Category: Open tunings

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Essential 3-note maj, min, and sus4 open tunings: the classic open, slide, folk, & blues configurations [14 tunings]

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Open D (‘Vestapol’)


• D-A-D-F#-A-D •

An all-time great slide configuration, matching our familiar Emaj shape…

 

Open Dm (‘Bentonia’)


• D-A-D-F-A-D •

Haunting minor blues, named for Skip James’ Mississippi hometown…

 

Open Dsus (‘DADGAD’)


• D-A-D-G-A-D •

Davy Graham’s Arabic adventures spark an A-list altered tuning…

 

Open G (‘Taro Patch’)


• D-G-D-G-B-D •

Hyper-versatile global imaginings, mirroring a Standard-tuned Amaj shape…

 

Open Gm (‘Banjo Minor’)


• D-G-D-G-Bb-D•

Cross-note resonances, descended from a 5-string tradition…

 

Open Gsus (‘Sawmill’)


• D-G-D-G-C-D •

Martin Simpson’s modal geometries, drawn from old-time banjo…

 

Open C (‘Wide Major’)


• C-G-C-G-C-E •

Grow your guitar’s range with some uber-flexible drone-symmetry…

 

Open Cm (‘Wide Minor’)


• C-G-C-G-C-Eb

An expansive canvas for low-wound improv, used by few…

 

Open Csus (‘Wide Modal’)


• C-G-C-G-C-F •

A broad stack of 5ths and 4ths, suitable for many styles…

 

Open E (‘Vestapol’)


• E-B-E-G#-B-E •

Electric sliding horizons, nicknamed for an old Crimean folk song…

 

Open Em (‘Cross-note’)


• E-B-E-G-B-E •

Matching the contours of an Emin chord, making for Hellhoundish blues…

 

Open F (‘Low Taro’)


• C-F-C-F-A-C •

A super-slack transposition of Open G, put to use in Hawaii and beyond…

 

Open Fm (‘Low Banjo’)


• C-F-C-F-Ab-C •

A rare, deep-wavering minor species, ideal for haunting inversions…

 

Open A (‘Spanish’)


• E-A-E-A-C#-E •

The electric counterpart of Open G, used for countless axe classics…

 

Search the Altered Tunings Menu (100+): type in notes, artists, adjectives, intervals, sequences, etc. Also see Tag List:

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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Home & Writings, and hit me up for Online Lessons!

“An intrepid guitar researcher…”

(Guitar World interview)

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