My Journey to Open D Tuning: Unlocking New Sounds
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Open D Tuning. Instead of Introduction
Open D Tuning. I found it accidentally, on Formula-1 Fest, back in 2000.
There was a “National Guitars” booth on the street. I do not know the connection between “National” and Formula-1, but it’s a fact.
Lead by curiosity I entered the booth. It was the first time when I saw the Dobro guitar that close. Everyone could pick up the instrument in that demo booth to try it. That’s exactly what I did. But to my disappointment, I could not play. The guitar sounded like it was not tuned. Watching me confused the salesman approached to help. He carefully explained to me that there was nothing wrong with the guitar tuning. It’s just an open tuning. Particularly, this one was the Open D tuning. It is most common for the Dobro guitars because it’s convenient for playing with the slide. That was my first lesson on the open-tuning. OK, I take it into account.
The second time when I faced the Open D was in 2005. That was the year when I started to drive a car in Canada. I’ve started to listen to the car radio. And the artist who took me by storm was Harry Manx, the Canadian blues singer-songwriter. Apart from his mohan-veena Indian playing he also played traditional slide guitar in open D tuning. Lap style. That was the moment when I took the guitar and tried to follow the path.
With the YouTube videos, it was not difficult to learn from the Master to play some blues standards like “Can’t Be Satisfied” and “Help Me Baby” along with many others. That was the easiest way I ever learned the new tuning playing.
Open Tunings: A Universe of Sonic Possibilities
Let’s take a quick detour to explore the vast landscape of open tunings. Standard tuning (EADGBE) is fantastic, but it’s just one stop on the guitar’s musical map. Open tunings offer a treasure trove of unique sounds and voicings, waiting to be unearthed by adventurous guitarists.
Here’s a glimpse into some popular open tunings and their distinctive flavors:
Open D (DADF#AD):
- This tuning, beloved by blues and folk musicians, allows you to form major chords with just a single finger barre. It’s perfect for creating rich, resonant strumming patterns and fingerpicking melodies. Think of artists like Keith Richards and David Gilmour to hear Open D in action.
- Open G (DGDGBD): Another blues and folk favorite, Open G lets you strum full, open G major chords with ease. It’s also well-suited for slide guitar due to the open string intervals. If you enjoy the music of Mississippi John Hurt or Jorja Smith, this tuning might be your new best friend.
- DADGAD: Often referred to as the “tuning of the gods,” DADGAD boasts a shimmering, majestic quality. It unlocks beautiful open drone effects and modal voicings, making it a popular choice for Celtic and ambient music. Bands like Led Zeppelin and Kings of Convenience have used DADGAD to create some of their most atmospheric sounds.
- Open C (CCGCEG): This tuning ventures into the deeper sonic territory, perfect for exploring bluesy riffs and atmospheric drones. It’s slightly more challenging to navigate for those accustomed to standard tuning, but the rewards are plenty. Artists like Ben Harper and Janis Joplin are known for their use of Open C.
- Open A (EAEAC#e): Open A shines in the realm of slide guitar and fingerpicking. It offers a chiming, open sound that’s perfect for creating ethereal soundscapes. If you admire the work of Ry Cooder or Derek Trucks, this tuning is worth exploring.
This is just a taste of the vast array of open tunings available. Each tuning offers its own character and opens doors to new musical possibilities. The best way to discover your favourites is to experiment! Don’t be afraid to grab your guitar, tune up (or down!), and see what sounds emerge.
Standard Tuning vs. Open Tunings: Charting the Course
Standard tuning (EADGBE) is the guitar’s default tuning, and for good reason. It offers a versatile starting point, allowing you to play chords and melodies across the entire fretboard. The intervals between strings (mostly perfect fourths) create a logical and symmetrical layout, making it easy to learn basic chords and scales.
Open tunings, on the other hand, take a more adventurous approach. By adjusting the pitch of individual strings, they create a specific chord voicings when the strings are played open (without fretting). This opens doors to a unique set of advantages:
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Easier Chords: Forming major and minor chords often requires simpler finger shapes in open tunings compared to standard tuning. This can be a boon for beginners or players looking for a more effortless approach to creating rich soundscapes.
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Unique Voicings: Open tunings unlock voicings for chords and scales that wouldn’t be readily available in standard tuning. This allows you to explore new sonic territories and create a more distinctive musical character.
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Drone Effects: Some open tunings, like DADGAD, leave certain string intervals open, creating a constant drone sound. This can be a powerful tool for building atmospheric textures and adding depth to your music.
However, there are also some trade-offs to consider:
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Versatility: While standard tuning offers flexibility across different keys, open tunings often shine brightest in specific keys or musical styles. You might need to retune your guitar more frequently if you want to explore a wider range of musical ideas.
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Learning Curve: If you’re accustomed to standard tuning, the fretboard layout might feel unfamiliar in open tunings. It takes some time to adjust your muscle memory and learn new finger positions for chords and scales.
Ultimately, the choice between standard and open tunings depends on your musical goals. Standard tuning offers a solid foundation, while open tunings provide a gateway to new sonic possibilities. Don’t be afraid to experiment with both to discover which one unlocks your creativity the most.
The Open Road: Embracing Open D Tuning
Open D tuning (DADF#AD) is my favourite among the open tunings for two and a half reasons:
- Firstly it doesn’t overload the body of the instrument with extra tension. Compared with standard tuning it’s even less.
- Secondly, it has more volume for sounds. For example, Open G tuning has a nickname of “5 string tuning” as the 6th (the thickest) string sounds not nice in many chords. That’s why Keith Richards removes the 6th string completely when he plays an open G.
If you compare open D and open G you will find that it’s pretty much the same tuning in terms of the musical intervals between the strings. Only the Open G setting is 1 string down and the root note is different. And that’s why the 6th string sounds a bit redundant.
Just listen to the following explanation:
- And the 2.5 reason is that Open D is the first open tuning I adopted.
As you discovered, Open D offers a compelling blend of ease and sonic richness. Here’s how to unlock its potential:
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Tuning Up: Grab a tuner or use a reference pitch (tuning fork, online tuner) and adjust your strings accordingly. Remember, the B string goes up a whole step to become a D, and the E string goes down a half step to become an F#.
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Chord Magic: The beauty of Open D lies in its effortless major chords. Simply barre across the third fret to form a D major chord, the second fret for a C major, and the first fret for a B major. Minor chords are just as easy with slight adjustments. This allows you to create rich strumming patterns and fingerpicking melodies with minimal effort.
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Fingerpicking Fun: The open strings in Open D tuning (D, A, D, F#) lend themselves beautifully to fingerpicking styles. Explore bluesy licks, folk melodies, or even experiment with creating your own fingerpicking patterns. The open D string acts as a powerful drone, adding depth and warmth to your picking.
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Slide Into New Sounds: Open D is a natural fit for slide guitar. The open strings provide a foundation for creating expressive slide melodies and licks. If you’re a slide enthusiast, this tuning offers a whole new playground to explore.
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Explore the Masters: Delve into the music of artists who have made Open D their signature sound. Listen to Keith Richards’ iconic riffs in Rolling Stones classics, David Gilmour’s soaring solos in Pink Floyd tracks, or the fingerpicking mastery of Jorja Smith. Let their music inspire you and guide your exploration of Open D.
Open D tuning is just the beginning of your open tuning adventure. Remember, the most important step is to experiment and have fun! Embrace the new sounds, explore different techniques, and see where the open road of Open D takes you. There’s a whole world of musical possibilities waiting to be discovered, one tuning at a time.
