Alternate tunings can seem daunting at first, but by simply adjusting a few tuning pegs on your guitar, you can unlock a completely new sonic landscape. This guide will introduce you to Guitar Open G Tuning, a popular alternate tuning particularly favored in blues and folk music. We’ll explore how to tune your guitar to open G and delve into some well-known songs that utilize this versatile tuning.
What is Guitar Open G Tuning?
Guitar open G tuning is an alternate tuning that allows you to play a G major chord simply by strumming the strings without fretting any notes or using a capo. It’s named “open G” because the strings are tuned to the notes that comprise a G major chord: G, B, and D.
In guitar open G tuning, striking the strings in the open position produces a rich G chord. This is a fundamental characteristic that opens up unique playing possibilities.
One key advantage of tuning your guitar to open G is the simplification of certain chord shapes. The G chord itself is played openly, and many other major chords become easily accessible using barre fingerings. This characteristic makes open G tuning particularly appealing for slide guitar playing.
Beyond chord simplicity, guitar open G tuning imparts a distinct, bluesy tone that differs from standard tuning. This alternate tuning has become deeply ingrained in various musical genres, most notably blues and folk. Pioneering blues musicians like Robert Johnson and folk icons such as Joni Mitchell were known for using open G tuning. Its influence extends into blues-infused rock music, embraced by legendary artists such as The Rolling Stones, George Thorogood, and The Black Crowes.
Lesson: Tuning Your Guitar to Open G
Guitar open G tuning involves altering the tuning of only three strings, yet it creates a significant sonic transformation. Let’s examine the specific changes from standard tuning to open G tuning:
In standard tuning, the six guitar strings are tuned as follows, from the lowest pitch string (thickest) to the highest pitch string (thinnest):
- E (6th string – lowest)
- A (5th string)
- D (4th string)
- G (3rd string)
- B (2nd string)
- E (1st string – highest)
To achieve guitar open G tuning, you’ll make the following adjustments: The low E string (6th string) is tuned down a whole step to D. The A string (5th string) is also lowered a whole step to G. The D, G, and B strings (4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings) remain unchanged. Finally, the high E string (1st string) is tuned down a whole step to D.
Here’s a breakdown of open G tuning:
- D (6th string – tuned down a whole step from E)
- G (5th string – tuned down a whole step from A)
- D (4th string – remains the same)
- G (3rd string – remains the same)
- B (2nd string – remains the same)
- D (1st string – tuned down a whole step from E)
Now that you understand the differences between standard and open G tuning, here are a couple of methods to tune your guitar:
Using a Tuner:
Start by plucking your low E string (6th string). Tune it down a whole step to D by turning the tuning peg clockwise (towards you). Continue plucking the string while adjusting the tuning peg until you reach the correct D note. Repeat this process for the A string (5th string), tuning it down a whole step to G, and the high E string (1st string), tuning it down a whole step to D. The D, G, and B strings do not need to be adjusted.
Pro tip: Utilize the Fender Online guitar tuner for precise tuning. You can choose either the Electric Guitar Online Guitar Tuner or the Acoustic Guitar Online Tuner. Alternatively, download the Fender Tuner app for your smartphone. Both the web and app versions allow you to select Open G and other alternate tunings, simplifying the process.
Tuning by Ear:
If you don’t have a tuner available, you can tune your guitar to open G by ear:
- Tune the 6th string (low E) to D: Play your open 4th string (D). Tune your 6th string down until it matches the pitch of the 4th string. Remember that the 6th string D will be an octave lower than the 4th string D.
- Tune the 5th string (A) to G: Play your open 3rd string (G). Tune your 5th string down until it matches the pitch of the 3rd string.
- Tune the 1st string (high E) to D: Again, use your open 4th string (D) as a reference. Tune your 1st string down until it matches the pitch. The 1st string D will be an octave higher than the 4th string D.
Songs in Open G Tuning
Both blues and folk music genres have extensively utilized guitar open G tuning to achieve a rich and soulful sound. Classic rock, and even modern rock with classic rock influences, also incorporates open G to inject a distinctive bluesy flavor. Let’s explore some examples of how these genres have embraced open G tuning.
Open G Tuning in Folk Music
Folk music icon Joni Mitchell frequently employed alternate tunings, including guitar open G tuning, on many of her early hits. Open G tuning facilitated her fingerpicking style on acoustic guitar, enabling the creation of beautiful arpeggios that complemented her soprano vocals and poetic lyrics. Songs like “Little Green” and “Nathan LaFraneer” are prime examples of her use of open G tuning.
“Little Green,” from her album Blue, explores a spectrum of emotions and paints vivid imagery. “Nathan LaFraneer,” similarly poetic, evokes a specific time and place, blending both positive and negative aspects. Open G tuning enhances the atmospheric quality of both these evocative songs.
Open G Tuning in the Blues Genre
Robert Johnson, a pivotal figure in Delta blues and arguably the father of American blues, paid homage to his mentor, Son House, with his slide guitar rendition of “Walkin’ Blues.” Son House originally recorded the song in 1930, potentially marking one of the earliest instances of open G tuning exposure for listeners. Johnson’s powerful, rhythmic style was a tribute to House’s original, but Johnson’s slide guitar work brought a fresh dimension to the song when he recorded it six years later.
Blues legend Muddy Waters also later recorded “Walkin’ Blues,” adding his signature style. Eric Clapton, too, recorded his own version of “Walkin’ Blues,” infusing a rock element while maintaining the song’s blues roots.
Open G Tuning in Classic Rock / Modern Rock Genres
Numerous classic rock artists, aiming for a bluesy sound combined with electric guitars, adopted guitar open G tuning to further ground their rock music in blues tradition. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones is particularly renowned for his use of open G tuning. It’s prominently featured in their classic hit “Honky Tonk Women,” as well as numerous other iconic tracks such as “Brown Sugar” and “Start Me Up.” Open G tuning has been instrumental in shaping the signature sound of Richards and The Rolling Stones, contributing to songs that remain impactful decades later.
Led Zeppelin also drew from blues influences in many of their songs. You can hear open G tuning in the acoustic track “Going to California” and “In My Time of Dying.” While “Going to California,” featuring Jimmy Page’s guitar and Robert Plant’s vocals, leans towards a folk feel, “In My Time of Dying” is distinctly blues-influenced, even in its lyrical exploration of mortality.
From foundational rock bands to 90s and 21st-century groups, The Black Crowes are known for their bluesy Southern rock sound. They utilized open G tuning on two major hits from their 1990 debut album, “Hard to Handle” and “Twice As Hard.”
Contemporary rock band Eagles of Death Metal also employs guitar open G tuning in many of their songs, including “I Only Want You” and “Secret Plans.”
Explore Guitar Lessons with Fender Play
Alternate tunings like guitar open G tuning can simplify chord playing and facilitate exploring techniques like slide guitar. While experimenting with alternate tunings might initially seem intimidating, it unlocks a wealth of new sounds from your guitar. With practice, you can master open G tuning and then venture into other tunings such as drop D and open D. Expand your musical horizons and discover more alternate tunings with a free trial from Fender Play.
