Open G Tuner
Free online Open G tuner — tune your guitar to D G D G B D using your microphone. Loved by blues and slide guitarists.
What is Open G Tuning?
Open G tuning is one of the most beloved and expressive alternate guitar tunings, with deep roots in blues, folk, country, and rock music. The tuning is D G D G B D from the lowest to highest string, meaning that when you strum all six open strings, you hear a full G major chord. This property makes Open G incredibly powerful for slide guitar, fingerpicking, and open chord voicings.
Compared to standard tuning (E A D G B E), three strings change in Open G: the 6th string drops from E to D, the 5th string drops from A to G, and the 1st string drops from E to D. Strings 2, 3, and 4 (B, G, D) remain unchanged.
How to Use This Open G Tuner
- Open GuitarTunePro by clicking the tuner button and allow microphone access.
- Select Open G from the tuning preset dropdown.
- Tune string 6 down from E to D — pluck and watch the needle as you slowly loosen the peg.
- Tune string 5 down from A to G using the same process.
- Tune string 1 down from E to D — a smaller adjustment but just as important.
- Strings 2, 3, and 4 remain the same — verify them quickly and you're in Open G.
Why Learn Open G?
Open G opens up an entirely different musical vocabulary compared to standard tuning:
- Slide guitar: A straight bar or glass slide across all strings at any fret produces a major chord, making fluid slide playing far easier than in standard tuning.
- Beautiful open chord voicings: Chords like G, Cadd9, and Dsus2 ring out with rich, resonant voicings unique to Open G.
- Unique fingerpicking patterns: The open G and D bass strings allow melodic bass lines while freely picking treble strings.
- Keith Richards' 5-string style: Richards often removed the 6th string entirely in Open G, giving his rhythm guitar a distinctive cutting tone on many classic Rolling Stones tracks.
Famous Songs in Open G Tuning
- Brown Sugar — Rolling Stones: Keith Richards' iconic riff is built in Open G.
- Start Me Up — Rolling Stones: Another Open G classic from Richards.
- Little Lion Man — Mumford & Sons: Uses Open G for its distinctive banjo-like guitar tone.
- Dust My Broom — Robert Johnson / Elmore James: A blues slide standard played in Open G.
Want to explore other alternate tunings? Read our complete guide to alternate guitar tunings. Or return to use our free chromatic guitar tuner in standard or any other tuning preset.
Ready to tune?
Use GuitarTunePro's free online tuner — works directly in your browser, no app download needed.
Use Our Free Chromatic Guitar Tuner →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the notes in Open G tuning?
Open G tuning is D G D G B D from the lowest to highest string. Strings 6, 5, and 1 change from standard tuning — the 6th string drops from E to D, the 5th string drops from A to G, and the 1st string drops from E to D.
Why is Open G tuning popular for slide guitar?
In Open G, strumming all six open strings produces a G major chord. This means you can move a slide straight across all six strings at any fret and produce a major chord — ideal for the fluid, flowing phrasing of slide guitar.
What famous artists use Open G?
Open G is the signature tuning of Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), who often removed the 6th string entirely. Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, and Bonnie Raitt are also known for playing in Open G.
How many strings change when going to Open G?
Three strings change: the 6th string drops from E to D (one whole step), the 5th string drops from A to G (one whole step), and the 1st string drops from E to D (one whole step). Strings 2, 3, and 4 (B, G, D) stay the same.