What is Open G tuning?

Open G tuning changes the strings to D-G-D-G-B-D (low to high). Strumming all strings open produces a G major chord. Barring any fret gives you a major chord at that position, which is ideal for slide guitar.

What scales work in Open G tuning?

The G major pentatonic and G blues scale are natural fits. For slide playing, the major scale patterns align perfectly with the open tuning. The Mixolydian mode also works beautifully for a bluesy feel.

Why do slide guitarists use Open G?

Open G makes slide guitar much more intuitive. Since barring across all strings at any fret produces a major chord, you can play melodies and chords simply by moving the slide up and down the neck. This is why it's been the standard tuning for blues slide guitar.

C Major Guitar Scale

Guitar scale in Open G tuning — fretboard diagram

Tuning

Frets

C Major in Open G — Notes and Intervals

The C Major scale is the fundamental pillar of Western music, also known as the Ionian mode. On Guitar, it contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. It is characterized by a bright, stable, and triumphant sound, making it the primary choice for expressing joy and clarity. It is the essential framework for building major triads and functional harmony in pop, classical, and folk music. The diatonic chords of C Major are Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7, Am7, Bm7b5. Commonly used in Pop, Classical, Country, Folk, Rock. Notable players include The Beatles, Taylor Swift, John Mayer. Use over major triads, Maj7, Maj9, and any diatonic chord within the key. The default choice for major-key songwriting.

Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Formula: W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Number of notes: 7

Tuning: Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)

Also known as: ionian

Diatonic Chords

Cmaj7 — Dm7 — Em7 — Fmaj7 — G7 — Am7 — Bm7♭5

About Open G Tuning

Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) produces a G major chord when strummed open, making it the definitive tuning for slide guitar and delta blues. The tuning's natural consonance means that barring across any fret gives you a major chord, which is why it's been the backbone of blues and roots music for over a century.

From Robert Johnson to Keith Richards, Open G has shaped some of the most iconic music ever recorded. Keith Richards famously removes the low 6th string entirely in this tuning, creating his signature five-string sound on songs like 'Start Me Up' and 'Brown Sugar'. For slide players, Open G is essential — it allows clean, singing slide lines across all strings with minimal effort.

BluesSlide GuitarRockCountryFolkRoots

Notable artists: Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, The Black Crowes

Best for: Slide guitar, delta blues, Keith Richards-style rock riffs, and open-string fingerpicking

Musical Character

HappyBrightTriumphantResolved

The universal reference scale. All other scales are measured against its interval structure (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).

Chord Progressions Using This Scale

I – V – vi – IV (Pop Progression)Pop / Rock — Hope & Joy
vi – IV – I – V (Melancholic Variation)Pop / Rock — Melancholy
I – vi – IV – V (50s Doo-Wop)Pop / Rock — Nostalgia
IV – V – I – vi (Unresolved Cycle)Pop / Rock — Dreamy & Cyclical
IV – I – V – vi (Sensitive Pop)Pop / Rock — Uplifting
I – IV – V (Rock & Folk Classic)Pop / Rock — Energy & Drive
I – V – IV (Rock Ballad)Pop / Rock — Anthemic
I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V (Pachelbel's Canon)Classical / Pop — Epic & Nostalgic
I – vi – ii – V (Jazz Turnaround)Jazz / Soul — Sophistication
ii – V – I (Jazz ii–V–I)Jazz / Soul — Sophistication
ii – bII7 – I (Tritone Substitution)Jazz / Soul — Mystery & Tension
IV – V – iii – vi (Royal Road (J-Pop))World / J-Pop — Yearning & Nostalgia
IV – V – iii – vi – ii – V – I (Japanese Circle)World / J-Pop — Complete Resolution
I – ♯I°7 – ii – V (Diminished Cliché)Jazz / Soul — Nostalgic & Vintage

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Open G tuning