Open G tuner
Tune to Open G (D G D G B D) with your microphone or by ear.
Open G
Start tuner
Your browser asks for the microphone when you press Start. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Tap a string to hear it and tune that string.
In Open G the open strings make a G major chord: D G D G B D. Three strings drop a whole step from standard, the 6th, 5th, and 1st, and the other three stay put.
A straight finger across any fret plays a major chord, which makes Open G a favorite for slide guitar, blues, and rock rhythm parts. Keith Richards plays it on five strings, with the low D removed.
Open G: notes and frequencies
| String | Note | Pitch | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | D | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5 | G | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| 4 | D | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | D | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
From standard tuning to Open G
- String 6: lower it from E2 to D2, 2 semitones down.
- String 5: lower it from A2 to G2, 2 semitones down.
- String 4: stays at D3.
- String 3: stays at G3.
- String 2: stays at B3.
- String 1: lower it from E4 to D4, 2 semitones down.
Lower the 6th, 5th, and 1st strings a whole step each. The 4th, 3rd, and 2nd stay as in standard tuning.
Tune to Open G by ear
Tune string 6 (D2) to a reference first: tap it in the tuner above, or use a piano or another instrument. Then tune each string to one that is already in tune:
- Play string 6 at fret 5, then tune open string 5 until the two sound the same (G2).
- Play string 5 at fret 7, then tune open string 4 until the two sound the same (D3).
- Play string 4 at fret 5, then tune open string 3 until the two sound the same (G3).
- Play string 3 at fret 4, then tune open string 2 until the two sound the same (B3).
- Play string 2 at fret 3, then tune open string 1 until the two sound the same (D4).
Songs in Open G
A few well-known recordings played in Open G:
- Brown Sugar, The Rolling Stones
- Start Me Up, The Rolling Stones
- Honky Tonk Women, The Rolling Stones
Learning a song in Open G?
Record it or upload it, and Tabtify turns it into tab you can play along with. Choose Open G under Tuning in the converter's options so the frets match your guitar.
Turn a recording into tabOpen G tuner FAQ
What are the notes of Open G?
From string 6 to string 1: D2, G2, D3, G3, B3, D4. With A4 at 440 Hz, that is 73.42 Hz, 98.00 Hz, 146.83 Hz, 196.00 Hz, 246.94 Hz, 293.66 Hz.
Why is Open G popular for slide guitar?
Every fret holds a full major chord across the strings, so a slide laid straight across the neck plays an in-tune chord anywhere.
How do I play chords in Open G?
Lay one finger across all the strings: open is G, the 5th fret C, the 7th fret D. Those are the three chords of most blues and rock songs in G.