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Open D tuning
open-in-new
<h2 id="variations">Variations</h2> <h3>F♯-A-D-F♯-A-D, Open D tuning with low F♯</h3> <p>Used by some Brazilian <a href="/facts/Sertanejo_music/eLJooq9S">sertanejo</a> musicians on the acoustic guitar to approximate the sound of the <a href="/facts/Viola_caipira/NBP9aDvG">viola caipira</a>, a Brazilian country guitar with ten paired strings, traditionally tuned either A-D-F#-A-D or B-E-G#-B-E. </p> <h3>D-A-D-F♯-A-C♯, Open Dmaj7 tuning</h3> <p>This variant is achieved by lowering the high D string a half step to C♯ when tuned to open D. C♯ is the <a href="/facts/Major_seventh/tWPXmCNB">major seventh</a> of the D <a href="/facts/Major_scale/WtnkhIgv">major scale</a>, hence the name. It also can be used for both fingerstyle and slide guitar work. </p> <h3>D-A-D-F-A-D, Open Dm tuning</h3> <p>This variant uses an F natural, the <a href="/facts/Minor_third/4y8zBxwY">minor third</a>. </p><p>This tuning has been used by Niko Wenner of <a href="/facts/Oxbow_(band)/bqz1tMh1">Oxbow</a> on the songs "Angel," "Cat and Mouse"; by Ian Thornley of Big Wreck on "Ladylike" and "Overemphasizing" and by <a href="/facts/Owen_Campbell_(musician)/4TrrJ7mm">Owen Campbell</a> on "Sunshine Road". </p><p>DADFAD tuning is ideal for guitarists who are accompanying instruments that are tuned to <a href="/facts/Minor_scale/MedkQtlE">minor scales</a>, such as the <a href="/facts/Native_American_flute/v1NGueSM">Native American flute</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h3>D-A-D-A-D-D, Open D5 tuning</h3> <p>This variant is used most notably by <a href="/facts/Mark_Tremonti/sude580c">Mark Tremonti</a> of <a href="/facts/Alter_Bridge/wL7qJUKB">Alter Bridge</a> and <a href="/facts/Creed_(band)/2YQKTr9M">Creed</a>. Eight of the songs in which it is used are "<a href="/facts/Are_You_Ready%253F_(Creed_song)/IXyHD2eN">Are You Ready?</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/Human_Clay/IXyHD2eN">Faceless Man</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/My_Sacrifice/0npH36yz">My Sacrifice</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/Weathered/XfsA4uYv">Weathered</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/Open_Your_Eyes_(Alter_Bridge_song)/65om5AKL">Open Your Eyes</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/Ghost_of_Days_Gone_By/uNz6rXx8">Ghost of Days Gone By</a>" (half-step down),<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/AB_III/vkSqwCEL">Life Must Go On</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> and “<a href="/facts/Fortress/pyH0FXhH">Fortress</a>” (half-step down).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> It is also used on "<a href="/facts/Rain_(Creed_song)/bPwYyaMr">Rain</a>",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> "<a href="/facts/All_I_Was/Tz8lozSq">Brains</a>", and "<a href="/facts/All_I_Was/Tz8lozSq">New Way Out</a>", all tuned down 1 and a half steps (BF♯BF♯BB). Mark has mentioned in his instructional DVD that this tuning is one of his favorites because of its simplicity. It is also used by the <a href="/facts/Goo_Goo_Dolls/6JuM0EUA">Goo Goo Dolls</a> in their song "<a href="/facts/Black_Balloon_(Goo_Goo_Dolls_song)/XnhG7yvd">Black Balloon</a>", which was tuned down a half step on the album but played live in Open D5. "Without You", "Emotion Sickness" and "Paint Pastel Princess" by Australian band <a href="/facts/Silverchair/CY30o7Bs">Silverchair</a> also uses the Open D5 tuning, but down half a step. <a href="/facts/Fair_to_Midland/2QBrPKfb">Fair to Midland</a> use this tuning tuned down 1 full step (CGCGCC) and 1 1/2 steps (BF♯BF♯BB). </p> <h3>D-A-D-D-A-D</h3> <p>A variation on the above Open D5 tuning, is occasionally used by folk guitarists, such as <a href="/facts/Stephen_Stills/CpPzNmYD">Stephen Stills</a> on the song "4+20".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> It has the advantage of a ringing pair of identical Ds on the third and fourth strings, which can be used to carry a melody line above a bed of D5 created by the other strings. </p> <h3>D-A-D-A-A-D</h3> <p>This tuning has been used by: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Dave_Wakeling/MGD6hx5G">Dave Wakeling</a> of <a href="/facts/The_Beat_(British_band)/VMgr8tyS">The Beat</a> (known in North America as The English Beat) on the track "Save It For Later" from <i><a href="/facts/Special_Beat_Service/SNVYjqYE">Special Beat Service</a></i> as well as "Click Click" from the band's debut.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Alex_Lifeson/2tNfGfaH">Alex Lifeson</a> of Canadian rock band <a href="/facts/Rush_(band)/JCTpKWNX">Rush</a> on the track "<a href="/facts/Hope_(Rush_song)/TrbwDUPj">Hope</a>" from <i><a href="/facts/Snakes_%2526_Arrows/0vUn3yzR">Snakes & Arrows</a></i> as well as <a href="/facts/Stone_Gossard/HQJ9DymY">Stone Gossard</a> of American Rock Band <a href="/facts/Pearl_Jam/ymASSpyb">Pearl Jam</a> on the track "Let the Records Play".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li>Allen Maslen, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with the British folk-rock band Meet On The Ledge. Tracks with this tuning include Only Angels, Gas Street Shuffle, Freeze, The Litten Tree and One For His Nob.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Ben_Howard/Wke7sN2o">Ben Howard</a> for the EP <a href="/facts/Old_Pine_(EP)/jyQU9NE0">Old Pine</a>.</li> <li>American rock band <a href="/facts/Rival_Sons/2p7d7NCX">Rival Sons</a> use this tuning on their 2019 song "Look Away".</li> <li><a href="/facts/Owl_City/nvynBFlf">Owl City</a> in his project Sky Sailing.</li> <li>Philip Toshio Sudo, who wrote the book "Zen Guitar".