Discover how alternate tunings unlock hidden sonic possibilities across genres. From Drop D’s metal power to DADGAD’s folk magic, changing your string tension creates new chord voicings and textures. Famous guitarists like Hendrix and Richards built their signature sounds by breaking standard tuning conventions.
The world of guitar playing goes far beyond the standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning most players begin with. can transform your instrument's voice and unlock new (or previously unexplored) creative possibilities.
Drop tunings offer perhaps the most accessible entry point into alternate tunings. The most common variation, Drop D, involves lowering your sixth string from E down to D while keeping all other strings at standard pitch. This simple adjustment creates a D-A-D-G-B-E arrangement that offers immediate benefits.
The beauty of Drop D lies in its simplicity for playing power chords. By barring a single finger across the bottom three strings at any fret, you can play a perfect power chord. This technique works particularly well in rock and metal genres, where quick chord changes and esoteric chord voicings add depth and nuance to a musician's repertoire. The lowered sixth string also adds extra depth to your sound, creating a more powerful low end that can drive a song forward with authority.
Open tunings represent a more dramatic departure from standard tuning. In these arrangements, the open strings are tuned to form a complete chord without fretting any notes. This creates rich, resonant sounds and opens up fascinating new possibilities for chord voicings.
Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) has been famously used by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, forming the backbone of classics like "Start Me Up" and "Brown Sugar." The tuning creates a G major chord when strummed open, allowing for easy one-finger barre chords and distinctive ringing tones.
Similarly, Open E tuning (E-B-E-G#-B-E) creates an E major chord when played open. This tuning is particularly popular among slide guitarists, as it allows for smooth, singing slide passages with minimal finger placement. The natural resonance of an open tuning creates sustain and harmonic richness that's difficult to achieve in standard tuning.
DADGAD tuning has earned a special place in the hearts of folk musicians worldwide. Named for its string arrangement (D-A-D-G-A-D), this tuning creates a suspended, open sound that's perfect for Celtic, British, and American folk traditions.
When strummed open, DADGAD produces a Dsus4 chord—neither major nor minor—giving it an ambiguous, ethereal quality. This modal characteristic allows guitarists to create rich drones and harmonies that connect to ancient musical traditions while also offering compositional flexibility.
The beauty of DADGAD lies in its versatility. With simple finger placements, you can access major, minor, and suspended chords across the fretboard. The droning open strings create a continuous harmonic backdrop that's perfect for fingerstyle arrangements and creates a distinctive atmosphere for storytelling through music.
Sometimes the most profound changes come from the subtlest adjustments. Tuning every string down a half step (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb) might seem like a minor change, but it has shaped the sound of countless rock and blues legends.
Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Slash are all famous for using this tuning to achieve their signature sounds. The slightly lowered pitch creates a warmer, thicker tonality while reducing string tension. This makes string bending easier—perfect for blues playing—and gives the guitar a slightly darker character without changing the familiar relationship between strings.
The reduced tension also makes the strings more responsive to techniques like vibrato and hammer-ons, allowing for more expressive playing. For vocalists, the slightly lower register can better accommodate singing ranges, which is why many bands perform with this tuning.
The list of rock guitar heroes includes many innovative players who found how alternate tunings could define their sound. Jimi Hendrix frequently played in Eb standard tuning (half-step down), which contributed to his fluid, expressive style. The slightly loosened strings allowed him to perform his signature bends and vibratos with greater ease and control.
Slash of Guns N' Roses also adopted the half-step down approach for many of the band's biggest hits. The tuning gave his Les Paul a slightly heavier sound while maintaining the familiar fingering patterns of standard tuning. It became an essential part of the Guns N' Roses sound on classics like "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain."
Stevie Ray Vaughan took things even further by sometimes using a combination of lower tunings and heavier gauge strings. This created significant tension that would be challenging for many players, but in SRV's hands, it produced the massive, authoritative tone that defined Texas blues.
While rock guitarists were lowering their tunings, folk musicians were finding the possibilities of DADGAD. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin brought this tuning to mainstream attention with "Kashmir," creating an exotic, mysterious atmosphere that helped define the band's adventurous later work.
In the acoustic realm, players like Pierre Bensusan and Martin Carthy developed sophisticated approaches to DADGAD that showed its capacity for complex harmonies and counterpoint. The tuning became particularly associated with Celtic music, where its modal qualities perfectly complemented traditional melodies.
Few guitarists are as connected to a specific alternate tuning as Keith Richards is with Open G. The Rolling Stones guitarist removed his sixth string entirely and tuned to D-G-D-G-B-D, creating the foundation for countless classic riffs. Songs like "Brown Sugar," "Start Me Up," and "Honky Tonk Women" all show the distinctive sound of Richards' Open G approach.
What makes Richards' use of Open G so effective is how it transforms the guitar into a different instrument altogether. The five-string approach, combined with his distinctive rhythmic style, creates a sound that's instantly recognizable—proving that alternate tunings can become a crucial part of a guitarist's sonic identity.
Before trying alternate tunings, it's worthwhile to understand how they affect your instrument. Changes in tuning mean changes in string tension, which can impact playability and potentially harm your guitar if not approached carefully.
For guitarists who frequently use lower tunings, heavier gauge strings can compensate for the reduced tension. If you regularly play in Drop C or below, consider moving up at least one gauge from your standard set.
Many manufacturers now offer string sets specifically designed for alternate tunings. These typically feature heavier gauges on the lower strings while maintaining more standard gauges on the higher strings, creating a balanced feel across the fretboard.
If you plan to try alternate tunings regularly, consider having your guitar professionally set up for your preferred tuning. This might include adjustments to:
Alternate tunings offer countless possibilities for expanding your musical horizons. Whether you want to break out of a creative rut, try new genres, or develop a more distinctive sound, changing your tunings can transform your relationship with the guitar.
Start with something accessible like Drop D or half-step down tuning, then gradually try more dramatic changes from standard tuning as your ear and technique develop. Keep notes on the tunings you enjoy and the musical ideas they inspire. Over time, you'll develop a personal toolkit of tunings that build your unique voice as a guitarist. For more resources for musicians, check out Sam Ash's blog.
