Open G Tuner
Press Start, allow the microphone and play a string. Open G is set: D G D G B D, a G major chord on the open strings.
Press Start and allow the microphone.
Tap a string to hear its note and tune to it by ear.
Open G tuning notes
Open G tuning is D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4. Strummed open, the strings play a G major chord. From standard, lower three strings a whole step: the 6th (E to D), the 5th (A to G) and the 1st (E to D). The 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings stay at D, G and B.
| String | Note | Frequency | From standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | D2 | 73.42 Hz | down a whole step |
| 5th | G2 | 98.00 Hz | down a whole step |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 Hz | unchanged |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 Hz | unchanged |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 Hz | unchanged |
| 1st | D4 | 293.66 Hz | down a whole step |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; change A4 in the tuner and the table follows.
What Open G is for
Open G is the tuning of Keith Richards' rhythm parts in the Rolling Stones. He takes off the 6th string and plays five strings, G D G B D, so the lowest note is the root of the chord; one-finger shapes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings give the riffs of "Start Me Up" and "Brown Sugar".
It is also a slide tuning much older than rock, used by Delta blues players, and the 5-string banjo's standard tuning has the same notes (g D G B D). As in every open tuning, a barre at the 5th fret plays C and at the 7th fret D, the IV and V chords of G.
How to tune to Open G from standard
- Press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Open G is already selected.
- Lower the 6th string from E to D2 and the 5th string from A to G2, a whole step each.
- Lower the 1st string from E to D4. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings do not change.
- Strum the open strings: you should hear G major. Check any string that sounds off on the tuner.
Songs in Open G tuning
A few well-known recordings in this tuning:
- Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones
- Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones
- Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones
Want to learn a song you heard but can't name? Identify it with the microphone first.
Strings and setup
Only three strings go down a whole step, so your usual strings and setup work. For slide, a slightly heavier set and higher action help. If you follow the five-string approach, take off the 6th string or simply avoid it: the low D is the fifth of the chord and muddies the riffs.
Open G tuning: frequently asked questions
What are the notes in Open G tuning?
D G D G B D, from the 6th string to the 1st: D2, G2, D3, G3, B3 and D4.
Why does Keith Richards use five strings?
In Open G the lowest string is D, the fifth of the G chord. Without it, the lowest note is the root G on the 5th string, which keeps the chord shapes clean. Many players leave the string on and simply avoid it.
What is the difference between Open G and Open D?
Both are major-chord tunings for slide and fingerpicking. Open G (D G D G B D) changes three strings from standard; Open D (D A D F# A D) changes four and is built on D instead of G.
Is Open G the same as banjo tuning?
The 5-string banjo is tuned g D G B D. Its four long strings, D G B D, match the guitar's 4th to 1st strings in Open G; the short 5th string is a high g. Choose Banjo in the instrument menu to tune one.
How do I play chords in Open G?
Barre all strings at one fret: open is G, the 5th fret C and the 7th fret D. For a minor chord, play the 2nd string one fret lower than the barre.
How do I go back to standard tuning?
Raise the 6th string to E2, the 5th to A2 and the 1st to E4, or switch the Tuning menu to Standard and tune each string until it says In tune.
Open D tuning
D A D F# A D: a D major chord on the open strings.
Drop D tuning
D A D G B E: only the low E goes down to D.
Half step down tuning
Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb: every string one semitone down.
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