</li></ul> <h3>D-D-D-A-D-F♯</h3> <p>Nicknamed the "Wind of Change," this tuning was used by <a href="/facts/Peter_Frampton/eIEJBwqL">Peter Frampton</a> on his song of the same name. Frampton discovered this tuning while browsing guitars at the home of <a href="/facts/George_Harrison/akznD2lX">George Harrison</a>, who had a large collection of guitars in various tunings. When speaking of the tuning in an interview, Frampton said, "The low E and A strings drop down to D, the fourth string remains unchanged, the third string goes up to A, the second string up to D, and the first string up to F♯ , so there's a D triad on top and three Ds on the bottom. It's a very strange tuning, but oh my God, it sounds huge." </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Alternate Tuning Guide - Open D Tuning - D A D F♯ A D". Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-03-10. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090217033621/http://guitar.about.com/library/bltuningdadfsharpad.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20090217033621/http://guitar.about.com/library/bltuningdadfsharpad.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>[1] Open D Tuning: Home <a href="http://opendtuning.com" target="_blank">http://opendtuning.com</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"r/MyBloodyValentine - guitar tunings on mbv & loveless??". reddit. Retrieved 2019-08-16. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/MyBloodyValentine/comments/8wleot/guitar_tunings_on_mbv_loveless/" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/r/MyBloodyValentine/comments/8wleot/guitar_tunings_on_mbv_loveless/</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Mitski at the Columbus". B-SIDE Magazine. Archived from the original on 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2019-08-16. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190816170944/http://www.bsidemagazine.org/features-1/2015/11/23/mitski-at-the-columbus" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20190816170944/http://www.bsidemagazine.org/features-1/2015/11/23/mitski-at-the-columbus</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>hrishikesh (2016-09-07). "Episode 83: Mitski". Song Exploder. Retrieved 2019-08-16. <a href="http://songexploder.net/mitski" target="_blank">http://songexploder.net/mitski</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Mitski - Bury Me At Makeout Creek (Tab)". tabs.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-16. <a href="https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/mitski/bury_me_at_makeout_creek_tabs_2318573" target="_blank">https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/mitski/bury_me_at_makeout_creek_tabs_2318573</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Clint Goss (2011). "Simple Guitar Accompaniment for Native American Flute - DADFAD Tuning". Flutopedia. Retrieved 2011-11-28. <a href="http://www.Flutopedia.com/simple_guitar_dadfad.htm" target="_blank">http://www.Flutopedia.com/simple_guitar_dadfad.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Creed – Human Clay: Authentic Guitar Tab. Alfred. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7390-5404-8. <a href="978-0-7390-5404-8" target="_blank">978-0-7390-5404-8</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Creed – Human Clay: Authentic Guitar Tab. Alfred. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7390-5404-8. <a href="978-0-7390-5404-8" target="_blank">978-0-7390-5404-8</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Creed – Weathered: Authentic Guitar Tab. Alfred. 2008. ISBN 978-0739054055. <a href="978-0739054055" target="_blank">978-0739054055</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Creed – Weathered: Authentic Guitar Tab. Alfred. 2008. ISBN 978-0739054055. <a href="978-0739054055" target="_blank">978-0739054055</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Alter Bridge – One Day Remains (Guitar Recorded Versions). Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard. 2004. ISBN 9780634091445. <a href="9780634091445" target="_blank">9780634091445</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Guitar World. "Mark Tremonti: "Ghost of Days Gone By" Lesson (Part 1)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 21 February 2021. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WPhMxneTQY" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WPhMxneTQY</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Alter Bridge – AB III (Guitar Recorded Versions). Hal Leonard. 2011. ISBN 978-1617804885. <a href="978-1617804885" target="_blank">978-1617804885</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Alter Bridge – Fortress (The Sound and the Story). Hal Leonard. 2014. ISBN 978-1480385450. <a href="978-1480385450" target="_blank">978-1480385450</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Creed – Full Circle (Authentic Guitar Tab Editions). Alfred. 2010. ISBN 978-0739067086. <a href="978-0739067086" target="_blank">978-0739067086</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Stephen Stills - 4+20 | Guitar Lesson, Tab & Chords | Jerry's Guitar Bar". Retrieved 2020-05-07. <a href="https://www.jerrysguitarbar.com/guitar-video-lessons/individual-songs/stephen-stills-4-20/" target="_blank">https://www.jerrysguitarbar.com/guitar-video-lessons/individual-songs/stephen-stills-4-20/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Dave Wakeling tuning his guitar on 94.9 FM. Accessed 2010-04-15. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTWChIJxOiY" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTWChIJxOiY</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Stone Gossard plays Let the Records Play Accessed 2013-10-19. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTwR1Ak3uq0" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTwR1Ak3uq0</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>