Tune your guitar to Open D and create songs that last
In this Gibson App video, Irene Ketikidi guides you toward the beauty of Open D tuning with a view toward understanding the stylistic leanings of the legendary Joni Mitchell, who, among many other talents, has an exceptional ear.
What is Open D tuning?
Open D tuning is a beautiful alternative tuning that gives your guitar a rich, resonant sound perfect for open chords and slide playing. It’s a popular choice among folk, blues, and rock musicians who want to experiment with different sonic landscapes.
To achieve Open D tuning, you’ll need to adjust your guitar’s standard tuning by lowering several strings to create a D major chord when played open. This guide will take you through the steps to tune your guitar to Open D and highlight its unique sound qualities.
As explained in the video, to begin tuning your guitar to Open D, you need to change the pitches of four strings. Start with the sixth string, which you’ll tune down from low E to D. Then, move to the first skinny string, lowering it from E to D. Next, take your second string and lower it from B to A and then, lower the G to F#. With these adjustments, you’ll have D-A-D-F#-A-D from the lowest to highest string, forming an open D major chord when strumming without any fretting.
The legacy of Joni Mitchell and Open tunings
Joni Mitchell embraced alternate tunings throughout her career to create her signature sound, often using Open D in songs like “You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” and straying from it with outlier “A Case of You,” with the tuning as E-A-D-A-A-E, necessary to emulate the dulcimer part.
Mitchell’s use of alternate tunings gives her music a unique texture and harmonic depth, allowing her to explore unconventional chord voicings and melodies. Her innovative approach has inspired many guitarists to experiment with alternate tunings, and Open D remains a favorite among her fans and other folkies.
Concerning the number of tunings Mitchell employed, Guitar World writes, “By her own estimation, she has used more than 50 different tunings over the years–or 80-plus if you count capo’d variants.”
For guitarists looking to add a new dimension to their playing, Open D tuning offers a wealth of creative possibilities. Whether you’re exploring new chord shapes, improvising melodies, or experimenting with slide guitar techniques, this tuning can open up a fresh sonic palette. So grab your guitar, retune those strings, and discover the expansive sounds of Open D tuning today, or grab a piano and realize these songs are so strong they work with any instrumentation.
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