An alternate tuning is any tuning other than standard E A D G B E. Guitarists retune to get a heavier or darker sound, to put chords that would be hard to finger under one finger, to let open strings ring as drones, or to move a song into a key that suits a singer. Most alternate tunings fall into three families: drop tunings, open tunings and lowered standard tunings.
The common tunings at a glance
| Tuning | Notes (low → high) | Family | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | E A D G B E | — | Everything |
| Half step down (E♭) | E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭ | Lowered | Blues and classic rock; easier bends, warmer tone |
| D standard | D G C F A D | Lowered | Grunge, heavier rock, lower vocals |
| C standard | C F B♭ E♭ G C | Lowered | Doom, stoner and modern metal |
| Drop D | D A D G B E | Drop | One-finger power chords, low D riffs, folk in D |
| Drop C | C G C F A D | Drop | Metalcore and nu-metal |
| Drop B | B F♯ B E G♯ C♯ | Drop | Very heavy metal, usually with thick strings or a baritone guitar |
| Open G | D G D G B D | Open | Rock rhythm, slide, blues |
| Open D | D A D F♯ A D | Open | Slide guitar, folk, fingerstyle |
| DADGAD | D A D G A D | Modal | Celtic and acoustic fingerstyle |
Each linked tuning has its own tuner page with the target notes already set: press Start, allow the microphone and play each string until it reads in tune.
What is drop tuning?
In a drop tuning only the lowest string is "dropped" a whole step further than the rest. In Drop D, the 6th string goes from E down to D and everything else stays standard. The lowest three strings then form a fifth and an octave (D A D), so a single finger laid across them plays a power chord, and sliding that finger up and down the neck plays riffs that would need a three-finger shape in standard tuning.
Drop D also gives you a low D for songs in D: folk and acoustic players use it for a deep open bass note under D-major chords.
Songs in Drop D include "Everlong" by Foo Fighters and "Killing in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine.
Drop D vs Drop C
Drop C is Drop D taken one whole step lower across the board: the 6th string drops from E to C and the other five go down a whole step, to C G C F A D. The shapes are identical to Drop D, so every Drop D riff works; everything just sounds two semitones lower and heavier. "Chop Suey!" by System of a Down is a well-known Drop C song.
The cost is string tension: on standard 10–46 strings Drop C feels slack and can buzz. Most players move to an 11–52 or 12–56 set for Drop C, and to heavier strings or a longer-scale baritone guitar for Drop B.
Open tunings
In an open tuning the six open strings form a chord. Strum without fretting and you hear a full major chord; lay one finger straight across all strings (a barre) and you get the same chord in another key. That makes open tunings the standard for slide guitar, where the slide acts as that straight barre.
- Open G (D G D G B D): the classic rock rhythm tuning. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones plays it with the low string removed on songs such as "Start Me Up" and "Brown Sugar". The barre at the 5th fret gives C and at the 7th fret D: the three main chords of a song in G.
- Open D (D A D F♯ A D): a deeper, wider chord, common in slide blues and folk fingerpicking. For a minor chord, fret the third string one fret below the barre.
Lowered standard tunings
These keep the intervals of standard tuning and lower every string by the same amount, so every chord shape and scale you know still works; it just sounds lower.
- Half step down (E♭ standard) lowers everything one semitone. Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Guns N' Roses ("Sweet Child o' Mine") used it: the strings are slightly looser, so bends are easier, and singers get a semitone of relief.
- D standard is a whole step down, a darker sound that suits heavier rock and lower voices.
- C standard is two whole steps down, for doom and modern metal, and needs heavy strings.
If a song in a lowered tuning is just a little too low or high for your voice, there's an alternative to retuning: change the recording with the pitch changer to play along in standard tuning.
DADGAD
DADGAD (D A D G A D) is neither major nor minor when strummed open, which gives it a floating, modal sound. It is the backbone of Celtic guitar and many acoustic fingerstyle pieces; Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" is the most famous rock example.
How to switch tunings without trouble
- Tune up to the note, not down to it. If you overshoot, go below the note and come back up: the string settles and holds its pitch better.
- Give new tunings a minute. After a big change, the neck and the other strings shift as the tension changes. Tune all six, then check them all again.
- Match the strings to the tuning. Lower tunings need heavier strings to avoid buzz and floppy intonation. Going lower than a whole step for good is worth a setup: the nut slots, truss rod and intonation may need adjusting.
- Use a chromatic tuner. The online guitar tuner works with the laptop or phone microphone and switches between standard, the tunings above, bass, ukulele and a chromatic mode.
FAQ
How do I tune to Drop D without a tuner?
Play the harmonic at the 12th fret of the 6th string and lower the string until that harmonic matches the open 4th (D) string. The open 6th string is then D, an octave below the 4th string.
Is changing tunings bad for the guitar?
No. Occasional changes of a step or two are harmless. Constant large changes wear strings faster and may need small adjustments, but they won't damage a healthy neck.
What is the easiest alternate tuning for beginners?
Drop D: only one string changes, chords on the top five strings stay the same, and power chords become one-finger shapes.
Why is it called "half step down"?
A half step is one semitone, one fret. Every string is lowered by that amount, so E becomes E♭ (D♯), A becomes A♭, and so on.