DADGAD is a modal tuning you get by lowering three strings of standard tuning by a whole step: the guitar goes from EADGBE to D A D G A D. The open strings form neither a major nor a minor chord, but a suspended D (Dsus4). That's where the open, Celtic, almost hypnotic sound comes from — the one that's made DADGAD one of the most beloved tunings in fingerstyle and modern folk.
In short: lower the 6th, 2nd, and 1st strings by a whole step; the other three stay as in standard tuning. You get a suspended D (Dsus4) with a modal, resonant character.
How to get DADGAD from standard tuning
Start from standard EADGBE tuning. Three strings change from there, all lowered by a whole step:
- 6th string: from E to D
- 2nd string: from B to A
- 1st string: from E to D
The middle strings — 5th (A), 4th (D), and 3rd (G) — stay identical to standard. The name reads from the lowest string to the highest: D A D G A D. If you lower only the two E strings (6th and 1st) and leave the 2nd on B, you get double drop D instead; DADGAD goes one step further by also bringing the 2nd string down to A.
With a browser-based chromatic tuner like EasyGuitarTuner you can hit every target note: play the open string and slowly bring it to the note shown on the display. Loosen the strings gently and double-check as you go, because dropping three strings lowers the overall tension on the neck and the other notes can drift slightly.
Why the sound is modal
The character of DADGAD comes from the notes you hear when you play all the open strings together. There are only three pitches present: D, G, and A. Together they form a D suspended fourth (Dsus4).
A suspended chord has no third — the note that normally decides whether a chord is major or minor. Without a third, your ear doesn't get that cue, and the chord stays suspended, open, and ambiguous. That ambiguity is exactly what gives the tuning its modal character: it suits bright, upbeat pieces just as well as melancholic melodies, without pushing in either direction.
The three D notes spread across different strings (the 6th, 4th, and 1st) also create a natural drone that keeps ringing while the melody moves across the other strings. It's the same principle behind open tunings like open D, with one difference: DADGAD stays suspended instead of ringing out a full major chord.
String frequencies in DADGAD
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6th | D2 | 73.4 Hz |
| 5th | A2 | 110.0 Hz |
| 4th | D3 | 146.8 Hz |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.0 Hz |
| 2nd | A3 | 220.0 Hz |
| 1st | D4 | 293.7 Hz |
Where DADGAD is used
DADGAD is one of the favorite tunings among acoustic guitarists: the open strings act as a resonating chamber and leave your fingers free for melodies and embellishments.
- Fingerstyle and modern acoustic: the D drone supports arpeggios and melodic lines and is a classic choice in fingerstyle.
- Celtic folk: the open, modal sound evokes Irish and Scottish sonorities.
- Rock: Jimmy Page used DADGAD on Led Zeppelin's Kashmir.
Among the guitarists most closely associated with this tuning is Pierre Bensusan, who made it almost his exclusive tuning. If you want a practical starting point, check out these famous DADGAD songs and try working out the parts.
How to get back to standard
To bring the guitar back to EADGBE, raise the three strings you lowered back up a whole step: the 6th from D to E, the 2nd from A to B, and the 1st from D to E. Leave the middle strings alone. With a tuner it only takes a few seconds; double-check the tuning after raising the tension, since the other strings may have drifted slightly.