Open D tuning is popular with blues players. When used with the slide guitar is gives a rich sound that is hard to produce with just the standard tuning. Allman Brothers, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder and Chuck Berry have used this tuning.
Open D tuning example: Little Martha by the Allman Brothers (guitarist unknown)
Tune Your Guitar to Open D from Standard tuning.
- Lower the 6th string a whole step to D
Place your finger on the 6th string 7th fret and make it the same pitch as the open 5th string which is an A.
- Lower the 1st string a whole step to D
Place your finger on the 2nd string 3rd fret and make the 1st string the same pitch.
- Lower the 2nd string a whole step to A
Place your finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. Make the 2nd string the same pitch.
- Lower the 3rd string a half step to F#
Place your finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string. Make the 3rd string the same pitch.
Use our Online Guitar Tuner to tune your guitar to Open D.