This is an adaptation of the Dobro G6 tuning for guitar, known for its open and resonant sound, often used in blues, country, and Hawaiian music. As indicated, it's particularly recognized in the dobro community but can be effectively applied to a standard guitar for a unique sonic palette.

Technical Analysis

This tuning transforms your guitar into an open G6 chord when strummed without fretting any strings. The notes from the lowest string (6th) to the highest string (1st) are G2, B2, D3, G3, B3, E4. This arrangement creates a full G6 chord (G - root, B - major third, D - perfect fifth, E - major sixth) across the open strings, providing a rich, consonant foundation. A notable feature of this tuning is that the top four strings (D, G, B, E) remain the same as in standard guitar tuning. This means that many familiar melodic patterns, scales, and chord shapes that primarily utilize these higher strings can still be readily applied, while the altered lower two strings (6th and 5th) provide a robust G major foundation with the added B.

The open G6 chord provides a bright and full sound, making it excellent for slide guitar playing, as a single fret bar can easily yield a G6 chord up the neck or other 6th chords (e.g., barring the 5th fret will produce a C6 chord). The inherent G6 chord also makes it easy to find related chords; for example, muting the 1st string (E4) and strumming the remaining open strings would yield a G major chord, or by fretting specific notes on the D, G, B, E strings, you can form various chords with the open G and B basses.

How to Tune

To achieve the Dobro G6 tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these precise steps:

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 3 semitones from E to G.
• String 5 (A): Tune up 2 semitones from A to B.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 3 (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Please exercise caution when tuning strings up. Tuning the Low E string up 3 semitones and the A string up 2 semitones places additional tension on these strings. While these specific movements are generally manageable for standard gauge strings, it's always important to be mindful of your guitar's limits. For any tuning adjustments that involve movements exceeding 4 semitones (up or down) from standard, considering a different string gauge is advisable to prevent premature string breakage or potential stress on your instrument's neck.

String 6: G2

String 5: B2

String 4: D3

String 3: G3

String 2: B3

String 1: E4