Video:How to Tune in Open G on a Guitar
with Django WardLearn how to tune in open G so that your guitar doesn't play off-sounds during a performance. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to tune in open G.See Transcript
Transcript:How to Tune in Open G on a Guitar
Hello everybody, this is Django Ward for About.com. Today we will talk about how to tune our guitar in an open G tuning.
What we want to do, if we play all our open strings, we want to have a G major chord, which, with a standard guitar tuning, it is not the case. It is a E minor 11th, and it is a funny sounding chord. One of the most commonly used open tunings is the open G, and today we are going to show you how to do it.
De-Tune Low E to Tune in Open G on a Guitar
We start off with a standard tuning E, A, D, G, B and E. To get to an open G tuning, we will have to de-tune three of our strings, starting of with the low E. The 6th string, or low E is going to have to go down a whole step to a D. So, normally this would be an octave, instead we will tune this string to become an octave with the D.
We could do this by ear, and we can also check it with a tuner. It is a good idea if you are going to de-tune the guitar to check it from time to time because it will try to go back to it's original position. That was pretty close.
Tune the Fifth String to Tune in Open G on a Guitar
We're also going to have to tune our fifth string, the A string, down again a whole step to a G. And we have a G here as well. This time again, you can check this with a tuner. The D string stays the same, the G string stays the same, as well as the B string.
Then the first string, the high E string, has to be de-tuned once again, down to a D. After de-tuning the three strings, you'll probably have to re-check the top two again. As the tension is changing in the neck, these strings will have a hard time keeping their tune for a while.
Finish Tuning Open G on a Guitar
This is why many guitarists who will play with open tuning on stage will have a separate guitar. Now we should have D, G, D again, G again, B and D, which gives us a G major chord. And anywhere you put your finger, you will have another major chord.
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