The DACGAD tuning is a captivating and deeply resonant alteration for the guitar, moving beyond conventional drop tunings to create a unique soundscape. This tuning plunges several strings down by a whole step, resulting in a rich, open chord that lends itself to a wide array of musical expressions. It maintains a foundational sense of D, while introducing suspended and minor seven qualities, offering a distinct voice for genres ranging from acoustic folk to heavy rock and progressive metal. This tuning creates a compelling sonic texture that can feel both expansive and intimate.

Technical Analysis

Starting from the lowest string, the tuning establishes a low D (D2), followed by A2, C3, G3, A3, and culminating in D4. This creates a powerful and harmonically dense open voicing that can be identified as a D minor 7 suspended 4th chord (Dm7sus4), with notes D-A-C-G-A-D. The repeated D and A notes provide strong octaves and fifths, grounding the sound, while the C introduces a minor seventh, and the G provides the suspended fourth/eleventh. Compared to standard EADGBe tuning, the 6th, 4th, 2nd, and 1st strings are each lowered by a whole step (2 semitones), while the 5th (A) and 3rd (G) strings remain unchanged. This strategic adjustment results in an intriguing blend of common intervals and unique voicings across the fretboard, creating a tuning that is both familiar in its root notes and fresh in its harmonic potential.

Chordal Opportunities

The open DACGAD tuning itself offers a lush Dm7sus4 chord, making it an excellent base for atmospheric, modern rock, folk, or metal compositions. Due to the lowered 6th string, drop D-style power chords are easily accessible by simply barring across the lower strings (e.g., fretting all strings at the 3rd fret will give you an F minor 7 suspended 4th). The consistent whole-step drops on multiple strings create new possibilities for chord shapes, often simplifying fingerings for rich harmonic textures. For instance, the D-A-C interval on the lowest three strings (6th, 5th, 4th) offers an immediate Dm triad, while including the G3 (3rd string) creates the Dm7sus4 feel. Many shapes that would typically be challenging in standard tuning may become more intuitive, particularly those involving open string drones and the ability to easily slide shapes up and down the neck while maintaining the core intervals.

Here are the notes for each string when tuned to DACGAD:

• String 6 (Low E): D2
• String 5 (A): A2
• String 4 (D): C3
• String 3 (G): G3
• String 2 (B): A3
• String 1 (High E): D4

How to Tune Your Guitar to DACGAD

To achieve the DACGAD tuning, you will adjust your strings from standard EADGBe tuning as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E2 to D2.
• String 5 (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from A2.
• String 4 (D): Tune down 2 semitones from D3 to C3.
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) from G3.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones from B3 to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E4 to D4.

Important Note on String Gauge: When tuning strings significantly down or up (generally more than 4 semitones from standard), the string tension decreases or increases considerably, which can affect tone, intonation, and playability. In this DACGAD tuning, most strings are only tuned down 2 semitones. While these changes result in a noticeably looser feel compared to standard tuning, it is typically within the range where standard gauge strings can perform adequately. However, if you experience excessive floppiness, buzzing, or intonation issues, or if you prefer a tighter feel, consider trying a slightly heavier gauge string set designed for lower tunings to help maintain string tension and clarity.