Guide
DADGAD Tuner: the complete guide
By Vivek Badoni, music teacher · Updated
This online DADGAD tuner opens with DADGAD selected. Three strings change from standard tuning, and the open strings ring out a shimmering Dsus4 chord, the sound of Celtic guitar, folk and atmospheric fingerstyle. Play any string and the tuner shows which it is and how far off you are.
DADGAD tuning: D A D G A D
| String | Standard | DADGAD | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (thickest) | E2 | D2 (73.42 Hz) | Down a whole step |
| 5th | A2 | A2 (110.00 Hz) | No change |
| 4th | D3 | D3 (146.83 Hz) | No change |
| 3rd | G3 | G3 (196.00 Hz) | No change |
| 2nd | B3 | A3 (220.00 Hz) | Down a whole step |
| 1st (thinnest) | E4 | D4 (293.66 Hz) | Down a whole step |
How to tune to DADGAD
- Start in standard tuning and check the A, D and G strings.
- Lower the 6th string from E to D, an octave below the open 4th string.
- Lower the 2nd string from B to A, an octave above the open 5th string.
- Lower the 1st string from E to D, an octave above the open 4th string.
- Strum all six. The chord should ring evenly with no beating between strings.
Why DADGAD sounds the way it does
The open strings contain only D, A and G, the root, fifth and fourth of D, with no third. Without a third, a chord is neither major nor minor, so the same simple shapes work for songs in D major and D minor. Open strings ring against fretted notes, creating the drone-like, harp-like sound guitarists love.
Getting started in DADGAD
- Fret the 4th string at the 4th fret to add F♯ and give the chord a D major sound.
- Fret the 4th string at the 3rd fret instead to add F for a D minor sound.
- Move simple two-finger shapes up the neck and let the open D and A strings drone underneath.
Explore more tunings: Open G and Drop D, or return to standard with the guitar tuner.
