FretPitch

D A D G A D

DADGAD Tuning

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      An open, ringing modal tuning from Celtic and folk music that also made its way into rock.

      Press Start tuning, pluck a string and turn its peg until the needle is centred and green. The tuner already knows the DADGAD notes, so it tells you which string you are tuning.

      DADGAD notes and frequencies

      From the thickest string to the thinnest, and how far each one moves from standard tuning:

      StringNoteFrequencyFrom standard
      6th (thickest)D273.42 HzDown 2 semitones (a whole step)
      5thA2110.00 HzNo change
      4thD3146.83 HzNo change
      3rdG3196.00 HzNo change
      2ndA3220.00 HzDown 2 semitones (a whole step)
      1st (thinnest)D4293.66 HzDown 2 semitones (a whole step)

      About DADGAD

      DADGAD lowers three strings from standard: the 6th, 2nd and 1st strings each go down a whole step, giving D A D G A D. The open strings form a Dsus4 chord — neither major nor minor — which gives the tuning its airy, drone-like sound.

      It is closely associated with Celtic and folk guitar and fingerstyle players such as Pierre Bensusan, and it reached rock audiences through Jimmy Page’s “Kashmir”. Melodies can be played on the higher strings while the open D and A strings ring underneath.

      Tips

      • From standard: lower the 6th string (E → D), the 2nd string (B → A) and the 1st string (E → D), each by a whole step.
      • Let open strings ring — the tuning is built for it.

      Other tunings

      See all tunings →