About Open D tuning
Open D tunes the strings to a D major chord — the classic 'Vestapol' tuning of American folk and blues. Slide players love its singing intervals; fingerstyle players love the deep root and the way melodies fall under the fingers against open drones.
From standard: drop the sixth, first and second strings a whole step (E→D, E→D, B→A) and the third string a half step (G→F#). Open E is the same shape a whole step up — capo 2 in Open D gets you there without retuning.
Open D tuning notes & frequencies (A4 = 440 Hz)
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | F#3 | 185.00 Hz |
| 2 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to tune to Open D from standard
- String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2.
- String 3 (G3): tune down a half step to F#3.
- String 2 (B3): tune down a whole step to A3.
- String 1 (E4): tune down a whole step to D4.
After changing string tension this much, make a second tuning pass — the neck settles slightly and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
Songs & artists in Open D
Elmore James' slide style, much of Joni Mitchell's open-tuning catalog, and generations of fingerstyle and slide players draw on D-family tunings.
String gauge advice
Standard or slightly heavier sets; heavier helps slide tone.
FAQ
What are the notes of Open D tuning on guitar?
Open D tuning is D2, A2, D3, F#3, A3, D4 from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune my guitar to Open D?
Starting from standard tuning: String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2. String 3 (G3): tune down a half step to F#3. String 2 (B3): tune down a whole step to A3. String 1 (E4): tune down a whole step to D4. Use the tuner above — it highlights the string it hears and shows exactly how many cents you are from the target.
Is this tuner free and private?
Yes — no ads, no signup, and all audio is processed locally in your browser. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Embed this tuner
Add the Open D tuner to your own site or blog post with an iframe:
<iframe src="https://tunewell.net/embed/guitar/open-d" width="420" height="560" style="border:0" title="Open D Guitar Tuner"></iframe>