DADGAD Tuning on 6-String Guitar: Notes, Chords and How to Use It

DADGAD (often said "dad-gad") is one of the most loved alternate tunings on the guitar. You retune just three strings, and suddenly the open guitar rings like a harp, droning strings hum under everything you play, and simple shapes sound rich and haunting. It's the tuning behind Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir," and it has long been a favourite in Celtic and acoustic folk playing. If you've ever wanted your guitar to sound bigger without learning harder chords, this is a great place to start.

What Changes From Standard Tuning

In standard tuning your open strings, from the thickest string (string 6, nearest your chin) to the thinnest (string 1), are E A D G B E. In DADGAD they become D A D G A D.

Only three strings move, and all three go down by a whole step. A whole step is the distance of two frets; a half step is one fret.

• String 6: down a whole step, E to D
• String 5: unchanged, A
• String 4: unchanged, D
• String 3: unchanged, G
• String 2: down a whole step, B to A
• String 1: down a whole step, E to D

Because you're only loosening strings, it's gentle on the guitar and quick to get into.

How to Tune Into DADGAD, Step by Step

A clip-on tuner makes this easy, but it's worth learning to do it by ear too, so you start hearing how the strings relate.

1. String 6 (E to D): Play your open 4th string (D). Slowly lower string 6 until it sounds like the same note, just deeper. That's the same note an octave lower, and you'll hear them blend smoothly. To double-check, play string 6 at the 7th fret: it should match your open 5th string (A).
2. String 2 (B to A): Play string 3 at the 2nd fret. That note is A. Lower string 2 until the open string matches it.
3. String 1 (E to D): Play your newly tuned string 2 at the 5th fret. That's D. Lower string 1 until it matches. You can also check it against the open 4th string, an octave apart.

When two notes are almost in tune, you'll hear a wobbling "wah-wah" beat. Keep adjusting slowly until that wobble disappears.

What Happens When You Strum the Open Strings

Strum all six open strings. You're hearing just three different notes: D, A and G. Three D's, two A's and one G.

That combination has a lovely open, unresolved quality. It isn't happy or sad; it sounds like it's floating, waiting to go somewhere. Players often call it a Dsus4 sound, because the G takes the place where a normal D major chord would have its middle note.

Here's the magic: change one or two notes and the open strings keep ringing around them. Those ringing open strings are called drones, notes that keep sounding underneath everything else, like the hum of bagpipes. That's a big part of why DADGAD suits Celtic music so well.

Try these two simple chords:

• D5: fret string 3 at the 2nd fret, strum everything. That G becomes an A, leaving only D and A. Bold and open.
• D major: fret string 4 at the 4th fret (F#) and string 3 at the 2nd fret (A), strum everything. Now you have the full, bright D major sound.

Switch between the open strum, D5 and D major and listen to how the mood shifts while the outer strings keep humming.

Why Players Love It: Sound, Shapes and Riffs

Easier, fuller chords

Because the open strings already form a pleasing chord, one or two fingers can produce something that would need a big stretch in standard tuning. Beginners often find this freeing: you can sound good quickly and focus on rhythm and feel.

Heavier riffs

The bottom three strings, D A D, form a power chord when played open. A power chord is a simple two-note chord (root and fifth) that sounds strong and punchy, especially with distortion. Lay one finger flat across those three strings and slide it:

• All three at fret 5 gives G5 (G, D, G)
• All three at fret 7 gives A5 (A, E, A)

One finger, deep and heavy. The dropped low D also gives you a darker bottom end than standard tuning.

The unique string pair

Strings 3 and 2 are G and A, only a whole step apart. In standard tuning they're further apart. This close pairing lets you play scale notes that overlap and ring into each other, creating that shimmering, harp-like effect DADGAD players chase.

How Scale and Chord Shapes Shift

Here's the honest part: your familiar standard-tuning shapes won't work as-is. But the changes follow a clear pattern.

• Strings 3, 4 and 5 are unchanged. Any note you know on those strings is in the same place.
• Strings 6, 2 and 1 are a whole step lower. To play the same note as before, go two frets higher. A note at fret 3 in standard is now at fret 5 on those strings.
• The jump between strings 2 and 1 is still a perfect 4th, the same as standard, so small shapes on just those two strings still work.
• The big change is between strings 3 and 2: now just a whole step apart, so shapes that cross those strings need rethinking.

Rather than converting old shapes, many players learn DADGAD fresh, by ear, using the open strings as home base. That's a great approach.

A First Thing to Try

Strum the open strings slowly, letting them ring. Then, keeping your strum steady, fret string 3 at the 2nd fret for a bar, go back to open, then try the D major shape. Next, pick string 6 open and add notes on string 3 at frets 2, 4 and 5 while the other strings ring freely. Don't worry about rules; just listen to how notes blur together. Spend ten minutes a day simply exploring, and you'll soon find your own little melodies hiding in this tuning.

More on the instrument itself: the 6-String Guitar guide.