Open D Tuning Guide: Chords, Scales, and Harp Guitar Applications

Open D is one of the most rewarding alternate tunings on guitar. Strum all six open strings and you get a full, ringing D major chord - no fingers needed. That single idea unlocks rich drones, easy one-finger chords, gorgeous slide and fingerstyle textures, and a deep, orchestral sound that is especially magical on a harp guitar.

This guide covers everything: how to tune to open D, the essential chords and scales (with plain tabs you can read anywhere), popular songs, and - something no other guide covers - how to get the most out of open D on a harp guitar. Let's tune up.

How to read the numbers below: Chord shapes are written low string to high string (the six strings in open D are D A D F# A D). A number is the fret to press; 0 means open. In tabs, the top line is the thin high string and the bottom line is the thick low string.

Open D tunes your six strings, from lowest to highest, to: D A D F# A D. Those are the three notes of a D major chord - D (the root), F# (the major third), and A (the fifth) - so the open strings already form a D chord.

Because the open strings are a chord, you can play any major chord with one finger by barring straight across a single fret. It is also a favorite for slide guitar and for lush fingerstyle, because the repeated D and A strings ring like a harp.

Start in standard tuning (E A D G B E). You will lower four strings; the A and D strings do not move. Use a clip-on or app tuner and go slowly.

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

When it is right, strumming all six open strings sounds like one big, happy D chord. If anything sounds off, check each string again.

Setup tip: Lowering four strings reduces tension, so they can feel a little loose. A slightly heavier string set keeps the feel firm and the tone full - handy if you play in open D often.

The big advantage of open D: most major chords take just one finger. Barre straight across one fret and you get a major chord. Here are the movable major shapes:

Chord		Barre at fret	Frets (low to high)
D major		open	0 0 0 0 0 0
E major		2	2 2 2 2 2 2
F major		3	3 3 3 3 3 3
G major		5	5 5 5 5 5 5
A major		7	7 7 7 7 7 7
B major		9	9 9 9 9 9 9
D major (octave)		12	12 12 12 12 12 12
	Make any major into a minor: The open F# string (string 3) is the 'major' note. Barre your chord, but press the F# string one fret lower. Example - E minor = 2 2 2 1 2 2.

And here are some beautiful open-string color chords to mix in:

Chord	Frets (low to high)	Great for
Dsus4	0 0 0 1 0 0	Tension before resolving to D
D5 (power)	0 5 0 3 0 0	Big, open, droning fifth
Gadd9/D	0 2 0 1 0 0	Dreamy, ringing folk sound

Most guides skip scales in open D because the fretboard shapes change. The easiest way to start is on a single string - and since the open string is D, the patterns are simple to remember. Play these on the high D string (string 1); the same frets also work on the low D string (string 6).

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 / blues feel (one string)

D|--0--3--5--7--10--12--|    D  F  G  A  C   D
	Tip: Once you know these on one string, try harmonizing them - let an open D or A string ring while you play the scale. That drone is the signature open D sound.

Open D is wonderful on a standard six-string, but it truly comes alive on a harp guitar. A harp guitar adds extra unfretted sub-bass strings on a second 'harp arm' - Timberline builds 12-string (six main plus six sub-bass), 18-string, and 20-string models. Those extra low strings extend the range far below a normal guitar, giving an orchestral, almost harp-like depth.

Here is why open D and harp guitars are a perfect match:

•     One key, total resonance. Open D centers the whole instrument on D. The fretted strings ring as a big D chord while the sub-basses add deep roots and fifths in the same key - everything resonates together.

•     Built-in bass lines. Tune the sub-bass strings to a descending scale in D (for example D, C#, B, A, G, F#, E) and you can thumb a moving bassline under your open D chords without leaving the fretted strings.

•     Huge, sustaining drones. The repeated D and A notes in open D, combined with ringing sub-basses, create the lush, cinematic wash that fingerstyle and Celtic players love.

If you want to explore this, Timberline's harp guitars are all-solid-wood instruments designed for exactly this kind of deep, resonant playing - the same instruments used by fingerstyle artists like Don Alder and Jamie Dupuis. Tune the main six strings to open D, set the sub-basses to complement the key, and you have a one-person orchestra.

Harp guitar tip: Match your sub-bass tuning to the key of the song. For open D pieces, a D-based descending scale keeps every sub-bass note musically useful and avoids muddy clashes.

Open D has a long history across folk, rock, and blues. A few well-known examples (look up tabs to learn them):

•     Joni Mitchell - "Big Yellow Taxi"

•     Pearl Jam - "Even Flow" (one guitar track)

•     Needtobreathe - "Something Beautiful"

•     Laura Marling - "I Speak Because I Can"

•     Neil Young and Richie Havens also used open D across their work.

•     Let strings ring. Open D rewards sustain - allow open strings to drone under your melody for that full sound.

•     Try a slide. Barre with a slide instead of a finger and glide between frets for instant bluesy magic.

•     Use a capo. A capo moves the whole open D shape to a new key while keeping every easy shape the same.

•     Start simple. Loop two one-finger chords (like D and G) and just enjoy the resonance before adding more.

What is open D tuning?

Open D tunes the strings, low to high, to D A D F# A D. The open strings form a D major chord, so strumming without fretting gives you a full D chord.

How do you tune to open D?

From standard tuning, lower the 6th string E to D, the 3rd string G to F#, the 2nd string B to A, and the 1st string E to D. The A and D strings stay the same.

Is open D good for beginners?

Yes. It is one of the friendliest tunings because you can play full major chords with a single finger by barring across one fret. Slide and simple fingerstyle also sound great right away.

What is the difference between open D and DADGAD?

Open D (D A D F# A D) is a true major chord. DADGAD (D A D G A D) raises the F# to G, creating a suspended, modal sound that is neither major nor minor. See our DADGAD tuning guide to compare.

What is the difference between open D and Drop D?

Drop D only lowers the low E string to D, leaving the rest in standard tuning - great for heavy riffs. Open D retunes four strings into a full chord. See our Drop D tuning guide.

Do I need special strings for open D?

Not strictly, but because you are lowering tension, a slightly heavier gauge can keep the strings feeling firm and sounding full. It is optional and down to preference.

Open D turns your guitar into a ringing, resonant instrument with almost no effort - one finger gives you full chords, and the open strings do the rest. Tune up, loop a couple of chords, and enjoy the drone. And if you fall in love with that big, orchestral sound, a harp guitar takes it to a whole new dimension.

Curious about that deep, harp-like resonance? Explore Timberline's harp guitars and 6-string collection.