Browse complete tuning guides for alternate guitar tunings. Each page covers the string notes, how to retune from standard, what changes across the fretboard, playable chord shapes, scale ideas, and practical tips.
Core tuning guides
- Drop D (D A D G B E) — Keep the familiar upper strings and add a low D for heavier riffs and one-finger power chords.
- Double Drop D (D A D G B D) — Lower both E strings to D for a wider, ringing sound and drone-friendly shapes.
- DADGAD (D A D G A D) — Explore a suspended, open sound used for layered rhythm, drones, and melodic fingerstyle.
- Open E (E B E G♯ B E) — Tune to an open E major chord for bright slide playing and movable barre shapes.
- Open D (D A D F♯ A D) — Strum a D major chord in the open strings and explore slide-friendly shapes.
- Open G (D G D G B D) — Start with an open G major chord and learn movable shapes for rhythm and slide.
- Standard (E A D G B E) · E A D G B E is the home base.
- E♭ Standard (E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭) · Lower every string by one semitone.
- D Standard (D G C F A D) · Lower all six strings by two semitones.
- C Standard (C F B♭ E♭ G C) · Lower every string by four semitones.
- Drop C (C G C F A D) · A low C and a one-finger power-chord layout on strings 6 to 4.
- Open A (E A E A C♯ E) · The open strings form A major over a low E bass.
- Open C (C G C G C E) · C G C G C E gives a C major chord across the open strings.
- All Fourths (E A D G C F) · E A D G C F makes every adjacent string pair a perfect fourth.
Try the virtual fretboard
Want to see how notes fall across the neck before you retune? Open the virtual guitar fretboard and switch between supported tunings.