D Guitar Tuning (DMaj)
Crafting Unusual Accompaniment

Let's explore the D Guitar Tuning.

This D, A, D, F#, A, D tuning forms the chord of D Maj. When the fingers are placed anywhere vertically across the strings, a basic major chord is formed. Slide guitar players use this tuning a lot.

The D tuning makes the positions easier to play the basic chords of 1Maj, 1VMaj, V7, V1mi, bar chords. By laying the slide vertically across the various positions on the fret-board, slide guitar players are able to pick out the notes of the DMaj guitar tuning comfortably.

The singer who was very much into this tuning was Joni Mitchell. The chord shapes are much easier to handle. The D tuning is also popular with blues guitar players like Alex de Grassi, Ry Cooder and Leo Kottke.

The D Guitar Tuning
Tune the 6th string to low D. This is the root of the D tuning followed by the 5th string A note, then to the 4th string D note, then F# note on the 3rd string, down to 2nd string A note, and down to 1st string D note. When you have this D guitar tuning in place, check the strings against each other and be aware of the strings that need to be adjusted accordingly.

Forming Maj Chords

Drop D Open Tuning Scale (pdf)

In the first measure we have a DMaj7 chord, in the 2nd measure we have Gmaj, in the 3rd measure there is a A7sus4 chord. In the 4th measure we have a Bmi9 chord, in the 5th measure there is a CMaj9 chord, 6th measure an Emi11 chord, 7th measure F#mi7 chord, 8th measure an A7th chord and the 9th measure we have a Dmaj chord.

Study the notes and positions and try them out. Listen for the open notes and try playing the natural harmonics at the 12th, 7th and 5th frets. Strike a chord and while it is ringing, play the natural harmonics over it. Be creative as you approach the chord shapes. You could use regular guitar chord shapes and produce some interesting notes and chords.

Playing The D Tuning Using Chords

Drop D D-Major Open Tuning Chords (pdf)

| DMaj7 | GMaj | A7sus4 | Bmi9 |

| CMaj9 | Emi11 | F#mi7 A7 | DMaj |

| GMaj | A7sus4 | Bmi9 | Emi11 |

| A7 | DMaj7 | F#mi7 Bmi7 | Emi11 A7sus4 |

| DMaj7 | Bmi9 | Emi11 | A7sus4 A7 |

| Bmi9 | Emi11 | A7sus4 A7 | DMaj |

Summary Of D Guitar Tuning
All the different types of guitar tunings give out its own type of warmth and color. Experiment with these D guitar tuningsand find your preference to the one that suits you the best. Since all these open tunings are in the key of D Major, get a capo and play up and down the keyboard. Do try out with the standard type guitar fingering over these D-open-tunings and you will be amazed at what you will be able to create.

We will now explore another guitar tuning referred to as the Double Drop D Open Tuning of D, A, D, G, A, D

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