Guitar tuning · Open tuning
Open G tuning
Strum the open strings and you hear a G major chord: D G D G B D. Chords become one-finger barres — the 5th fret is C, the 7th is D — and the open strings ring out underneath.
6thD↓ 1 step
5thG↓ 1 step
4thDsame
3rdGsame
2ndBsame
1stD↓ 1 step
Chords in Open G tuning
Tap a chord to hear it. Numbers on the dots are finger numbers; the notes under each diagram are what each string plays.
Open G tuning (D G D G B D) · chordwiki.com/guitar/tunings/open-g/
How to tune to Open G
- Lower the 6th string a whole step to D (match the open 4th string).
- Lower the 5th string a whole step to G (match the open 3rd string).
- Lower the 1st string a whole step to D (match the 2nd string at the 3rd fret).
Easiest of all: use the guitar tuner set to Open G.
What it’s used for
Slide guitar, blues and rock rhythm guitar. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones famously plays in Open G with the low 6th string removed, which is why the G shape here leaves it out.
Tips
- The I, IV and V chords (G, C, D) are the open strings, a barre at the 5th fret and a barre at the 7th fret.
- Try slide: a slide laid straight across the strings at any fret plays a major chord.
- Leave the 6th string out of strummed chords to keep the bass on G.