The most loved tunings in acoustic fingerstyle are DADGAD, Open C, Open D, Drop D, and Double Drop D: they all increase the number of resonant open strings, which is exactly what you need for full arpeggios, natural drones, and open voicings that are hard to reach in standard tuning. When more open strings line up with the notes of the chord, the guitar practically plays itself under your fingers.
In short: open and modal tunings win at fingerpicking because they turn open strings into ready-made drones and arpeggios; start with Drop D, then explore DADGAD for atmosphere and Open C or Open D for full resonance.
Why fingerstyle loves open strings
In fingerstyle you don't have a pick striking a single attack — you pluck several strings together, weave bass and melody, and let notes ring against each other. An open string sounds fuller and brighter than a fretted one and, more importantly, keeps ringing while your left hand moves elsewhere. If that string is already part of the chord, you get a free drone and an arpeggio that fills itself in.
The tunings below all do exactly that: they retune one or more strings so that, left open, they land on the right notes. The result is wide voicings, with far-apart intervals that in standard tuning would require awkward or impossible fingerings.
DADGAD: the king of modern fingerstyle
DADGAD (D A D G A D) is probably the signature tuning of artist-driven fingerstyle. It's a suspended, modal D: missing the third, it's neither major nor minor, and that ambiguity gives it an open, evocative character perfect for both Celtic sounds and contemporary fingerpicking. The three strings tuned to D create natural drones, while G and A fill out the harmony without pinning it down.
It's often associated with guitarists who've made it their own language: French guitarist Pierre Bensusan, for instance, plays almost entirely in DADGAD. If you want to go deeper, there's a dedicated guide to DADGAD and a collection of famous DADGAD songs.
Open C and Open D: width and resonance
Open tunings pitch all six open strings to a single chord, so just brushing them gives you a full, ringing sound. Two are especially loved in fingerstyle:
- Open C — from the 6th to the 1st string, C G C G C E: a wide, low C major with deep bass that suits solemn pieces and orchestral-style solo guitar arrangements. It's a tuning often associated with many modern fingerstyle players, including John Butler on the famous track Ocean.
- Open D (D A D F# A D) — an extremely resonant, warm, singing D major, ideal for melodies floating over a bed of open strings.
Go deeper with the guides on Open C and Open D.
Drop D and Double Drop D: minimum effort
You don't need to overhaul everything to change your tone. Drop D (D A D G B E) lowers only the 6th string from E to D: a minimal change that instantly gives you a low D drone while leaving intact the fingerings you already know. It's the perfect entry point into the world of alternate tunings.
Double Drop D (D A D G B D) takes it one step further, also lowering the 1st string to D: now you have two drones in D, above and below the fretboard, and high melodies ring against the same drone as the bass. You'll find both explained in the guides on Drop D and Double Drop D.
How to choose and tune
Choose based on the song. If you want an instant new color without reprogramming your fingers, stay on Drop D. For suspended atmospheres and modal drones, go with DADGAD. When you want a full, resonant open chord, reach for Open D or, for something deeper and wider, Open C. Double Drop D is the ideal middle ground when you also want a drone up top.
| Tuning | Notes (6th → 1st) |
|---|---|
| DADGAD | D A D G A D |
| Open C | C G C G C E |
| Open D | D A D F# A D |
| Drop D | D A D G B E |
| Double Drop D | D A D G B D |
Whichever you choose, tune slowly: lowering string tension easily shifts your intonation, so it's worth double-checking every string. With a chromatic tuner like EasyGuitarTuner, which runs right in your browser, you play each open string and bring it to the target note listed above. For more artist-tuning ideas, take a look at famous guitarists' tunings.