"Open G" redirects here. For "opentail" letters G, see G#Typographic variants.

Among alternative tunings for the guitar, an open G tuning is an open tuning that features the G-major chord; its open notes are selected from the notes of a G-major chord, such as the G-major triad (G,B,D). For example, a popular open-G tuning is

D–G–D–G–B–D (low to high).

An open-G tuning allows a G-major chord to be strummed on all six strings with neither fretting of the left hand nor a capo. Like other open tunings, it allows the eleven major chords besides G major each to be strummed by barring at most one finger on exactly one fret.[1]

Usages in music

Open G tuning allows for open strings and single-fret bar chords to be played in key which make techniques such as slide and steel guitar viable. Open G tuning is common in blues and folk music[2] (along with other open tunings).[1][3]

Open G tuning particularly common in guitar music of Hawaiian origin including guitar styles such as slack-key guitar and steel guitar. In the context of slack-key music, open G is often referred to "Taro Patch" tuning (the term stems from taro, a traditional staple cuisine of Polynesian Hawaii). However, guitar is not a traditional Polynesian instrument; it was introduced to Hawaii by vaqueros hired by King Kamehameha III to assist with the nascent Hawaiian ranching industry in the mid 19th century.

Repetitive open-G tunings are used by Russian guitars, Dobro guitars, and banjos. They repeat three open-string notes.

The repetitive open-G tuning

D–G–B–D–G–B–D

is used by the Russian guitar, which has seven strings tuned mostly in triads, in contrast to other guitars, which are tuned mostly in fourths.[4][5][6]

Dobros use a full six-string tuning with a bottom G: G–B–D–G–B–D, low to high. The two lowest strings are, accordingly, tuned three semitones higher for the lowest string (from E up to G) and two semitones higher for the second-lowest string (from A up to B) while the highest string is tuned two semitones lower (from E down to D), relative to standard tuning.

Five-string banjo's standard tuning is also an Open G: g–D–G–B–D, where the lower case "g" denotes the highest-pitched "drone string", physically located next to (above) the lowest-pitched string, the first upper case "D".[7]

Alan Sparhawk of Low has been using an Open G tuning his entire musical career, since being inspired by Sonic Youth as a kid.[8]

Overtones of the fundamental note G

Main article: Overtones tuning

Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs has used another open-G tuning, which listed the initial six overtones of the G note,

G–G–D–G–B–D
for "Hey Hey" and while writing the demo of "Can't Get Enough".[9]

The overtones tuning G–G–D–G–B–D was used by Joni Mitchell for "Electricity", "For the Roses", and "Hunter (The Good Samaritan)".[10] Truncating this tuning to G-D-G-B-D for his five-string guitar, Keith Richards plays this overtones-tuning on the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women", "Brown Sugar" and "Start Me Up".[11] American rock band Eagles of Death Metal uses this tuning for the majority of their songs.[12]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Denyer, Ralph (1992). "Playing the guitar ('How the guitar is tuned', pp. 68–69, and 'Alternative tunings', pp. 158–159)". The Guitar Handbook. Fully revised and updated ed. London and Sydney: Pan Books. pp. 65–160. ISBN 0-330-32750-X.
  2. ^ Denyer (1992, p. 158)
  3. ^ Denyer (1992, p. 160)
  4. ^ Bellow (1970, p. 164): Bellow, Alexander (1970). The illustrated history of the guitar. Colombo Publications.
  5. ^ Timofeyev, Oleg V. (1999). The Golden Age of the Russian Guitar: Repertoire, performance practice, and social function of the Russian seven-string guitar music, 1800–1850. Duke University, Department of Music. pp. 1–584. University Microfilms (UMI), Ann Arbor, Michigan, number 9928880.
  6. ^ Ophee, Matanya (ed.). 19th Century etudes for the Russian 7-string guitar in G Op. Vol. 9. The Russian Collection. Editions Orphee. PR.494028230.; Ophee, Matanya (ed.). Selected Concert Works for the Russian 7-String Guitar in G open tuning. Vol. 10 ("X"). The Russian Collection. Editions Orphee. PR.494028240.
  7. ^ "Open G Tuning: D,G,D,G,B,D | Open D Tuning". Archived 2013-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  8. ^ Sparhawk, Alan (6 May 2013). "Low—full performance (live on KEXP)". YouTube. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  9. ^ Sharken, Lisa (15 May 2001). "Mick Ralphs: The rock 'N' roll fantasy continues". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  10. ^ "List of all Guitar and Piano Transcriptions". GGDGBD. JoniMitchell.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  11. ^ Ellis, Andy (2005). "How to play like ... Keith Richards". Guitar Player. Retrieved 24 March 2013.[dead link]
  12. ^ "Eagles of Death Metal's Jesse Hughes: Special Forces Ringmaster". Premier Guitar. 22 October 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2020.

References

  • Sethares, William A. (n.d.). "Alternate tuning guide". Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin; Department of Electrical Engineering. Retrieved 19 May 2012. PDF

Further reading