Open tunings 101

Open D

Open D tunes the guitar to a D major chord: D A D F# A D. Strum all strings open and you get a rich D major—perfect for slide, drones, and fresh chord shapes. This page is a compact field guide for pros, serious students, and new explorers alike.

Tune to it in TuneTheory

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

Interval map

From low (6) to high (1): D(1), A(5), D(1), F#(3), A(5), D(1). You’re holding a stacked I–V–I–3–5–1. That symmetry is why drones and movable barres feel so good.

History and origins

Open D is often associated with the traditional tune “Vestapol,” hence one of its historical names. Blues and slide players popularized Open D (and its whole‑step variant Open E) through the 20th century; modern fingerstyle revived it for drones and rich harmony.

Genres and artists

• Delta and Chicago blues and slide guitar (Open D / Open E)
• Modern fingerstyle and acoustic instrumentalists
• Songwriters using alternate tunings to unlock new voicings

Notable names who use Open D/E among many tunings: Elmore James, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, Ben Howard, John Butler.

Songs to learn

• Vestapol (traditional) — the archetypal open D piece
• She Talks to Angels (The Black Crowes) — Open E; play in Open D with capo 2
• Statesboro Blues (Blind Willie McTell / The Allman Brothers) — Open E; transpose to Open D
• Dust My Broom (Elmore James) — classic slide vocabulary (Open D/E)

Slide and voicing tips

• Let 1st and 6th strings drone against triads on the top set for huge harmony.
• For minor without losing the barre: drop the 3rd string one fret relative to the bar.
• Voice‑lead by moving only the top triad while keeping bass drones steady.

Chord charts

Harmonized chords for D major, D Mixolydian, and D natural minor, with Roman numerals, quality filters, and note‑degree overlays on every grip.

Open D chord charts

Listen and learn

Reference reading and song lists to dive deeper:

• 50 popular songs in Open D (tabs and context)
• Stringjoy’s Open D primer (tuning, shapes, usage)
• Contemporary guitarists using open tunings

Setup and practice tips

• For slide, try slightly heavier strings and a touch higher action; keep bar pressure light.
• Drone the 6th/1st strings while moving top‑string triads for cinematic harmony.
• Twenty minutes is plenty: five on drones, ten on I–IV–V variations, five on melody or slide.

Want more tunings? Open C, DADGAD, and Open G are all in the app’s tuning library, each with its own character.