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Alternative Guitar Tuning
The Drop D tuning is one of the most common alternate guitar tunings and one of the simplest to achieve. You just need to tune your low E string down one step to get into drop D tuning. While many guitarists might be familiar with this tuning, there are countless other alternative tunings waiting to be explored.
These alternate tunings follow the standard low to high convention, but each one offers a unique combination of notes. Playing in alternate tunings can lead to great musical inspiration because familiar chords and scales, such as the G major chord, won't necessarily work the same way in these tunings.
Here are five more excellent alternate tuning options worth exploring:
DADGAD tuning is an extension of Drop D tuning, where the 6th E string is tuned down to D, the B string is tuned down to A, and the 1st E string is tuned down to D. This tuning is commonly found in Celtic music, rock, folk, and metal genres.
DADF#AD Similar to DADGAD, DADF#AD is another extension of Drop D tuning, forming one large D Major chord. Also known as Open D Tuning, it is popular among slide guitarists and fingerpicking enthusiasts. In this tuning, the 6th E string is tuned down to D, the G string is tuned down to F#, the B string is tuned down to A, and the 1st E string is tuned down to D.
GABDEG tuning is ideal for exploring rock, dream pop, and metal sounds. It involves tuning the 6th E string up to G, the D string up to B, the D string remains the same, the B string to E, and the 1st E string up to G.
DGDGBD Known as Open G Tuning, DGDGBD features a G Major chord and is perfect for slide guitar players. Blues, rock, and folk musicians often use this alternate tuning. It involves tuning the 6th E string down to D, the A string down to G, and the 1st E string down to D. The 4th D and 2nd B strings remain the same as in standard tuning.
CGCFCE is a low, droney tuning with endless creative possibilities. It fits well with folk, rock, and dream pop genres. In this tuning, the 6th E string is tuned down to C, the A string down to G, the D string down to C, the G string down to F, and the B string up to C. The 1st E string remains unchanged.
