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Open D tuning

Open D tuning is D A D F♯ A D, from the lowest string to the highest. Compared with standard: 6th, 2nd and 1st strings down a whole step; 3rd string down a half step. Tap a string to hear it.

Tap a string to hear its note, then tune yours to match.

About open D

Open D tunes the open strings to a D major chord: D A D F♯ A D. Strum them without fretting and the chord rings out.

It is a favourite for slide guitar, blues and folk, and for songs where drones ring under a melody.

Open D tuning notes

Each open string from the 1st, the thinnest, to the 6th, with the frequency a tuner looks for.

Open D tuning: each string’s note and frequency, with A4 at 440 Hz
StringNoteFrequencyFrom standard
1stD4293.66 HzDown a whole step from E
2ndA3220 HzDown a whole step from B
3rdF♯3185 HzDown a half step from G
4thD3146.83 HzSame as standard
5thA2110 HzSame as standard
6thD273.42 HzDown a whole step from E

Every other note’s frequency is on the note frequency chart.

How to tune to open D

Start in standard tuning and move only the strings that change, lowest first.

  1. Tune the 6th string down a whole step, from E to D. It should match the open 4th string, an octave lower.
  2. Tune the 3rd string down a half step, from G to F♯.
  3. Tune the 2nd string down a whole step, from B to A. It should match the open 5th string, an octave higher.
  4. Tune the 1st string down a whole step, from E to D. It should match the open 4th string, an octave higher.

To lower a string, go a little below its new note and come back up to it: a string tuned up to its note holds its pitch better.

To tune with your mic instead, in this tuning or another, use the guitar tuner.

Playing in open D

Lay one finger across every string at any fret and it plays a major chord: the 5th fret is G, the 7th fret A, the 12th fret D again an octave up. A slide does the same.

The 3rd string, F♯, is the chord’s third: fret it one fret higher, at the 1st fret, and the open strings become D sus4; leave it out and they are a D5 power chord.

The fretboard in open D

The note on every fret in this tuning. Tap one to hear it, or light up one note or a scale on the neck.

Frets

Tap any fret to hear its note.

Six steps to learning every note on the neck are on the guitar fretboard page.

Questions about open D

What are the notes of open D tuning?

D A D F♯ A D, from the 6th string, the lowest, to the 1st: D2 A2 D3 F♯3 A3 D4.

How do I tune my guitar to open D tuning?

Start in standard tuning. Tune the 6th string down a whole step, from E to D. It should match the open 4th string, an octave lower. Tune the 3rd string down a half step, from G to F♯. Tune the 2nd string down a whole step, from B to A. It should match the open 5th string, an octave higher. Tune the 1st string down a whole step, from E to D. It should match the open 4th string, an octave higher. A tuner showing each note in the table makes it exact.

What chord is open D tuning?

The open strings ring a D major chord. In an open tuning, one finger across every string at any fret plays the same kind of chord from that fret’s note.

More guitar tunings

Open G tuning

D G D G B D

Rings G major. 6th, 5th and 1st strings down a whole step.

Open E tuning

E B E G♯ B E

Rings E major. 5th and 4th strings up a whole step; 3rd string up a half step.

Open C tuning

C G C G C E

Rings C major. 6th string down two whole steps; 5th and 4th strings down a whole step; 2nd string up a half step.

Open A tuning

E A E A C♯ E

Rings A major. 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings up a whole step.

DADGAD tuning

D A D G A D

Rings D sus4. 6th, 2nd and 1st strings down a whole step.

Standard tuning

E A D G B E

The tuning every other one is measured from.

All 14, side by side with how far each string moves, are on the guitar tunings page.

Play along in D major

Open the free editor with a beat in D major playing, then add your guitar part, a bass line or your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Start a beatAll guitar tunings

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