Open tunings transform the guitar into a different instrument. The same shapes produce different chords. The same techniques produce different sounds. And in the right context, slide playing, country blues, ambient guitar, they open musical territory that standard tuning can’t access.
Standard tuning (EADGBE) is a compromise, a set of intervals that allows a wide variety of chords and scales without being optimized for any specific one. Open tunings abandon that compromise. They tune the open strings to form a major (or minor) chord, giving you a full chord every time you strum without fretting anything and a new set of technical possibilities built around that foundation.
The Most Common Open Tunings
Open G (DGDGBD)
The most widely used open tuning in rock, blues, and folk. The open strings form a G major chord. Slide playing in Open G was the foundation of Delta blues: Robert Johnson, Son House, and countless others played in Open G. Keith Richards plays most Rolling Stones songs in Open G (with the low E string removed entirely). The Allman Brothers used it extensively.
To tune to Open G from standard: Lower the low E string down to D, lower the A string to G, and lower the high E string to D. All other strings stay the same.
What it opens up: The most natural slide tuning. Barring straight across any fret produces a major chord. Common chord shapes simplify dramatically.
Open D (DADF#AD)
A full octave lower than Open G in concept, the open strings form a D major chord. Favored by folk and blues fingerpickers. Joni Mitchell used Open D extensively on her early records. Particularly suited to fingerpicking styles because the low D bass string is accessible and the chord voicings spread naturally across the strings.
To tune to Open D from standard: Lower the low E to D, lower the G to F#, lower the B to A, and lower the high E to D.
Open E (EBEG#BE)
Similar to Open D but a whole step higher, the open strings form an E major chord. Common in bottleneck blues slide. Duane Allman’s “Layla” slide guitar is in Open E. The higher tension (compared to Open D) suits aggressive slide playing.
To tune to Open E from standard: Raise the A string to B, raise the D string to E, raise the G to G#. Note that raising strings increases tension, some guitars and players prefer Open D and capo at the 2nd fret to achieve the same result with lower tension.
DADGAD
Not a strict open tuning (the open strings form a suspended chord rather than a full major chord), but widely used in Celtic, folk, and ambient guitar. Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” was played in DADGAD. Pierre Bensusan and many Celtic players work almost exclusively in DADGAD.
To tune to DADGAD from standard: Lower the low E to D, lower the B to A, and lower the high E to D.
What Guitars Work Best for Open Tunings
Any guitar can be tuned to an open tuning. But certain instruments respond better to the specific tension changes involved.
For slide in open tunings (acoustic): You need higher action than standard playing, the slide needs clearance above the frets to avoid clanking. Any solid-top acoustic with higher action works for slide. The Fender CD-60S and Yamaha FG800J are both reasonable starting points.
For acoustic fingerpicking in open tunings: The warmer, more finger-responsive guitars suit DADGAD and Open D best. The Seagull S6, with its cedar top that responds immediately at low volumes, is excellent for open-tuning fingerpicking.
For electric slide in open tunings: A Strat or Tele with raised action is the classic approach. The Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Strat and Fender Player II Strat both work well.
For dedicated slide: The Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin’s hollow body and P-90 produce a warm, resonant slide tone that semi-hollow and solid-body guitars approach but don’t fully match.
Quick Picks for Open Tuning Players
| Guitar | Price | Best Open Tuning Context |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha FS800 Folk Acoustic | $259 | DADGAD, Open D fingerpicking |
| Fender CD-60S Acoustic | $229 | Open G acoustic slide |
| Seagull S6 Original | $629 | DADGAD, Celtic and folk |
| Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Strat | $499 | Electric slide, Open E/G |
| Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin | $799 | Warm P-90 slide, Open G/E |
Yamaha FS800 Folk Acoustic ($259)
The concert body’s balanced response makes it ideal for open tuning fingerpicking, the strings ring more individually than on a bass-heavy dreadnought, which suits the complex voicings that open tunings create. DADGAD and Open D fingerpicking specifically reward the concert body’s string separation.
Best for: Celtic and folk open tuning players, DADGAD exploration, intimate acoustic playing in alternate tunings
Not ideal for: Hard-picking slide players who need the projection of a dreadnought
Specs:
- Concert Body / Solid Spruce Top / Nato Back & Sides
- Scalloped Bracing / Rosewood Fingerboard
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Seagull S6 Original Acoustic ($629)
Cedar tops respond to open tuning fingerpicking the way few spruce alternatives do, the immediate warmth and harmonic complexity of the cedar top under light picking creates a nuanced, resonant character that suits DADGAD and open minor tunings especially well. The all-solid construction means harmonics from adjacent strings ring freely and complement each other rather than competing.
Best for: Serious open tuning acoustic players, DADGAD devotees, Celtic and folk fingerpickers
Not ideal for: Budget-constrained players; the Yamaha FS800 covers the basics for less
Specs:
- Dreadnought / Solid Cedar Top / Solid Wild Cherry Back & Sides
- Handcrafted in Canada / Rosewood Fingerboard
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Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Stratocaster ($499)
For electric open tuning slide, the Strat is the natural home. Raise the action at the nut and saddle (have a tech do this ($20)–$30), tune to Open E or Open G, and the Classic Vibe’s alnico V pickups produce the warm, expressive slide tone that the blues tradition built on. The five-way switching adds tonal range for the non-slide passages in between.
Best for: Electric slide players, Open E/G blues playing, players who also play standard tuning on the same instrument
Not ideal for: Players who want dedicated slide setup, a second guitar specifically for slide is the ideal long-term solution
Specs:
- Alder Body / Alnico V Single-Coil Pickups / 5-Way Switching
- Maple Neck / Laurel Fingerboard / Vintage-Style Tremolo
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Practical Notes for Open Tuning Players
String gauge matters. When you lower strings (as in Open G and Open D), you reduce tension. Lower-tension strings can feel floppy and produce less sustain. Many open tuning players use slightly heavier gauges (.011s or .012s) to compensate.
A dedicated guitar is ideal. Retuning between standard and open tuning stresses the neck and requires retuning from scratch every session. Players who regularly use both often dedicate a second guitar to their open tuning, it stays set up and in tune, ready to play.
Start with Open G. It’s the most versatile, has the most instructional resources, and connects to the largest body of slide blues and rock material. Tune to Open G, strum it, and start moving a barred finger or a slide up and down the neck. You’ll immediately hear what the tradition is based on.
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