Jun 10, 2026

How to Master DADGAD Tuning for Fingerstyle Guitar (with Tabs)

DADGAD is the most magical of all alternate tunings. Strum the open strings and you do not get a plain major or minor chord - you get a rich, ringing, suspended sound that instantly evokes Celtic hills, film scores, and modern fingerstyle. It is the favorite tuning of folk legends and acoustic instrumentalists, and it is surprisingly easy to start using.

This guide takes you from your first retune to playing beautiful fingerstyle in DADGAD - with plain tabs you can read anywhere, easy chords, scales, picking patterns, and famous songs.

How to read the tabs: The six lines are your strings (top = thin high string, bottom = thick low string). A number is the fret to press; 0 is open. In DADGAD, the strings are tuned D A D G A D, low to high.

What is DADGAD tuning?

DADGAD tunes your strings, low to high, to D A D G A D - which is exactly why it is called "DADGAD." Unlike open D or open G, the open strings do not form a simple major chord. Instead they spell a Dsus4 (D, G, A) - an open, unresolved sound that is neither happy major nor sad minor. That ambiguity is its superpower: it sounds atmospheric and lets you add melody notes that resolve in beautiful ways.

DADGAD is sometimes called "Celtic tuning" because of its strong links to Irish and folk music, but today it is everywhere - from cinematic acoustic instrumentals to modern singer-songwriters.

How to tune to DADGAD

DADGAD is very close to standard tuning - you only lower three strings, and none go very far. The A, D, and G strings stay the same.

String	Standard	DADGAD
6 (thickest)	E	D (down 1 whole step)
5	A	A (no change)
4	D	D (no change)
3	G	G (no change)
2	B	A (down 1 whole step)
1 (thinnest)	E	D (down 1 whole step)

Shortcut: If you already play Drop D (just the low E down to D), you are halfway there - only the 2nd and 1st strings need to come down to A and D.

When it is right, strumming all six open strings gives you that signature ringing, suspended Dsus4 sound.

Easy chords in DADGAD

The beauty of DADGAD is how little you need to fret. Many gorgeous chords use just one or two fingers, because the open strings do so much work. Here are essential shapes (written low string to high):

Chord	Frets (low to high)	Notes
Dsus4 (open)	0 0 0 0 0 0	The ringing home sound.
D major	0 0 0 2 0 0	Add the F# (3rd string, 2nd fret).
D minor	0 0 0 1 0 0	Add the F (3rd string, 1st fret).
Dsus2	0 0 0 0 0 0 (let ring) / 2 0 0 0 0 0	Open, airy texture.
G/D	0 0 0 0 2 3	Bright and folky.
Cadd9/D	0 0 0 0 3 0	Lush, ringing color.
A / Asus	0 0 0 2 2 0	A common resolving chord.

One-finger major trick: Barre all six strings at the same fret to get suspended chords up the neck - barre at fret 2 for an Esus4, fret 5 for a Gsus4, fret 7 for an Asus4. Add or drop a finger on the 3rd string to color them major or minor.

A simple DADGAD fingerstyle pattern (with tab)

Here is a classic DADGAD move: let the open strings ring while your thumb keeps a low D drone and your fingers pick a simple melody on top. Try this over the open Dsus4:

e|--0-----0-----0-----0---|

A|-----0-----0-----0------|

G|--------------------2---|

D|--0-----0-----0-----0---| <- thumb keeps the low D drone

A|------------------------|

D|------------------------|

p i m i p i m i

Let every note ring into the next. That overlapping, harp-like wash is the heart of DADGAD fingerstyle. Once it feels smooth, move a finger on the G string (1st fret = minor color, 2nd fret = major) to change the mood while the drone continues.

Tip: The secret to DADGAD is sustain. Keep your fingers down and let strings ring together as long as they sound good. The tuning does the beautiful work for you.

Scales in DADGAD (with tabs)

Start on a single string. Since the open D string is D, the patterns are simple. Play these on any D string (string 6, 4, or 1):

D major scale (one string)

D|--0--2--4--5--7--9--11--12--|

D E F# G A B C# D

D major pentatonic (one string)

D|--0--2--4--7--9--12--|

D E F# A B D

D minor pentatonic (one string)

D|--0--3--5--7--10--12--|

D F G A C D

Tip: Mix these notes with the open A and D drone strings for an instant Celtic flavor.

Famous songs in DADGAD

DADGAD shaped folk, Celtic, and modern acoustic music. A few commonly cited examples (look up tabs to learn them):

Led Zeppelin - "Kashmir" (Jimmy Page's iconic riff)
Pierre Bensusan - a master who plays almost entirely in DADGAD
Davy Graham - the player who popularized the tuning, inspired by North African and Celtic music
Many Irish and Celtic fingerstyle instrumentals

Tips to master DADGAD

Let it ring. Sustain is everything - keep fingers down and let strings overlap.
Use the drones. Keep the low D and A ringing under your melody for that full sound.
Start with one finger. Beautiful chords need very little fretting here - explore one-finger shapes first.
Try a capo. A capo moves all your DADGAD shapes to a new key while keeping the same easy fingerings.

DADGAD vs other tunings

Tuning	Notes (low to high)	Character
DADGAD	D A D G A D	Suspended, modal, Celtic; perfect for fingerstyle.
Open D	D A D F# A D	A full D major chord; slide and fingerstyle.
Open G	D G D G B D	Bluesy, slack-key, fingerstyle.
Drop D	D A D G B E	Only the low string changes; heavy riffs.

Tip: DADGAD is just Open D with the F# raised to G - that single change is what turns a major chord into the open, modal DADGAD sound. See our Open D, Open G, and Drop D guides to compare.

Frequently asked questions

What is DADGAD tuning?

DADGAD tunes the strings, low to high, to D A D G A D. The open strings form a Dsus4 chord - an open, suspended sound that is neither major nor minor, ideal for Celtic and fingerstyle music.

How do you tune to DADGAD?

From standard tuning, lower the 6th string E to D, the 2nd string B to A, and the 1st string E to D. The A, D, and G strings stay the same.

Why is DADGAD good for fingerstyle?

The open strings ring as drones, so you can play simple melodies over a rich, sustaining backdrop. Many beautiful chords need only one or two fingers, leaving your other fingers free for melody.

Is DADGAD hard to learn?

No. It is close to standard tuning (and to Drop D), and its easy one-finger chords make it very beginner-friendly. You can play something beautiful within minutes.

Why is DADGAD called Celtic tuning?

It became hugely popular in Irish and Celtic guitar because its drones and modal sound suit that music perfectly - though it is now used across many genres.

What famous song uses DADGAD?

Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" is the most famous example, and fingerstyle master Pierre Bensusan plays almost exclusively in DADGAD.

Start mastering DADGAD

DADGAD is the doorway to some of the most beautiful sounds a guitar can make. Tune up, let the open strings ring, and add a simple melody on top - you will sound like a seasoned fingerstyle player almost instantly. Keep your fingers down, lean on the drones, and let this magical tuning do the rest.

Want an acoustic that brings out DADGAD's lush, ringing tone? Explore the Timberline 6-string collection.