Complete Guide to Guitar Alternate Tunings

Standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) is just one of many ways to tune a guitar. From Delta blues to progressive metal, from Celtic folk to flamenco, guitarists have been retuning their strings for generations to discover sounds, chords, and textures that standard tuning simply cannot provide. A different tuning is not just a technical change — it changes how you think, how your fingers fall on the fretboard, and the songs you write.

This guide covers the most important alternate guitar tunings, organized by category: from minimal changes like Drop D to open tunings for slide guitar, modal tunings, heavy tunings for metal, the flamenco tradition, and songwriter tunings. Each tuning includes the notes, key artists, an open chord diagram, and a link to its scales page where you can explore the full fretboard.

1. The Easy Wins — Minimal Changes from Standard

These tunings only require lowering one or two strings. If you have never tried an alternate tuning, start here.

Eb Standard (Half Step Down)

Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

The tuning of choice for Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Slash. Every string goes down a half step, so all chord shapes and scale patterns remain identical to standard — everything just sounds one semitone lower. The slightly reduced tension makes bending easier and gives the tone a warmer, thicker quality. Many rock and blues bands record in Eb standard. Explore scales in Eb standard.

Drop D

D - A - D - G - B - E

The most popular alternate tuning in the world. You only lower the 6th string by one whole step (E to D). This gives you one-finger power chords across the bottom three strings and a low D that adds massive weight to your sound. Essential for alternative rock: Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Rage Against the Machine, Tool. Explore scales in Drop D.

Double Drop D

D - A - D - G - B - D

Drop D with the 1st string also lowered a whole step (E to D). This frames the tuning with D notes on both outer strings, creating an evocative drone quality. Neil Young used this tuning for "Cinnamon Girl" and Led Zeppelin for "Going to California". Perfect for fingerpicking and riffs with open strings ringing out. Explore scales in Double Drop D.

2. Open Major Tunings

In an open tuning, all six open strings form a complete major chord. This means you can play a major chord at any fret with a single straight barre — the foundation of slide guitar. But open tunings are not just for slide: they create chord voicings, harmonics, and fingerpicking textures that are impossible in standard tuning.

Open G

D - G - D - G - B - D

The tuning of the Delta blues. Robert Johnson, Son House, and the great acoustic blues players used Open G. Keith Richards made it his primary tuning for the Rolling Stones (removing the 6th string to play with five). It is also essential in Hawaiian slack-key guitar. The open strings form a G major chord. Explore scales in Open G.

Open D

D - A - D - F# - A - D

Another pillar of blues and folk. Elmore James made it famous with "Dust My Broom". Joni Mitchell used it extensively, and Bob Dylan adopted it for "Blood on the Tracks". The open strings ring as a D major chord with deep, warm resonance. Perfect for slide and fingerpicking. Explore scales in Open D.

Open E

E - B - E - G# - B - E

The same intervals as Open D but a whole step higher. The tuning of Duane Allman with the Allman Brothers and Derek Trucks. Also used by the Black Crowes and many electric slide guitarists. Note: raising three strings increases tension and breakage risk. Many players prefer to tune to Open D and capo the 2nd fret for the same result. Explore scales in Open E.

Open A

E - A - E - A - C# - E

Open A is essentially Open G with a capo at the 2nd fret, but tuning directly to it gives a brighter character with more tensión. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's "In My Time of Dying". Natural harmonics at frets 5, 7, and 12 sound incredible in this tuning. Explore scales in Open A.

Open C

C - G - C - G - C - E

A massive tuning with a very wide range from low C to high E. John Butler used it for his piece "Ocean" and Devin Townsend has made it central to his sound. The open strings cover a C major chord spanning three octaves of C, giving it an orchestral resonance. Ideal for ambient composition and acoustic percussion. Explore scales in Open C.

3. Modal and Suspended Tunings

Unlike open major tunings, modal tunings avoid the third of the chord. This means the open strings are neither major nor minor, creating an ambiguous, atmospheric sound open to multiple harmonic interpretations.

