tuning largely relies on consistent intervals between strings. Apart from the major third between the G and B strings, the intervals are primarily perfect fourths. This means that the distance between notes is generally consistent across the fretboard. However, other alternate tunings are constructed using different intervallic patterns.
New Standard Tuning: CGDAEG – Fifths and Range
Developed by the innovative Robert Fripp of King Crimson, New Standard Tuning (CGDAEG) is inspired by the cello and is aptly named. New Standard Tuning employs perfect fifths across all strings up to the G string. The high G string is tuned down from what would be a perfect fifth (A) because a higher note would be unsustainable on a guitar. This tuning expands the guitar’s range compared to standard tuning and facilitates Fripp’s distinctive emphasis on quintal harmony, enabling larger intervallic movements with smaller hand positions.
Alt text: New Standard Tuning guitar chart CGDAEG, developed by Robert Fripp, based on perfect fifths for extended range.
Major Thirds Tuning: CEG#CEG# – Symmetrical and Atonal
Ralph Patt, an avant-garde guitarist, drew inspiration from the atonal music movement pioneered by Schoenberg and expanded upon by free jazz improvisers like Ornette Coleman and late-era John Coltrane. To better explore atypical and non-diatonic tonal centers, Patt adopted an all major-thirds tuning. This tuning introduces symmetry to the guitar neck and disrupts familiar, consonant muscle memory patterns associated with standard tuning.
Nashville Tuning: eadgBE (Octave Strings) – Studio Enhancement
Nashville tuning (eadgBE) is named after Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville tuning was developed as a studio technique to add rhythmic and harmonic texture without overwhelming the mix with a full guitar sound. It essentially uses the octave strings from a 12-string guitar set. The first two strings (E and A) are tuned normally, while the lower four strings (D, G, B, E) are tuned an octave higher than standard. This results in a familiar fretboard layout with a brighter, chiming tonal character. This concept can be combined with other tunings, such as tuning down Nashville tuning.
High Strung Tuning: eadGBE (Partial Octave Strings) – Mix Clarity
High Strung tuning (eadGBE) is similar to Nashville tuning and serves as another studio trick for adding unique textures without dominating the mix. The key difference is that only the lower three strings (D, G, B) are tuned an octave higher than standard, while the top three strings (E, A, D) remain in standard tuning.
All Fifths Tuning: B♭FCGDA – Jazz Symmetry
Carl Kress, an early American jazz guitarist, sought a symmetrical tuning akin to those later explored by Robert Fripp and Ralph Patt, but well before their time. While Fripp’s cello influence limited his tuning range, Kress tuned lower to achieve an all-fifths tuning (B♭FCGDA) across the entire fretboard.
This overview provides a glimpse into the expansive world of alternate guitar tunings. While we’ve covered a range of tunings and concepts, the internet offers a wealth of resources, including numerous instructional videos, to delve deeper into this subject. If you find a particular tuning resonates with you, consider creating a custom guitar strings set to achieve balanced string tension and feel.
Finally, I highly recommend watching Jim Martin’s 4-part video series on alternate guitar tunings. He is a true master of the subject, demonstrating many of the tunings discussed here and beyond. His ability to seamlessly switch between tunings is particularly impressive (likely aided by perfect pitch). You can begin watching here. Links to the subsequent videos are provided below the first video.
Embrace the exploration of alternate tunings on your guitar! And remember, this is just the beginning. Microtonal tunings like quarter tone tuning and even unconventional approaches like playing the guitar upside down offer endless avenues for sonic experimentation.
Comprehensive List of Alternate Guitar Tunings
- Standard e2 a2 d3 g3 b3 e4
- Drop D d2 a2 d3 g3 b3 e4
- D# Standard d#2 g#2 c#3 f#3 a#3 d#4
- D Standard d2 g2 c3 f3 a3 d4
- C# Standard c#2 f#2 b2 e3 g#3 c#4
- Double Drop D d2 a2 d3 g3 b3 d4
- Drop C c2 g2 c3 f3 a3 d4
- Drop C# c#2 g#2 c#3 f#3 a#3 d#4
- Drop B b1 f#2 b2 e3 g#3 c#4
- Drop A# a#1 f2 a#2 d#3 g3 c4
- Drop A a1 e2 a2 d3 f#3 b3
- Open D d2 a2 d3 f#3 a3 d4
- Open D Minor d2 a2 d3 f3 a3 d4
- Open G d2 g2 d3 g3 b3 d4
- Open G Minor d2 g2 d3 g3 a#3 d4
- Open C c2 g2 c3 g3 c4 e4
- Open C# c#2 f#2 b3 e3 g#3 c#4
- Open C Minor c2 g2 c3 g3 c4 d#4
- Open E7 e2 g#2 d3 e3 b3 e4
- Open E Minor7 e2 b2 d3 g3 b3 e4
- Open G Major7 d2 g2 d3 f#3 b3 d4
- Open A Minor e2 a2 e3 a3 c4 e4
- Open A Minor7 e2 a2 e3 g3 c4 e4
- Open E e2 b2 e3 g#3 b3 e4
- Open A e2 a2 c#3 e3 a3 e4
- C Tuning c2 f2 a#2 d#3 g3 c4
- C# Tuning c#2 f#2 b2 e3 g#3 c#4
- Bb Tuning a#1 d#2 g#2 c#3 f3 a#3
- A Standard a1 d2 g2 c3 e3 a3
- D A D D D D d2 a2 d3 d3 d4 d4
- C G D G B D c2 g2 d3 g3 b3 d4
- C G D G B E c2 g2 d3 g3 b3 e4
- D A D E A D d2 a2 d3 e3 a3 d4
- D G D G A D d2 g2 d3 g3 a3 d4
- Open Dsus2 d2 a2 d3 g3 a3 d4
- Open Gsus2 d2 g2 d3 g3 c4 d4
- G6 d2 g2 d3 g3 b3 e4
- Modal G d2 g2 d3 g3 c4 d4
- Overtone c3 e3 g3 a#3 c4 d4
- Pentatonic a2 c3 d3 e3 g3 a4
- Minor Third c3 d#3 f#3 a3 c4 d#4
- Major Third c3 e3 g#3 c4 e4 g#4
- All Fourths e2 a2 d3 g3 c4 f4
- Augmented Fourths c2 f#2 c3 f#3 c4 f#4
- Slow Motion d2 g2 d3 f3 c4 d4
- Admiral c2 g2 d3 g3 b3 c4
- Buzzard c2 f2 c3 g3 a#3 f4
- Face c2 g2 d3 g3 a3 d4
- Four and Twenty d2 a2 d3 d3 a3 d4
- Ostrich d2 d3 d3 d3 d4 d4
- Capo 300 c2 g2 d3 d#3 d4 d#4
- Balalaika e2 a2 d3 e3 e3 a3
- Charango g2 c3 e3 a3 e4
- Cittern One c2 f2 c3 g3 c4 d4
- Cittern Two c2 g2 c3 g3 c4 g4
- Dobro g2 b2 d3 g3 b3 d4
- Lefty e4 b3 g3 d3 a2 e2
- Mandoguitar c2 g2 d3 a3 e4 b4
- Rusty Cage b1 a2 d3 g3 b3 e4
