Open G tuning: D G D G B D
Free online tuner, set to D G D G B D — press Start tuner and play a string
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4.2 (6)What open G tuning is for
In open G the open strings form a G major chord, so a strum with nothing fretted sounds a full chord. A single finger or a slide laid across one fret moves that chord up the neck. Three strings drop a whole step (the sixth, fifth and first) and the rest stay put. It is the tuning of slide blues and of Keith Richards’s riffs, which he plays on a five-string guitar with the low D removed.
Press Start tuner above, allow the microphone and play one open string at a time. The tuner is already set to open G, so in Auto mode it picks the nearest string and shows how many cents sharp or flat it is; switch to Manual to aim at one string. Bring each string up to the note from below, which helps it hold.
The strings: D G D G B D
Thickest string first, with the frequency at the standard A = 440 Hz. Each note opens the tuning drone on that pitch, for tuning by ear.
How to get there from standard tuning
- Tune the 6th string down a whole step (2 frets), from E2 to D2.
- Tune the 5th string down a whole step (2 frets), from A2 to G2.
- Tune the 1st string down a whole step (2 frets), from E4 to D4.
- Leave the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings as in standard guitar tuning.
Check it by ear
Once one string is right, each neighbouring string can be checked against it — the beating between the two notes slows and stops when they agree.
- Press the 6th string (D2) at the 5th fret: it should match the open 5th string (G2).
- Press the 5th string (G2) at the 7th fret: it should match the open 4th string (D3).
- Press the 4th string (D3) at the 5th fret: it should match the open 3rd string (G3).
- Press the 3rd string (G3) at the 4th fret: it should match the open 2nd string (B3).
- Press the 2nd string (B3) at the 3rd fret: it should match the open 1st string (D4).
Songs in open G tuning
Well-known recordings in this tuning. Each title opens its sheet music on MuseScore.
- Brown Sugar — The Rolling Stones
- Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones
- Honky Tonk Women — The Rolling Stones
More about open G tuning
View scores on MuseScore
What musicians say
- 5★4
- 4★1
- 3★0
- 2★0
- 1★1
Cool, though basic
Frequently asked questions
- What are the notes of open G tuning?
- From the thickest string to the thinnest: D2 (6th), G2 (5th), D3 (4th), G3 (3rd), B3 (2nd), D4 (1st). At A = 440 Hz that is D2 73.42 Hz, G2 98.00 Hz, D3 146.83 Hz, G3 196.00 Hz, B3 246.94 Hz, D4 293.66 Hz.
- How do I tune to open G tuning from standard?
- Tune the 6th string down a whole step (2 frets), from E2 to D2. Tune the 5th string down a whole step (2 frets), from A2 to G2. Tune the 1st string down a whole step (2 frets), from E4 to D4. Leave the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings as in standard guitar tuning. Use the tuner above, set to open G, or check by ear with the fret method on this page.
- Can I use a chromatic tuner for open G tuning?
- Yes. A chromatic tuner reads any note, so aim each string at D G D G B D in turn. This tuner has a open G preset, so it shows the target for each string and picks the nearest one for you.
- What songs use open G tuning?
- “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones, “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stones, “Honky Tonk Women” by The Rolling Stones are well-known examples. Each title on this page opens its sheet music on MuseScore.