DADGAD

D - A - D - G - A - D

The most famous modal tuning in the world. Invented (or rather discovered) by British guitarist Davey Graham in the 1960s after a trip to Morocco. Jimmy Page used it on "Kashmir" and "Black Mountain Side". Pierre Bensusan plays his entire career in DADGAD. The absence of the third (no F# or F) makes it neither major nor minor: it has a suspended, Celtic, slightly mysterious character. It is the most explored tuning after standard and Drop D. Explore scales in DADGAD and the modal possibilities for jazz.

Rain Song Tuning

D - G - C - G - C - D

Jimmy Page created this tuning specifically for Led Zeppelin's "The Rain Song". It is one of the most unusual tunings you will encounter: no string keeps its standard pitch. The result is a unique harmonic landscape with lush chords and voice movements that would be impossible in any other tuning. A perfect example of how a tuning can inspire a composition that would not exist otherwise.

4. Heavy and Extended Range Tunings

Metal, hardcore, and progressive rock have been lowering tunings for decades to achieve more weight and aggression. These tunings require heavier string gauges and usually a guitar setup adjustment (truss rod, intonation, action).

Drop C

C - G - C - F - A - D

Drop D lowered by one whole step. System of a Down, Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, and much of modern metalcore live in Drop C. One-finger power chords still work just like Drop D, but with much more weight. You need at least an 11-52 string gauge set. Explore scales in Drop C.

Drop B

B - F# - B - E - G# - C#

One step beyond Drop C. Architects, Parkway Drive, and August Burns Red use Drop B. At this low tensión, regular strings do not work: you need a minimum 12-56 gauge set and probably a professional truss rod and intonation setup. The sound is devastatingly heavy. Explore scales in Drop B.

7-String Guitar

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

The 7-string guitar adds a low B below the standard 6th string. Korn popularized the format in the 90s, and Dream Theater and Steve Vai demonstrated its versatility in progressive metal and fusión contexts. The 7th string extends the range without changing the familiar positions on the upper six strings. Explore scales for 7-string guitar.

8-String Guitar

F# - B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Meshuggah defined the 8-string guitar sound with their polyrhythmic riffs in the ultra-low register. Animals as Leaders took it into progressive jazz fusión territory. The low F# sits in bass guitar territory, allowing rhythmic textures that blur the line between guitar and bass. Explore scales for 8-string guitar.

Baritone Guitar (B Standard)

B - E - A - D - F# - B

The baritone guitar has a longer scale length (typically 27") and is tuned a fourth or fifth below standard. Pat Metheny has used it in jazz recordings, and it is a fundamental instrument in film and televisión scoring. The tone is thick and dark without the flabbiness that regular strings would have at such low pitches. Explore scales for baritone guitar.

5. Flamenco Tunings

Rondeña

D - A - D - F# - B - E

The most important alternate tuning in the entire flamenco tradition. Its name comes from Ronda, the Andalusian city where it originated. Ramón Montoya pioneered it for the concert guitar, and Paco de Lucía used it masterfully in pieces like "Mi Niño Curro". Lowering the 6th string to D and the 3rd to F# creates a harp-like resonance that is impossible in standard tuning. The modal center is C# Phrygian, and the traditional form is toque libre (free rhythm). The chords that emerge from the open strings have a suspended, exotic color that defines the rondena sound. Explore exotic scales and the flamenco tradition.

6. World and Folk Traditions

Nashville Tuning (High-Strung)

Same notes as standard, but the bottom 4 strings an octave higher

Nashville tuning uses the same notes as standard (E-A-D-G-B-E), but the bottom four strings (6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd) are strung an octave higher using the octave strings from a 12-string set. The result is a bright, chimey sound similar to a 12-string guitar but with the playability of a 6-string. Pink Floyd used it on "Hey You", the Rolling Stones on "Wild Horses", and Kansas on "Dust in the Wind". It is an incredibly effective studio trick: record one track in standard and another in Nashville, and the blend sounds like a perfect 12-string.

