Open G tuning
Encyclopedia
Open G tuning is a tuning
for guitar, such that the open strings play a G major
chord with no fingering or capo.
The standard Open G tuning is D-G-D-G-B-D. Note that this leaves the D as the bottom of the chord
, creating an inversion. To rectify this problem, some guitar players will remove the low D string from the guitar and only play with five strings. Dobro
s in particular use a full six-string tuning with a bottom G, G-B-D-G-B-D. The top two strings are, accordingly, tuned three semitones higher for the bottom string and two semitones higher for the second-lowest string than a standard tuning. As such, some standard guitar strings may require lighter gauges to play the dobro tuning (though not all, since the thicker gauges on the low strings tend to be sturdier and more resistant to tightening than the thinner, more fragile high strings).
5-String Banjo
standard tuning in an Open G too: g-D-G-B-D, where "g"(lower case) is the highest string, and it's next to "D"(upper case), the lower one!
The Russian seven-string guitar
uses an open G for its standard tuning; it progresses (low-high) D-G-B-D-G-B-D.
Keith Richards
of The Rolling Stones
is famous for innovating this tuning (the 5 string version) for rock music on songs such as "Brown Sugar
", "Honky Tonk Women
", and "Start Me Up
".
Guitar tunings
Guitar tunings almost always refers to the pitch of the open string, though some tunings may only realistically be attained by the use of a capo on an unmodified instrument....
for guitar, such that the open strings play a G major
G major
G major is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp, F; in treble-clef key signatures, the sharp-symbol for F is usually placed on the first line from the top, though in some Baroque music it is placed on the first space from the bottom...
chord with no fingering or capo.
The standard Open G tuning is D-G-D-G-B-D. Note that this leaves the D as the bottom of the chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
, creating an inversion. To rectify this problem, some guitar players will remove the low D string from the guitar and only play with five strings. Dobro
Dobro
Dobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
s in particular use a full six-string tuning with a bottom G, G-B-D-G-B-D. The top two strings are, accordingly, tuned three semitones higher for the bottom string and two semitones higher for the second-lowest string than a standard tuning. As such, some standard guitar strings may require lighter gauges to play the dobro tuning (though not all, since the thicker gauges on the low strings tend to be sturdier and more resistant to tightening than the thinner, more fragile high strings).
5-String Banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
standard tuning in an Open G too: g-D-G-B-D, where "g"(lower case) is the highest string, and it's next to "D"(upper case), the lower one!
The Russian seven-string guitar
Seven-string guitar
A seven-string guitar is a guitar with seven strings instead of the usual six. Some types of seven-string guitars are specific to certain cultures . The standard 7-string guitar tuning is BEADGbe...
uses an open G for its standard tuning; it progresses (low-high) D-G-B-D-G-B-D.
Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
is famous for innovating this tuning (the 5 string version) for rock music on songs such as "Brown Sugar
Brown Sugar (song)
"Brown Sugar" is a song by The Rolling Stones. It is the opening track and lead single from the English rock band's 1971 album Sticky Fingers...
", "Honky Tonk Women
Honky Tonk Women
"Honky Tonk Women" is a 1969 hit song by The Rolling Stones. Released as a single on 4 July 1969 in the UK and a week later in the US, it topped the charts in both nations.-Inspiration and Recording:...
", and "Start Me Up
Start Me Up
"Start Me Up" is a song by The Rolling Stones featured on the 1981 album Tattoo You. Released as the album's lead single, it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on the UK Singles Chart.-Writing and recording:...
".