Open G Tuning (D G D G B D)

Open G, written DGDGBD, tunes the strings from low to high to D G D G B D, so the open strings sound a G major chord. From standard you lower strings 6, 5 and 1 by a whole step; strings 4, 3 and 2 stay as they are.

Strings 6 → 1: D2 G2 D3 G3 B3 D4
From standard: Strings 6 5 1 down a whole step
Open strings: G (G B D)

Tuner · Open G

A4 · 440 Hz

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Mic off

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Auto string detect

Uses your microphone. Audio stays on this device. No mic? Tap a string to hear its note.

TuningD G D G B D

Strings · tap to hear

How to tune to open G from standard

String 6: E2 → D2, down 2 semitones (whole step) · tension −21 %
String 5: A2 → G2, down 2 semitones (whole step) · tension −21 %
String 4: D3 → D3, no change
String 3: G3 → G3, no change
String 2: B3 → B3, no change
String 1: E4 → D4, down 2 semitones (whole step) · tension −21 %

The tuner above is locked to D G D G B D, so each string reads against its own target. Tap a string button to hear its note.

Open G (DGDGBD) chords

Frets are listed from string 6 to string 1 (× = do not play). The notes line is what each string sounds in this tuning.

G · all open

Frets 0 0 0 0 0 0

D G D G B D · G/D

I (home chord). String 6 is D, the fifth. For a root in the bass, start the strum on string 5.

C · barre fret 5

Frets 5 5 5 5 5 5

G C G C E G · C/G

IV. Flat finger across fret 5. On the top three strings alone it is the classic open G riff chord.

D · barre fret 7

Frets 7 7 7 7 7 7

A D A D F♯ A · D/A

V. Two frets up from C. G, C and D cover a twelve-bar blues in G.

G7 · one finger

Frets 0 0 0 0 0 3

D G D G B F · G7/D

I7. Fret 3 on string 1 adds F, the flat seventh. Use it to lead into C.

Em · two fingers

Frets × × 2 0 0 2

× × E G B E

vi. Fret 2 on strings 4 and 1; strings 3 and 2 stay open. Strum strings 4 to 1.

Any straight barre is a major chord, named by counting half steps up from G: fret 2 = A, fret 3 = B♭, fret 5 = C, fret 7 = D, fret 10 = F, fret 12 = G an octave up.

Why open G sounds the way it does

Three strings change from standard and three do not. Strings 4, 3 and 2 already spell D, G and B, the G major chord in the middle of the neck; open G lowers the other three onto chord tones so all six agree.

The lowest string is D, the fifth of the chord, not G. Strummed from string 6 the chord has D in the bass, which sounds a little restless. Start from string 5 and the root G is the lowest note, which is why many players treat open G as a five-string tuning.

The top three strings are G, B and D, a complete G triad. Small partial shapes on those strings carry most open G riffs: the open chord, the same strings at fret 5 (C) and fret 7 (D).

Note	Open strings
G	2 of 6
B	1 of 6
D	3 of 6

What open G is used for

Rock and blues rhythm guitar: Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones plays many of his best-known riffs in open G with string 6 taken off the guitar, so every strum starts on the G root.

Slide and country blues: the open strings are the I chord and straight bars at frets 5 and 7 give IV and V. Old parlour-guitar books called it "Spanish" tuning after "Spanish Fandango", an early piece written in it.

Playing in open G: practical notes

Tension: only three strings move, all down a whole step, so the guitar is a little slacker than in standard and the neck is safe. If string 6 flaps, play the five-string way and leave it out of the strum.

Capo: capo 2 gives open A (E A E A C♯ E) without tuning three strings up.

Back to standard: raise strings 6, 5 and 1 a whole step each, then recheck all six.

Songs in open G

Start Me Up · The Rolling Stones
Keith Richards plays the riff in five-string open G.
Honky Tonk Women · The Rolling Stones
Also five-string open G, with the root on string 5.

FAQ

Is DGDGBD the same as open G?

Yes. DGDGBD is just open G written as its six string notes, low to high: D G D G B D.

Which strings change from standard tuning?

Three: string 6 from E to D, string 5 from A to G and string 1 from E to D, each down a whole step. Strings 4, 3 and 2 (D, G, B) stay as they are.

Why do some players remove the low string in open G?

Because string 6 is D, the fifth of the chord. With it gone, string 5 (G) is the lowest note, so every open strum and barre has the root in the bass.

Open G or open A?

Same intervals, a whole step apart. Open A raises three strings above standard; open G with a capo on fret 2 gives the same pitches at lower tension.

Is there an open G tuning chord chart?

Yes, the chord shapes above are the chart: G with all strings open, C with a barre at fret 5, D with a barre at fret 7, plus G7 and Em. Any straight barre is a major chord: fret 2 is A, fret 3 is B♭, fret 5 is C, fret 7 is D, fret 10 is F and fret 12 is G an octave up.

The key of G majorthe open strings ring a G chord
Standard tuning (EADGBE)back to the reference tuning
Guitar tunerswitch tunings, or tune back to standard
Capo calculator and chord transposercapo shapes for any key
Open D (DADF♯AD)same family of tuning
Open D minor (DADFAD)same family of tuning
All guitar tuningsopen, drop and modal, compared