tunetheory

Open tunings 101

DADGAD

DADGAD is a modal tuning loved in Celtic and modern fingerstyle. Open strings give a suspended D sound, perfect for drones, lyrical melodies, and rich harmonies.

Tune to it in TuneTheory

  1. Open the Instrument tuner.
  2. Tap the capsule at the top (it reads Guitar · Standard) and choose DADGAD.
  3. The retune guide shows which way each string moves. Tune to D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4; each string pill turns teal when it lands.

Already close to something and not sure what? Tap What am I tuned to? and the app names the tuning from your open strings.

History and origins

DADGAD rose to prominence via British and Irish players in the 1960s, notably Davy Graham (“She Moved Through the Fair”) and later Pierre Bensusan. Its modal, suspended sonority invites drones and moving inner voices.

Genres and artists

  • Celtic and folk accompaniment with droning bass
  • Modern fingerstyle and percussive acoustic
  • World and film textures with open strings ringing

Also heard from players like Andy McKee, Jimmy Page (Kashmir‑adjacent strategies), and many contemporary fingerstylists.

Core grips

DsusOpen strings
0‑0‑0‑0‑0‑0
G (triad, top)Top‑string triad
x‑x‑x‑0‑2‑3
A (triad, top)Top‑string triad
x‑x‑x‑2‑2‑2

Songs to learn

  • Davy Graham — “She Moved Through the Fair” (classic DADGAD vocabulary)
  • Pierre Bensusan — “The Last Pint” (harmonic movement with drones)
  • Andy McKee — “Drifting” (percussive techniques; related open tuning vocabulary)

Watch

Early example of DADGAD in action. Many credit Davy Graham with pioneering the tuning.

Pierre Bensusan’s lyrical DADGAD — melodic motion over ringing drones.

Andy McKee’s percussive vocabulary pairs beautifully with open tunings.

About Davy Graham

Davy Graham (1940–2008) was a British guitarist whose blend of folk, jazz, and world music helped define modern fingerstyle. His use of DADGAD opened up modal accompaniment with ringing drones and fluid melody lines, inspiring generations of players (and tunings).

Further listening: She Moved Through the Fair — live performance (DADGAD)

Setup and practice tips

  • Let the open D/A strings ring; voice top‑string triads above drones.
  • Alternate‑bass patterns (6–4) underpin melodies on strings 1–3.
  • Twenty minutes is plenty: five on drones, ten on triad moves, five on melody.

DADGAD chord charts