Open G (D G D G B D) makes the six open strings ring out a G major chord. Lower the 6th, 5th and 1st strings by a whole step and you can play any major chord with a single finger — the classic tuning for slide guitar, blues and rock rhythm parts.
What is Open G tuning?
Compared with standard, the 6th string goes E→D, the 5th A→G and the 1st E→D, each down a whole step; strings 4, 3 and 2 (D G B) stay put. From low to high the open strings are D–G–D–G–B–D, which contains only the three notes of a G major triad: G, B and D.
Because the open strings already form a chord, barring every string with one finger (or a slide) gives major chords up the neck: C at the 5th fret, D at the 7th and G an octave up at the 12th. Adding a note or two on one string gives rich suspended sounds.
Open G tuning notes and frequencies
| String | Standard | Open G | Change | Tension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| String 6 | E2 82.41 | D2 73.42 Hz | down a whole step (2 semitones) | -21% |
| String 5 | A2 110.00 | G2 98.00 Hz | down a whole step (2 semitones) | -21% |
| String 4 | D3 146.83 | D3 146.83 Hz | unchanged | — |
| String 3 | G3 196.00 | G3 196.00 Hz | unchanged | — |
| String 2 | B3 246.94 | B3 246.94 Hz | unchanged | — |
| String 1 | E4 329.63 | D4 293.66 Hz | down a whole step (2 semitones) | -21% |
How to tune from standard to Open G tuning
- Tune all six strings to standard E A D G B E first (A4 = 440 Hz).
- String 6: E2 → D2, down a whole step (2 semitones) — target 73.42 Hz.
- String 5: A2 → G2, down a whole step (2 semitones) — target 98.00 Hz.
- String 1: E4 → D4, down a whole step (2 semitones) — target 293.66 Hz.
- Ear check: the open 6th string (D2) is an octave below the open 4th (D3), and the open 1st (D4) an octave above it; the 12th-fret harmonic on the 5th string (G3) should match the open 3rd string (G3). Strumming all open strings should give a clean G major chord.
- Recheck every string from low to high: the change in neck tension pulls the other strings slightly out.
Where it is used
Open G is a staple of slide (bottleneck) guitar and Delta blues, and it powers many classic-rock rhythm parts — some players even remove the 6th string and play crisp open-chord riffs on five strings.
It is also the standard tuning of the five-string banjo, so it turns up in country, bluegrass and folk, and Hawaiian slack-key guitarists use the same pitches.
String tension and feel
The 6th, 5th and 1st strings each lose about 21% tension while the middle three stay the same, so the feel across the neck becomes uneven. A regular set is fine for normal playing; for mostly slide work, go up to 11s or 12s and raise the action a little so the slide does not clatter on the frets.
The 1st string gets noticeably slack at D4, so go easy on bends. If you keep a guitar in Open G permanently, have the neck relief checked.
How to get back to standard tuning
- String 1: D4 → E4, up a whole step (2 semitones) (329.63 Hz).
- String 5: G2 → A2, up a whole step (2 semitones) (110.00 Hz).
- String 6: D2 → E2, up a whole step (2 semitones) (82.41 Hz).
- Raising pitch adds tension. Approach each target from slightly below and turn slowly rather than overshooting — fewer broken strings and the tuning settles faster.
FAQ
How do I play chords in Open G?
Barre all strings with one finger for major chords: open is G, 5th fret C, 7th fret D, 12th fret G an octave higher. For minor chords the 2nd string (where the third sits) must be one fret lower than the rest — usually index finger on the 2nd string and another finger barring the others one fret higher; for sevenths, add a seventh on top of the barre.
Do I need a slide to play in Open G?
No. Slide is just the most famous use. Barres, strumming and fingerstyle all sound great, and many rock rhythm players use Open G with nothing but their fingers.
What does a capo do in Open G?
A capo at the 2nd fret gives Open A (E A E A C♯ E); at the 4th fret, Open B. For songs in Open A, Open G plus a capo is safer for your strings than tuning up.
