Open D Tuner
Tune your guitar to Open D (D A D F♯ A D) using your microphone. The tuner below is already set to Open D — press Start Recording and strum.
String-by-String Frequency Chart
These are the exact target frequencies this tuner listens for, at A4 = 440 Hz equal temperament. String 1 is the thinnest (highest) string.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | F♯3 | 185.00 Hz |
| 2 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to Use This Open D Tuner
- Press Start Recording on the tuner above and allow microphone access.
- The Open D preset is already selected.
- Drop string 6 from E to D (73.42 Hz) — a full whole step, the largest single move on this page.
- Leave strings 5 and 4 alone. They are already A and D.
- Drop string 3 from G to F♯ (185.00 Hz) — only a semitone. This is the string that makes the chord major rather than suspended, so get it exact.
- Drop string 2 from B to A (220.00 Hz) and string 1 from E to D (293.66 Hz).
- Strum all six open strings. You should hear a full, ringing D major. Then run a second pass — four loosened strings release enough tension that the neck shifts.
What is Open D Tuning?
Open D tuning tunes the guitar so that the six open strings sound a D major chord: D A D F♯ A D. It is the deepest and most resonant of the common open tunings, and along with Open G it forms the backbone of acoustic blues and slide playing.
The tuning stacks three D's across the range of the instrument — D2, D3, and D4 — which is why it sounds so much bigger than standard tuning. That tripled root is doing the work; the A's supply the fifth and the lone F♯ on string 3 supplies the major third.
Open D vs. Open G — Which Should You Learn?
They are the two standard slide tunings and they suit different material:
- Open D is darker and heavier. With the root on the lowest string it has a deep, cavernous quality — the sound of Delta blues and of Joni Mitchell's open-tuned writing.
- Open G is brighter and more rhythmic. Its lowest note is the fifth, not the root, which gives it a lighter, more propulsive feel — the Rolling Stones sound.
- Open D loosens more strings. Four strings drop in Open D versus three in Open G, so Open D goes slacker and is more prone to buzzing on a light string set.
Most slide players eventually learn both. If you only learn one and you play acoustic blues or fingerstyle, start with Open D.
Famous Songs in Open D
- Big Yellow Taxi — Joni Mitchell: Mitchell built much of her catalogue on open tunings; this one is Open D with a capo.
- Little Martha — The Allman Brothers Band: Duane Allman's fingerpicked instrumental, one of the most beautiful pieces written in Open D.
- Street Fighting Man — Rolling Stones: Keith Richards in Open D rather than his usual Open G.
- Death Letter — Son House: Delta blues slide playing, and a direct line back to where this tuning came from.
Chord Shapes in Open D
The reason Open D is worth learning is how little you have to do to get a lot:
- D major: all strings open.
- G major: barre the 5th fret.
- A major: barre the 7th fret.
- B minor: barre the 9th fret.
That gives you the I, IV, V, and vi of the key of D from four bar positions, which is enough for a very large number of songs.
Troubleshooting
The chord sounds slightly sour when strummed. The F♯ on string 3 is almost always the culprit. It is the only third in the chord, so any error in it is exposed across the whole voicing. Retune that string to exactly 0 cents.
Buzzing on the low D. Open D drops four strings, so a light gauge set can end up slapping the frets. A medium set, or a slightly higher action, solves it on a guitar kept in Open D.
It will not stay in tune. Give it two full passes and a few hard strums to settle. If it still drifts, the strings are binding in the nut slots — a common issue after a large retune.
Related tunings worth trying: Open E (the same shapes a whole step higher), DADGAD (Open D's suspended cousin), and Open G. Or read the full guide to alternate guitar tunings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes in Open D tuning?
Open D is D A D F♯ A D from lowest to highest string. Strumming all six open strings sounds a D major chord.
Which strings change from standard tuning?
Four of six change, all downward: the 6th string E drops to D, the 3rd string G drops to F♯, the 2nd string B drops to A, and the 1st string E drops to D. Only the 5th string (A) and 4th string (D) stay where they are.
What is the difference between Open D and Open E?
They are the same interval pattern, two semitones apart. Open E is Open D moved up a whole step, so every shape transfers directly between them. Open D is reached by loosening strings, Open E by tightening them — which is why most players prefer Open D and use a capo at the 2nd fret when they need the pitch of Open E.
Is Open D the same as Vestapol tuning?
Yes. Vestapol is the traditional blues and folk name for Open D, taken from the 19th-century parlour piece Sebastopol that popularised it. You may also see it called D major tuning.
Why does Open D suit slide guitar so well?
Because the open strings already form a major chord, a slide laid flat across any fret produces a clean major chord at that position. You get the whole I-IV-V of a blues from three slide positions — open, 5th fret, and 7th fret — with no fretting shapes at all.