DADGAD Guitar Tuning

DADGAD guitar tuning is D-A-D-G-A-D. It is not the same as Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D), which only lowers the two E strings. In DADGAD the 2nd string drops from B to A, creating a suspended, modal colour associated with Irish, Scottish, and contemporary fingerstyle music.

Jimmy Page used DADGAD on tracks like "Black Mountain Side"; Pierre Bensusan and many Celtic guitarists built entire repertoires around it. The tuning rewards open strings and moving chord shapes along the neck.

From standard E-A-D-G-B-E: lower the 6th to D, leave the 5th on A, leave the 4th on D, leave the 3rd on G, lower the 2nd to A, and lower the 1st to D. Use per-string reference tones on the fretboard, then confirm with the strobe dial.

DADGAD is often tuned by ear because players learn the interlocking D and A drones — but microphone tuning helps lock each string precisely, especially the 2nd string B→A step, which is easy to overshoot.

• Changed strings: 6th E→D, 2nd B→A, 1st E→D.
• Unchanged: 5th A, 4th D, 3rd G.
• Do not confuse with Double Drop D — the 2nd string stays B in Double Drop D.

DADGAD excels at drone-based fingerstyle, Celtic melodies, and textures that sit between major and minor. The repeated D and A notes across strings create a rich sustain that standard tuning cannot mimic without fretting.

If you are coming from Drop D, remember DADGAD requires retuning the 2nd and 1st strings as well — not just the low string. This page keeps DADGAD targets loaded so you do not accidentally tune to the wrong alternate.