The Ultimate Guide to Open D Tuning, Riffs, and Chord Shapes
If you’ve dipped your toes into the wonderful world of alternate tunings, you’ll know that there are a lot of ways to tune your guitar – open D is one of them.
This tuning can be a little bit tricky to get the hang of when you’re new to guitar. So, I’m going to show you how I teach open D, so you can start having fun with it today.
Originally published on October 3, 2018, this article was republished on February 23rd, 2024.
What Is Open D Tuning?
Open D tuning is an alternative tuning with open strings tuned to the following notes, from low to high: D, A, D, F#, A, and D.
It uses the three notes of a D major Chord: D, A, and F#.
It allows you to play full-sounding chords by fretting only a few strings, and it’s a popular tuning for playing with a slide.
How to Tune to Open D Tuning
Before I show you any chords or licks that you can play in this tuning, we have to actually tune our guitars first.
You want your guitar to start in standard tuning, which is — from low string to high string — EADGBE. You can use a clip-on tuner to get to standard tuning, but if you don’t have one of those,I wrote an article about how to learn guitar that includes an easy way to tune to standard.
Open D tuning has your guitar tuned in this order — from low string to high string — DADF#AD. The “pound” or “hashtag” sign indicates that the F is an F sharp, meaning it is a half-step higher than an F natural. If you’d like to learn about tuning to Drop D, I wrote an article about that too.
Now let’s take a step-by-step look at how to tune your guitar to Open D:
- Tune the low E string to a low D
- Leave the A and D strings as they are
- Tune down the G string to an F#
- Tune down the B string to an A
- Tune down the high E string to a D
You’ll know that your guitar is in open D tuning when you can strum all six strings and it creates a full, humongous D chord. If anything is off, individually check each string again.
Get Comfortable With Scales in Open D
Open D tuning can be incredibly disorienting the first time you play a major scale. In alternate tunings, it often feels like you have to relearn the fretboard all over again.
One of the quickest ways to start moving around on the fretboard in open D tuning is by playing the major scale on just one string.
In this example, we’re going to just play the D major scale on the high D string. Here’s how to do it:
- Then, place your index on the 2nd fret and pick only the high D string
- Next, move your index to the 4th fret
- Then the 5th fret
- 7th fret
- 9th fret
- 11th fret
- And finally, the 12th fret
Congratulations! You just played a major scale in open D tuning! I know you were just going up and down the neck, rather than across the neck, but what if I told you there’s a way to make this scale a more musical exercise?
Fortunately, there is!
Just by playing all six strings as you play the scale, you can create a more musical exercise.
You can also play around with different strumming patterns, different orders in which you play the scale, and even write your own song – the opportunities are seemingly endless in open D tuning!
Open D Chord Shapes
Before I dive into specific chords for open D tuning, I want you to play around with open D tuning.
“But Tony…I want to start playing some chords right away!”
Look, I hear you, but I want you to just let the creativity flow at this point. That’s why I’m going to show you two chord shapes, and then a handful of specific chords.
The great thing about these chord shapes is that they can be applied up and down the fretboard, without having to change the shape, similar to power chords!
The Staggered Shape
If you’ve seen my open G tuning lesson then you’re somewhat familiar with the staggered shape.
To make the staggered shape, fret the 2nd fret of the A string with your middle finger. From there, fret the 1st fret of the F# string with your index finger.
The great thing about the staggered shape is that you can move this shape up and down the fretboard – just make sure to maintain the shape! Some frets may not sound as good as others, so just try exploring on your own.
The Inline Shape
The inline shape will use the same strings as the staggered shape. However, the inline shape will have both fingers on the same frets.
Start by placing your middle finger on the 5th fret of the A string. From there, place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the F# string.
Just like the staggered shape, the inline shape can be moved up and down the fretboard.
Combining the Staggered and Inline Shape
After you’ve explored both the staggered and inline chord shapes, you might have noticed that one chord shape sounds better than the other on a specific fret.
I’m going to show you a super cool ch
- Start by playing all of the open strings
- Make the staggered shape with your middle finger on the second fret of the A string
- Move the staggered shape up the neck by two frets so your middle finger is on the 4th fret of the A string
- Make the inline shape on the 5th fret (like the example earlier)
- Move the inline shape up two frets to the 7th fret
- Place your middle finger on the 9th fret of the A string to create the staggered shape
- Move the staggered shape up another two frets so your middle finger is on the 11th fret
- Finally, make the inline shape on the 12th fret
The great thing about this sequence of staggered and inline chord shapes is that you can play around with the order.