Hawaiian Slack-Key / Taro Patch

D - G - D - G - B - D

The same notes as Open G, but in Hawaiian tradition it carries deep cultural significance. The guitar arrived in Hawaii in the 19th century with Mexican cowboys, and Hawaiians developed their own tunings called "ki ho'alu" (loosen the key). Gabby Pahinui was the grand master of this tradition. For generations, tunings were passed down as family secrets. Taro Patch is the most common slack-key tuning and produces a sweet, relaxed sound that evokes the islands.

7. Songwriter's Tunings

Some songwriters have created unique tunings for specific pieces. These tunings exist to serve a particular artistic visión and do not necessarily lend themselves to general use, but they are fascinating as tools for inspiration.

Nick Drake / "Pink Moon" Tuning

C - G - C - F - C - E

Nick Drake used this tuning on the title track of his álbum "Pink Moon". Drake experimented obsessively with tunings: he used more than 13 different ones throughout his short career. This particular tuning creates a haunting, suspended quality, with three C strings generating a hypnotic drone. The absence of a third on the lower strings gives it that major/minor ambiguity so characteristic of his music.

New Standard Tuning (Robert Fripp)

C - G - D - A - E - G

Robert Fripp designed this tuning in 1985 as a systematic alternative to standard tuning. The bottom five strings are tuned in perfect fifths (like a cello or mandolin), and the 1st string sits a minor third above the 5th. The California Guitar Trio has built their entire career on this tuning. It requires restringing the guitar with specific gauges and a considerable adaptation period — it is almost like learning a new instrument.

8. Practical Tips

Use our free online tuner to tune your guitar to any of these tunings. It supports every tuning in this guide, including 7 and 8-string.

String Gauge for Lower Tunings

The rule is simple: the lower you tune, the heavier your strings need to be to maintain proper tensión. With strings that are too light for a low tuning, the sound will be flabby, intonation will suffer, and fret buzz will be unbearable.

Guitar Setup

When you significantly change string tensión, your guitar needs a setup. Intonation goes off (chords sound out of tune at higher frets), the truss rod may need adjustment to compensate for the new tensión, and string action may change. If you plan to play in an alternate tuning regularly, it is worth dedicating a guitar exclusively to that tuning.

Using a Capo with Open Tunings

The capo is the best friend of open tunings. In Open G, a capo at the 2nd fret gives you Open A. At the 4th, Open B. In Open D, a capo at the 2nd fret gives you Open E without the string breakage risk. Folk and slide guitarists use capos constantly with open tunings to change keys without changing finger positions.

How to Tune Safely

Golden rule: always tune down first. If you need to raise a string, lower it below the target note first, then tune up to it. This prevents tensión buildup and reduces the risk of string breakage. Be especially careful with Open E and Open A, which require raising strings above standard pitch.

9. The Best Tuning Is the One That Inspires You

There is no tuning that is "better" than another. Drop D is not better than DADGAD, and Open G is not better than standard. Each tuning is a different lens for looking at the fretboard: it changes what is easy, what is hard, and what is possible. The best tuning is the one that makes you want to keep playing, the one that leads you to chords and melodies you would not have found otherwise. Experiment, explore, and let the sound guide you.

Tools to Explore Tunings

• Guitar Scales — interactive fretboard diagrams for every scale and tuning
• Scale Harmonizer — find the chords in any scale
• Chord Progressions — 324 progressions for songwriting and improvisation
• Guitar Chord Finder — all positions for any chord
• Triads: Why Are They So Important?
• Exotic Scales — world music traditions for guitar

Tune Your Guitar

Use our online tuner with the tuning you need:

• Drop D
• DADGAD
• Open G
• Open D
• Open E
• Open A
• Open C
• Eb Standard
• Drop C
• Drop B
• Double Drop D
• 7-String