Alternate Guitar Tunings: A Complete Guide

While standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) is the most common way to tune a guitar, alternate tunings open up new sonic possibilities and can make certain songs or styles easier to play. This guide covers the most popular alternate tunings with their frequencies and practical applications.

Why Use Alternate Tunings?

Alternate tunings offer several advantages:

• Easier chord voicings: Some tunings allow you to play complex chords with simpler fingerings
• Unique sounds: Different string relationships create distinctive tonal colors
• Extended range: Lower tunings provide deeper bass notes
• Drone strings: Open tunings create resonant, harp-like sounds
• Genre authenticity: Certain styles (blues, folk, metal) traditionally use specific tunings

Standard Tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E)

Before exploring alternate tunings, let’s understand standard tuning—the baseline from which all variations are measured.

Why This Tuning?

Standard tuning was developed over centuries for good reasons:

• Balanced intervals: Mostly fourths (with one third) creates a balance between chord shapes and melodic playing
• Chord accessibility: Common chords are playable with reasonable finger stretches
• Scale patterns: Familiar scale shapes work across the fretboard
• Universal: Virtually all guitar instruction assumes standard tuning

The Major Third Exception

Notice that strings 3-2 (G to B) are a major third apart, not a perfect fourth like the others. This “irregularity” actually makes many chord shapes easier to play, but it does mean that scale patterns shift when crossing these strings.

When to Use Standard Tuning

• Learning guitar fundamentals
• Playing most popular music
• Studying music theory on guitar
• Playing with other guitarists (easier communication)
• Any situation requiring maximum versatility

Understanding standard tuning thoroughly will help you appreciate why and how alternate tunings differ, and when each might be useful.

Drop Tunings

Drop tunings lower one or more strings from standard tuning, typically to enable power chords with a single finger.

Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)

The most popular alternate tuning. Only the 6th string is lowered one whole step from E to D.

Advantages:

• Power chords on the lowest three strings with one finger
• Heavier, deeper sound
• Easy D chord voicings

Popular songs using Drop D:

• “Everlong” - Foo Fighters
• “Heart-Shaped Box” - Nirvana
• “Killing in the Name” - Rage Against the Machine

Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)

Both E strings are lowered to D.

Used for: Folk, fingerstyle arrangements, Neil Young songs

Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)

All strings dropped one whole step from Drop D (equivalent to Drop D with all strings down one step).

Used for: Heavy metal, hard rock (System of a Down, Killswitch Engage)

Drop B (B-F♯-B-E-G♯-C♯)

Used for: Extreme metal, djent (Slipknot, Meshuggah)

Open Tunings

Open tunings tune the guitar so that strumming all open strings produces a chord.

Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)

Strumming open strings produces a G major chord.

Characteristics:

• Great for slide guitar
• Easy major chords by barring
• Rich, resonant sound

Famous users: Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder

Open D (D-A-D-F♯-A-D)

Open strings form a D major chord.

Used for: Blues, slide guitar, folk

Famous songs: “She Talks to Angels” - Black Crowes

Open E (E-B-E-G♯-B-E)

Open strings form an E major chord. Same intervals as Open D but higher pitch.

Warning: Higher tension on strings; be careful with acoustic guitars.

Famous users: Derek Trucks, Duane Allman

Open A (E-A-E-A-C♯-E)

Open strings form an A major chord.

Warning: High tension on 2nd, 3rd, 4th strings.

Modal/Celtic Tunings

DADGAD (D-A-D-G-A-D)

One of the most popular alternate tunings for folk and Celtic music. Open strings form a Dsus4 chord.

Characteristics:

• Neither major nor minor (suspended sound)
• Great for drone-based music
• Popular in Celtic, folk, and acoustic rock

Famous users: Jimmy Page, Pierre Bensusan, Davey Graham

Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)

Used for: Led Zeppelin’s “Friends,” John Butler

Half-Step and Whole-Step Down

E♭ Standard (E♭-A♭-D♭-G♭-B♭-E♭)

All strings down one half-step from standard tuning.

Advantages:

• Slightly lower tension, easier bending
• Darker, heavier sound
• Same chord shapes as standard

Famous users: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Guns N’ Roses

D Standard (D-G-C-F-A-D)

All strings down one whole step.

Used for: Heavy rock, metal (Alice in Chains, Nirvana)

Quick Reference Chart

Tips for Using Alternate Tunings

String Gauge

• Lower tunings may need heavier strings to maintain tension
• Higher tunings may need lighter strings to prevent breakage

Intonation

• Changing tunings significantly may require intonation adjustments
• Check intonation after switching between very different tunings

Capo Usage

• A capo can raise an alternate tuning to different keys
• DADGAD with capo on 2nd fret = EBEABE

Practice

• Learn standard tuning thoroughly first
• Practice transitioning between tunings
• Memorize new chord shapes for each tuning

Related Articles

• Understanding Musical Notes and Octaves - Learn about notes like D2, A4, and octave numbering
• How to Use the Chromatic Tuner - Tune accurately to any tuning
• Standard Tuning Frequencies - Complete frequency reference
• String Numbering Systems - Understanding string numbers
• History of A440 - Why A=440Hz is the standard

Ready to try alternate tunings? Use our Chromatic Tuner to tune your guitar accurately!