This article contains a list of guitar tunings that supplements the article guitar tunings. In particular, this list contains more examples of open and regular tunings, which are discussed in the article on guitar tunings. In addition, this list also notes dropped tunings.
Standard tuning E-A-d-g-b-e' Throughout, this list references standard tuning, i.e. E2–A2–D3–G3–B3–E4 . for comparison.
Open
Major
Major open-tunings give a major chord with the open strings.
Open A E-A-C♯-E-A-E Alternatively: A-E-A-E-A-C♯ (one step down from "Open B") "Slide" Open A: E-A-E-A-C♯-E (identical to "Open G" tuning but with every string raised one step or two frets) Used by Jimmy Page on "In My Time of Dying" and Jack White on "Seven Nation Army" and "Catch Hell Blues"". Alternatively: D-A-E-A-C#-E (E-A-E-A-C#-E but low E is tuned a full step down) Used by various bands such as Algernon Cadwallader, Tiny Moving Parts, and Merchant Ships. →
Open B B-F♯-B-F♯-B-D♯ Alternatively: F♯-B-D♯-F♯-B-D♯ Used by Nickelback on "Should've Listened" and Big Wreck on "Albatross".
Open C C-G-C-G-C-E This open C tuning is used by William Ackerman for his "Townsend Shuffle" and by John Fahey for his tribute to Mississippi John Hurt. This tuning is also commonly used by John Butler on his 12-string guitar. This tuning is used on most work by Devin Townsend in his solo work as well as his work with Strapping Young Lad. When playing on a 7-string guitar, he would have a low G as the lowest string to complete the fifth. David Wilcox also recorded his most songs, "Eye of the Hurricane" and "Rusty Old American Dream", both from How Did You Find Me Here, in this tuning, as well as "New World", "Show the Way", "Hold It Up to the Light", and his cover of "It's the Same Old Song" from Big Horizon, and "Mango" from East Asheville Hardware.
C-E-G-C-E-G The English guitar used a repetitive open-C tuning that approximated a major-thirds tuning.
C-C-G-C-E-G This open-C tuning gives the initial harmonic series when a C-string is struck. The C-C-G-C-E-G tuning uses the harmonic sequence (overtones) of the note C. When an open-note C-string is struck, its harmonic sequence begins with the notes (C,C,G,C,E,G,B♭,C). This overtone-series tuning was modified by Mick Ralphs, who used a high C rather than the high G for "Can't Get Enough" on Bad Company. Ralphs said, "It needs the open C to have that ring," and "it never really sounds right in standard tuning".
Open D
D-A-D-F♯-A-D Open-D tuning is used by Joni Mitchell for her "Big Yellow Taxi", Nick Drake for "Place To Be", Alt-J for "Interlude 2", Boys Like Girls for "Thunder", Adrianne Lenker for "anything", Harry Styles for Matilda, David Wilcox for "Wildberry Pie", "Mighty Ocean", "Kindness", and "Never Enough", and by Soko for "No More Home, No More Love". Open-D tuning has been called Vestapol tuning. Kevin Cronin used Open D in "Time for Me to Fly", the 1978 REO Speedwagon song, with four top-string variations for G and A.
Alternatively: D-A-D'-A'-D-D This alternative Open D tuning was used by Keith Richards on "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and the Stone Roses in "Love Spreads".
C♯-G♯-C♯-F-G♯-C♯ This tuning is the same as Open D but tuned a half-step down, also known as Open C♯ Major tuning. It is used by Alice In Chains on the songs "Over Now", "Nothin' Song", and "Shame in You"; by Guns N' Roses on the song "Bad Obsession" and its cover of "Jumpin' Jack Flash"; and by Switchfoot on the song "Daisy".
Open E E-B-E-G♯-B-E (use light-gauge strings because three strings must be raised) Open E is used by: Brian Jones on "No Expectations", "I Wanna Be Your Man"; Keith Richards on "Salt of the Earth", "Prodigal Son", "Gimme Shelter", "Jigsaw Puzzle", "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and by Bob Dylan on his 1975 album Blood on the Tracks. The tuning is also used by Hoobastank on their first and second albums, by Judy Collins on her cover of "Both Sides Now", and by Junior Campbell on the Marmalade recordings "Reflections of My Life" and "I See the Rain". Lastly, the Open E tuning is used by Johnny Marr of the Smiths on "The Headmaster Ritual" and Rush in "Headlong Flight". A variant, E-G#-B-E-B-E does not need lighter strings because three strings are dropped.
Open F F-A-C-F-C-F (requires light-gauge strings) Alternatively (without light-gauge strings): C-F-C-F-A-C C-F-C-F-A-C is the more common of the two. Used by
Elizabeth Cotten on her song "When I Get Home" Led Zeppelin on "When the Levee Breaks" and "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp" (studio) F-Sharp Tuning: F♯-A♯-C♯-F♯-C♯-F♯ Alternative: C♯-F♯-C♯-F♯-A♯-C♯ F-F-C-F-A-C is also used by Dave Mason on "Only You Know and I Know"
FACGCE / Math Rock Tuning F-A-C-G-C-E is also used, most famously by American Football (band). Periphery uses this tuning one and a half step down (D-F#-A-E-A-C#) on the song "Wax Wings".
Open G
D-G-D-G-B-D (also known as Spanish Tuning or Chicago Tuning) Open G was used in rock by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin in the songs "Dancing Days", "That's The Way" and "Black Country Woman", Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones as well as in Mississippi blues by Son House, Charley Patton, and Robert Johnson, some songs by Alter Bridge (including down-tuned and minor variations on "In Loving Memory", "Watch Over You", "Wonderful Life", "Words Darker Than Their Wings", "Cradle to the Grave", and "Dying Light"), and in "Fearless" by Pink Floyd. David Wilcox used this tuning on "The Nightshift Watchman".
G-G-D-G-B-D Listing the initial six harmonics of the G note, this open-G tuning was used by Joni Mitchell for "Electricity", "For the Roses", and "Hunter (The Good Samaritan)". It was also used by Mick Ralphs for "Hey Hey" on Bad Company's debut album. and on the Meowtain song "Alleyway" Stone Gossard also used this tuning in the song "Daughter" by Pearl Jam.
Alternatively: G-B-D-G-B-D (slack-key guitar) Alternatively: C-G-D-G-B-D (used by Big Wreck on multiple songs, most notably "Inhale" and "Mistake"—They downtune it a half step—and by David Wilcox on "It's Almost Time", "Just a Vehicle", "Distant Water", "Golden Day", and his covers of "The Kid" and "Missing You". Also used by Andrew Peterson on his song "Faith to be Strong" Dobro Open G: G-B-D-G-B-D (occasionally adopted for ordinary guitar, but requires lighter fifth and sixth strings). Russian-guitar Open G: The tuning of the Russian guitar D-G-B-D-G-B-D is an open G tuning, approximately in major thirds.
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