Exploring Open G Tuning: From Blues to Modern Fingerpicking

Open G is one of the most loved alternate tunings in history. Strum the open strings and you get a full G major chord - the sound behind classic Rolling Stones riffs, deep Delta blues, Hawaiian slack key, and a wave of modern fingerstyle. With one-finger chords and ringing open strings, it is as friendly for beginners as it is inspiring for pros.

This guide covers it all: how to tune to open G, the chords and scales (with plain tabs), classic blues and slide moves, fresh fingerpicking ideas, and famous songs. Let's open it up.

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 open G, the strings are tuned D G D G B D, low to high.

Open G tunes your strings, low to high, to D G D G B D. Those are the notes of a G major chord (G, B, D), so strumming the open strings sounds a full, ringing G. Notice the lowest string is a D (the fifth of the chord), so the true root, G, sits on the 5th string.

That is why many open G players - most famously Keith Richards - often skip or even remove the low D string, so the root G is the lowest note. You do not have to remove anything; just know you can leave the 6th string out for a tighter sound.

From standard tuning, you lower three strings; the D, G, and B strings stay put. Tune up to each note (come from below) so the strings hold their pitch.

String		Standard	Open G
6 (thickest)		E	D (down 1 whole step)
5		A	G (down 1 whole step)
4		D	D (no change)
3		G	G (no change)
2		B	B (no change)
1 (thinnest)		E	D (down 1 whole step)
	Setup tip: Lowering three strings reduces tension. A slightly heavier string set keeps the feel firm if you play in open G often. Because three strings stay in standard, a custom mixed-gauge set works best.

Here is the joy of open G: lay one finger flat across all six strings at any fret and you get a major chord. The chord's name is the note on the 5th string. Slide that barre around and you can play any major chord - perfect for slide guitar.

G (open)     C (barre 5)    D (barre 7) e|--0------    --5------     --7------ B|--0------    --5------     --7------ G|--0------    --5------     --7------ D|--0------    --5------     --7------ A|--0------    --5------     --7------ D|--0------    --5------     --7------
Barre at fret	Major chord
open (0)	G
2	A
4	B
5	C
7	D
9	E
12	G (octave)

Beyond the one-finger major, here are the shapes you will use most (written low string to high):

Chord		Frets (low to high)	Notes
G major (open)		0 0 0 0 0 0	Strum and you are in G.
Movable major		barre any fret	Name = note on the 5th string.
Minor (movable)		x 2 2 2 1 x	This shape is Am; slide it for any minor.
G7		x 0 0 0 0 3	Raise the top string to add the bluesy 7th.
	The "Keith Richards" move: From a major barre, add your middle finger on the 2nd string one fret up and your ring finger on the 4th string two frets up. That little sus-to-major wiggle is the heart of countless open G rock riffs.

Scale shapes change in open tunings, so the easiest place to start is on a single string. Since the open G string is G, the patterns are simple. Play these on either G string (string 3 or string 5).

G major scale (one string)

G|--0--2--4--5--7--9--11--12--|    G  A  B  C  D  E  F#  G

G major pentatonic (one string)

G|--0--2--4--7--9--12--|    G  A  B  D  E  G

G minor / blues pentatonic (one string)

G|--0--3--5--7--10--12--|    G  Bb C  D  F   G
	Tip: Let an open string drone while you play the scale. That ringing open-string sound under your melody is the signature of both open G blues and modern fingerstyle.

Open G is a slide guitarist's dream. Because the open strings are a full chord, a single slide laid across all strings gives you a major chord at any fret - so you can glide between chords with one smooth motion.

•     Slide basics. Rest the slide lightly over the fret (do not press to the wood), and play around the 12th fret for the octave G, then slide down to find the IV and V chords.

•     Hammer-ons and pull-offs. Because a major chord is just a barre, your other fingers are free to add bluesy hammer-ons and pull-offs - the classic open G sound.

•     Drop the low string. For a cleaner, root-first sound, skip the 6th string so G is your lowest note.

Open G is not just vintage blues - it is a powerful tool for modern, contemporary fingerstyle. The constant open-string drones give your playing a lush, layered, almost harp-like quality that today's acoustic instrumentalists love.

•     Familiar middle strings. Your D, G, and B strings stay in standard tuning, so many shapes and licks you already know still work right in the middle of the neck.

•     Thumb drones, fingers sing. Let your thumb hold down the low G and D strings as a pedal tone while your fingers play melodies on top - instant fullness.

•     Open-string melodies. Mix fretted notes with ringing open strings to create cascading, overlapping notes that sound far more complex than they are to play.

If you want to build these skills, pair open G with the patterns in our fingerpicking guitar guide. The same rolls and Travis patterns sound brand new over open G's drones - a favorite approach of modern fingerstyle players on Timberline acoustics.

Open G runs through more than a century of music. A few well-known examples (look up tabs to learn them):

•     The Rolling Stones - "Honky Tonk Women," "Brown Sugar," and "Start Me Up"

•     Robert Johnson and other Delta blues pioneers

•     Joni Mitchell - "The Circle Game"

•     The Black Crowes - blues-rock riffs throughout their catalog

•     Hawaiian slack key (ki ho'alu) players, who call it "taro patch" tuning

•     Let it ring. Open G rewards sustain - allow open strings to drone for that full, rich sound.

•     Use a capo. A capo moves all your easy open G shapes to a new key while keeping the same fingerings.

•     Start with one barre. Loop G (open) and C (barre 5) to feel how easy chord changes become.

Tuning	Notes (low to high)	Character
Open G	D G D G B D	Bright G major; blues, slide, slack key, fingerstyle.
Open D	D A D F# A D	Full D major with the root in the bass; slide and fingerstyle.
Drop D	D A D G B E	Only the low string changes; heavy riffs.
DADGAD	D A D G A D	Suspended, modal, Celtic sound.

Explore more in our guides to Open D tuning, Drop D tuning, and DADGAD tuning.

What is open G tuning?

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

How do you tune to open G?

From standard tuning, lower the 6th string E to D, the 5th string A to G, and the 1st string E to D. The D, G, and B strings stay the same.

Why is open G great for slide and blues?

Because the open strings are a full major chord, a slide laid straight across any fret gives you a major chord. That makes gliding between chords smooth and bluesy with one simple motion.

Why did Keith Richards remove the low string?

In open G, the root note G sits on the 5th string, while the 6th string is a D. Removing or skipping the low D puts the root at the bottom for a tighter, punchier sound.

Is open G good for fingerpicking?

Yes. The ringing open-string drones and the unchanged middle strings make it excellent for lush, modern fingerstyle - let your thumb hold a drone while your fingers play melodies on top.

Do I need special strings for open G?

Not strictly, but since three strings are tuned down, a slightly heavier gauge on those strings keeps the tension and tone full. A custom mixed-gauge set works best because three strings stay in standard.

Open G is a doorway to a century of great music - from gritty slide blues to shimmering modern fingerstyle. Tune up, lay one finger across a fret, and you are already playing. Then let those open strings ring and discover why so many legends never put this tuning down.

Want an acoustic that makes open G come alive? Explore the Timberline 6-string collection.