For example, you can play just back and forth on the 5th and 7th frets. You can even throw the staggered shape down on the 4th fret.
Open D Chords
Now that we’ve looked at the shapes, let’s examine a couple of chords themselves
A Chords
Here are all of the A chords you can play in open D tuning.
B Chords
Here are all of the B chords you can play in open D tuning.
C Chords
Here are all of the C chords you can play in open D tuning.
D Chords
Here are all of the D chords you can play in open D tuning.
E Chords
Here are all of the E chords you can play in open D tuning.
F Chords
Here are all of the F chords you can play in open D tuning.
G Chords
Here are all of the G chords you can play in open D tuning.
How to Improve Your Playing in Open D Tuning
Now that you’ve gone through this lesson, I want to recap how you can improve on your guitar playing – at any stage in your journey.
Play a little bit every day, and focus on having fun! Practice sessions don’t have to feel like a chore. If you really want to take your playing to the next level, I recommend signing up for my guitar workshop – Tony’s Acoustic Challenge.
I designed it to help you see meaningful progress by playing for as little as 10 minutes a day. At the same time, I organized lessons so that you don’t feel like you’re dragging your feet through rote repetition – you’re having fun every step of the way!
Sound appealing?
Then check out this FREE guitar class for three secrets to learn guitar faster in just 10 minutes a day.
Simply wanna input on few general things, The website design and style is perfect, the subject material is rattling excellent : D.
Hello. splendid job. I did not anticipate this. This is a remarkable story. Thanks!
Wow! Thank you! I continually wanted to write on my site something like that. Can I take a part of your post to my blog?
I believe you have observed some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.
I’ve recently started a site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work. “If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees.” by Hal Borland.
Wohh exactly what I was searching for, thanks for putting up.
I like this web site so much, saved to my bookmarks. “Respect for the fragility and importance of an individual life is still the mark of an educated man.” by Norman Cousins.
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up.
Hello there, I found your blog via Google while looking for a related topic, your website came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
You are a very intelligent person!
Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any suggestions for inexperienced blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
Useful information. Fortunate me I found your site by chance, and I am shocked why this coincidence didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
This was exactly what I was looking for!
Thanks for another magnificent article. Where else could anybody get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
We’re a bunch of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with helpful information to work on. You have done an impressive task and our whole group can be grateful to you.
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and internet and this is really frustrating. A good web site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
Informasi akses situs Sigma slot
Informasi akses situs Sigma slot
Informasi akses situs Sigmaslot
Informasi akses situs Sigmaslot
Hey there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Fantastic blog and terrific design.
so much great information on here, : D.
I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details , appreciate it for the post.
I have been reading out some of your stories and i must say clever stuff. I will definitely bookmark your site.
I keep listening to the newscast speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?
Well I really liked reading it. This information provided by you is very constructive for correct planning.
Very informative, thanks for sharing!
The Salt Trick is a natural technique that involves using specific salts, such as Blue Salt, to enhance male performance
Great post! I really enjoyed reading this.
Hey! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice data you could have here on this post. I will likely be coming back to your weblog for more soon.
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for! “If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” by Rotarian.
You really make it appear really easy along with your presentation however I to find this topic to be really something that I believe I’d by no means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely large for me. I am taking a look forward on your subsequent post, I will try to get the dangle of it!
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
I believe this website holds some rattling fantastic info for everyone. “Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils but present evils triumph over it.” by La Rochefoucauld.
I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my web site :).
This post really resonated with me. Appreciate your honesty and insights.
Hello. remarkable job. I did not expect this. This is a impressive story. Thanks!
I have learn several good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you place to create the sort of magnificent informative web site.
I got good info from your blog
I keep listening to the rumor talk about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i find some?
I love how you explained this so clearly. Subscribed for more!
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My blog is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks a lot!
Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m no longer sure whether this put up is written by means of him as no one else recognize such precise approximately my difficulty. You are amazing! Thanks!
Thanks for the valuable information. It was easy to understand and super useful.
Interesting perspective! It gave me a new way of thinking about this topic.
Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this page to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Very well written. Looking forward to more posts like this!
Simply wanna input on few general things, The website style is perfect, the subject material is very great. “All movements go too far.” by Bertrand Russell.