Open G is an open tuning: with the open strings you're already sounding a G major chord, without pressing a single fret. You get D G D G B D, and just one stroke of the pick or thumb rings out a full G. It's the queen of slide and electric blues.
In short: starting from standard tuning, you change three strings (6th, 5th, and 1st) to get D G D G B D, a G major chord on the open strings, ideal for slide and bar chords.
How to get Open G from standard tuning
Start from standard EADGBE tuning. To get to Open G you need to change three strings, while the other three stay put:
- 6th string: from E to D (lower it a whole step)
- 5th string: from A to G (lower it a whole step)
- 1st string: from E to D (lower it a whole step)
The 4th (D), 3rd (G), and 2nd (B) don't change. The result is D G D G B D: the only notes present are G, B, and D — the three notes that make up a G major chord. That's why the open strings ring out a full G major.
All three strings are lowered, never raised: this reduces tension and carries no risk of snapping a string. With a browser-based chromatic tuner like EasyGuitarTuner, you play each open string and bring it to the target note shown below.
Open G frequencies
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6th | D2 | 73.4 Hz |
| 5th | G2 | 98.0 Hz |
| 4th | D3 | 146.8 Hz |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.0 Hz |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.9 Hz |
| 1st | D4 | 293.7 Hz |
Notice that the note D appears on three different strings (6th, 4th, and 1st) across three octaves: it's this repetition that gives Open G its full, resonant sound.
Why open tunings are perfect for slide guitar
The advantage of an open tuning is all about the bar. With the strings already tuned to a major chord, all you have to do is lay the slide (or a finger) straight across all the strings at a given fret to get a full major chord.
- At the fifth fret you get a C major, at the seventh a D major, at the twelfth the G again an octave up.
- You don't need to form any fingerings: move the bar up and down and every position is already a ready-made chord.
- The slide glides cleanly because every string contributes to the same harmony, with no clashing notes.
That's why blues and bottleneck slide live on open tunings. If you want to dig deeper into that world, check out the guide to blues and slide tunings. Open G has a close cousin in Open D, which moves the same principle onto a D chord; another variant is Open E.
Keith Richards' five-string Open G
The most famous example is Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, who often plays Open G by removing the 6th string entirely: he's left with five strings (G D G B D) and a clean G root on the bass. This five-string approach is associated with songs like Honky Tonk Women, Brown Sugar, and Start Me Up. Dropping the lowest string removes the low D and leaves an even more defined G major, perfect for rhythm riffs.
When to use it and how to get back to standard
Open G shines in these situations:
- Blues and slide: bar and bottleneck work on a full major chord.
- Rhythm rock: open, bright riffs, in the vein of the five-string style.
- Fingerstyle and folk: G and D drones ringing out beneath the melody.
Keep in mind that standard-position chords no longer apply: the fingerings change completely, so it's worth learning a few new shapes starting from the bar chord.
To get back to standard, raise the three strings you changed: the 6th and 1st from D to E, and the 5th from G to A. If you'd rather ease in with a change that touches just one string, Drop D tuning is the ideal starting point.