DGDEBD: The G6 Open Tuning

This distinctive tuning, officially named "DGDEBD-tuning" and often referred to as a "G6 Tuning", significantly reshapes the guitar's soundscape, offering a rich and resonant open chord. Verbally, when strummed open, the DGDEBD tuning produces a beautiful G6 chord (G-B-D-E), despite the lowest string being tuned to D. This gives it a warm, slightly melancholic, yet full sound, making it excellent for fingerstyle, folk, blues, and slide guitar where open string resonance is desired.

Technically, this tuning deviates significantly from standard EADGBe tuning. The open strings are tuned to D2-G2-D3-E3-B3-D4. This arrangement provides a powerful harmonic cluster. While the lowest note is D, the specific intervals present (D, G, E, B) readily form a G6 chord when strummed, making it very intuitive for G-based music. The repetition of D at the lowest, middle, and highest strings creates a strong foundational resonance. The presence of G (a perfect 4th from the lowest D) and B (a major 6th from the lowest D) naturally steers the tonality towards a G major, while the E adds the characteristic 6th to the G chord, or a major 2nd/9th to a D-based chord.

This tuning is particularly amenable to playing G major and D major related chords with simple barre shapes across the fretboard, as the open strings provide much of the chord's voicing. It also allows for interesting chord voicings and melodic possibilities not easily achieved in standard tuning, especially for drone-based music. The open strings themselves can also be perceived as a Dsus4add9add13 chord (D-G-D-E-B-D), highlighting its harmonic complexity and versatility.

How to Tune to DGDEBD

To achieve the DGDEBD tuning from standard EADGBe, carefully adjust each string:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones from E to D2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones from A to G2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains D3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 3 semitones from G to E3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones from E to D4.

General Tuning Advice: While none of the string movements in this tuning exceed 4 semitones up or down, it's always advisable to tune carefully and gradually to avoid string breakage and to prevent undue tension or stress on your guitar's neck. For tunings involving movements significantly beyond 4 semitones (e.g., an entire octave up or down), it is often recommended to consider using different string gauges specifically suited for the altered tension.

The 6th (low E) string is tuned to D2.

The 5th (A) string is tuned to G2.

The 4th (D) string is tuned to D3.

The 3rd (G) string is tuned to E3.

The 2nd (B) string is tuned to B3.

The 1st (high E) string is tuned to D4.