DADGAD Tuning on Guitar: Notes and Chords

I first heard of DADGAD when I was watching somebody play a celtic tune and couldn't do the same on my guitar. That led me to asking around and realising that there are alternate tunings. Many people prefer tunings like DADGAD. If you're here, you already know.

DADGAD has an open, lush, beautiful sound. One open strum and you'll get hooked.

Jimmy Page used it for Kashmir. Pierre Bensusan uses it heavily. If you haven't heard how it sounds, listen to Mike Dawes playing here.

Or Nick Bannan with his beautiful interpretation.

Psyched?

Here's how it works, how to sound like it, and how to steal it for your songs!

Skip to what you need

• How to tune to DADGAD
• What you hear open
• D major scale in DADGAD
• One-octave shape (D string to A string)
• Two octaves
• Chord shapes in DADGAD
• Common progressions
• D - G - A (the foundation)
• D - Em - G - A (folk-pop)
• Em - D (the Celtic drone)
• How to use DADGAD
• Where to go from here

How to tune to DADGAD

DADGAD is an alternate tuning; that means, you have to tune your strings to something other than EADGBE (which is the standard). So you have to tune three strings differently.

From standard tuning (EADGBE), three strings change:

If you're tuning by ear: match the high e string to open D string (string 4). Match the B string to open A string (string 5). Low E drops to match the open D string, one octave lower.

Maybe use a chromatic tuner.

Tuned? Hear how a strum sounds.

What you hear open

You'll hear all six open strings together: D - A - D - G - A - D

That's a Dsus4 chord (D - G - D). Basically I IV V notes in the key of D.

It's not a major or minor chord. It doesn't sound resolved. Doesnt sound sad. Sounds like you're floating.

D major scale in DADGAD

The D major scale is D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# as always. What changes is where they sit on the fretboard. Read our awesome guide on D major scale if that's new to you.

This is what the notes look like.

Try it with a backing track.

Most players use DADGAD to play fingerstyle.

One-octave shape (D string to A string)

You can start strumming and seeing what happens, but I think one-octave is a good place to start. Root D on the open D string.

Two octaves

Same scale, two octaves, starting from the lowest D string.

Chord shapes in DADGAD

Chords in DADGAD are easier.

Three shapes to remember:

Open D (Dsus4): All strings open. Your home chord.

G major: Fret 5 on string 6, fret 2 on strings 5 and 2. Everything else open.

E minor: Fret 2 across strings 6, 5, 4, 2, 1. String 3 stays open.

A major: Mute string 6. Open A string. Fret 2 on strings 4 and 3, fret 4 on string 2, fret 2 on string 1.

Notice that Em is just a partial barre at the 2nd fret — much simpler than standard tuning. G major is also easier because the middle strings stay open. This is part of why DADGAD feels so natural once you get used to it.

Common progressions

D - G - A (the foundation)

Three chords. Covers a huge amount of Celtic and folk music.

D - Em - G - A (folk-pop)

Add Em and it immediately sounds like fingerstyle folk. This progression loops beautifully.

Em - D (the Celtic drone)

Two chords, slowly alternating with open strings ringing between changes. This is the essence of DADGAD sound. Don't rush it.

How to use DADGAD

DADGAD's advantage is the drone. Let the D and A open strings ring. When you change chords, let the open strings bleed into each other.

Try:

Drones: Pick a melody on the higher strings while holding open lower strings.

Open string fills: After each chord change, pick across the open strings before landing on the next chord. That "strum → open → chord" motion sounds like Celtic fingerstyle.

Hammer-ons from open: In DADGAD, hammering onto frets from open strings gives you fast legato runs without picking. Try hammering from 0.4 to 2.4 (D to E), keep other strings ringing.

Where to go from here

DADGAD is rewarding; but might take some time getting used ot.

Listen to Pierre Bensusan; he's done a ton in DADGAD. When you find something that sounds fun to you, try playing it.

Spend some time with DADGAD.