Alternate Guitar Tunings: 7 Tunings Every Guitarist Should Try

Standard tuning (E A D G B E) is where almost everyone starts, and for good reason. It's a brilliant compromise that makes chords, scales and riffs possible across the whole neck. But it's not the only option. Many of the most distinctive guitar sounds in blues, folk, rock and metal come from alternate tunings, where some strings are tuned to different notes.

Changing tuning can make certain chords easier, create rich droning sounds, unlock slide guitar, or simply inspire you to write something new. This guide introduces seven alternate tunings, how to get into each one, and how to start playing.

Before you retune: a few tips

• Use an accurate tuner. A clip-on tuner or our online tuner makes retuning quick and precise.
• Tune down rather than up whenever possible. Lowering strings reduces tension; raising them a lot can break strings.
• Expect to retune a few times. When you change several strings, the neck tension shifts, so the strings you tuned first may drift. Go through all the strings twice.
• Let new tunings settle. Play for a few minutes and check again.

1. Drop D (D A D G B E)

How to tune: lower the low E string one whole step to D. Tip: play the open D string, then lower the low E until it sounds the same note an octave lower.

Sound: deeper, heavier bass. The low D string rings under D chords for a big, full sound.

Why use it: power chords on the bottom three strings can be played with a single finger across one fret. It's a staple of rock, grunge, metal and acoustic folk. Everything else stays the same as standard tuning, so it's the easiest alternate tuning to start with. See our full guide to drop D tuning.

   D5    F5    G5
e|------------------|
B|------------------|
G|------------------|
D|-0-----3-----5----|
A|-0-----3-----5----|
D|-0-----3-----5----|

2. Half-step down (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭)

How to tune: lower every string by one half step (one fret).

Sound: slightly darker and heavier, with a slinkier feel because the strings have less tension.

Why use it: many classic rock, blues and grunge recordings were made in this tuning. Some singers prefer it because it lowers the key slightly. All your chord shapes work exactly the same; they just sound a half step lower. Bends are easier too.

3. Open G (D G D G B D)

How to tune: from standard, lower the low E to D, lower the A to G, and lower the high E to D. The D, G and B strings stay the same.

Sound: strumming all six open strings gives a full G major chord. It has a ringing, raw, bluesy quality.

Why use it: open G is famous in rock and blues for its chunky, rhythmic riffs, and it's one of the most popular slide guitar tunings. Lay one finger (or a slide) across any fret to play a major chord:

Barre at fret	Chord
Open	G
5	C
7	D
12	G (octave)

That gives you a full I–IV–V blues in G with one finger. Many rock players remove the low D string entirely in open G and play only five strings.

4. Open D (D A D F♯ A D)

How to tune: lower the low E to D, lower the G to F♯, lower the B to A, and lower the high E to D. The A and D strings stay the same.

Sound: a deep, resonant D major chord. Big, warm and ringing.

Why use it: popular for slide guitar, folk and fingerstyle. Like open G, barring a fret gives a major chord: fret 5 is G, fret 7 is A. It's also great for droning, open-string melodies.

5. DADGAD (D A D G A D)

How to tune: lower the low E to D, lower the B to A, and lower the high E to D. The A, D and G strings stay the same.

Sound: neither major nor minor. Open, haunting and modal, with a strong drone. It's sometimes called "Dsus4 tuning" because the open strings form a Dsus4 chord.

Why use it: hugely popular in Celtic music, folk and modern acoustic fingerstyle. Because the open strings drone under everything, simple fingerings sound rich and atmospheric. Try fretting just the 2nd fret of the G string and strumming everything: you get a huge, open D5 sound with no major or minor third. Then move that finger to the 4th or 5th fret of the G string and let the open strings ring around it. For a full D major chord, add the 4th fret of the D string as well, which supplies the F♯.

6. Open E (E B E G♯ B E)

How to tune: raise the A string a whole step to B, raise the D string a whole step to E, and raise the G string a half step to G♯.

Sound: bright, ringing E major chord with a lot of tension and punch.

Why use it: a classic slide guitar tuning in blues and rock. It works like open D, just a whole step higher. Note that it raises the tension on three strings, so some players prefer to use open D with a capo on the 2nd fret instead, which gives the same chord shapes and pitch with less stress on the guitar.

7. Open C (C G C G C E)

How to tune: lower the low E to C (two whole steps), lower the A to G (one whole step), lower the D to C (one whole step), and raise the B string a half step to C. The G and high E strings stay as they are.

Sound: very deep, wide and resonant, with a huge low end.

Why use it: loved by fingerstyle and ambient acoustic players for its rich, piano-like range. Because the low string is tuned so far down, it works best with slightly heavier strings, or the low C can feel floppy and buzz.

Comparison table

Tuning	Notes (low to high)	Strings to change	Best for
Standard	E A D G B E	None	Everything
Drop D	D A D G B E	1	Rock, metal, folk
Half-step down	E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭	6	Classic rock, blues, grunge
Open G	D G D G B D	3	Rock riffs, slide, blues
Open D	D A D F♯ A D	4	Slide, folk, fingerstyle
DADGAD	D A D G A D	3	Celtic, folk, fingerstyle
Open E	E B E G♯ B E	3 (raised)	Slide, blues
Open C	C G C G C E	4	Fingerstyle, ambient

How to learn songs in alternate tunings

• Check the tuning first. Tabs usually list the tuning at the top. If it says "drop D" or "open G," retune before you start, or nothing will sound right.
• Read tab, not chord names. Chord shapes change in alternate tunings, so tab is often more useful than chord charts. See our guide on how to read guitar tabs.
• Use your ears. Explore the open strings and listen for what sounds good. Alternate tunings reward experimentation.
• Keep one guitar in standard if you have more than one, so you don't spend all your practice time retuning.

Why alternate tunings help creativity

In standard tuning, your fingers tend to go to the same familiar shapes. Changing the tuning breaks those habits. Shapes you know produce new chords, open strings ring in unexpected places, and your ears lead the way. Many songwriters retune specifically to escape a creative rut. Even five minutes of exploring an open tuning can spark a new idea.

Strings and setup for alternate tunings

Lowering strings reduces their tension, which can make them feel loose and cause buzzing. If you play a lot in low tunings, slightly heavier strings help. Raising strings increases tension, so avoid tuning strings far above standard. If you switch tunings often, you may notice your guitar needs small setup adjustments over time. Our guide on how to choose guitar strings covers gauges for different tunings.

Common mistakes

• Not retuning twice. Changing several strings shifts the neck tension; go through them again.
• Tuning strings too high. Risk of breaking strings and stressing the guitar.
• Forgetting the tuning before playing with others. Tell bandmates if you're in a different tuning.
• Using standard chord charts. They won't work in open tunings; use tabs or learn the new shapes.
• Rushing. Each tuning is a new landscape. Spend time exploring before trying to play complex songs.

Quick recap

• Drop D is the easiest place to start; only one string changes.
• Open G and open D give a full major chord on open strings, perfect for slide.
• DADGAD creates a haunting, droning, modal sound loved in Celtic and folk music.
• Tune down rather than up, use a good tuner, and check tuning twice.

Next steps

Start with drop D: it takes ten seconds to tune and opens up a whole world of heavy riffs and big open chords. Then try open G with a one-finger barre at frets 5 and 7 for an instant blues. When you're ready for something more atmospheric, DADGAD is waiting.

Fretwork's beginner path covers the practical side of guitar, like tuning and setup, alongside your first chords and songs. The first two stages are free, no card required.

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