DADGAD chord chart
DADGAD (“dad-gad”) is one of the most popular alternate tunings for acoustic guitar. The open strings ring as a Dsus4 chord, so simple shapes sound open and full. This page shows the chord shapes to start with.
How to tune to DADGAD
From standard tuning (E A D G B E), lower three strings. The 5th, 4th, and 3rd strings stay the same.
- 6th string: E → D (down 2 semitones)
- 2nd string: B → A (down 2 semitones)
- 1st string: E → D (down 2 semitones)
The result, from the 6th string, is D A D G A D. Use a tuner, and tune each lowered string up to the note from below, so the strings stay in tune.
What DADGAD sounds like
The open strings make a Dsus4 chord: there is no third (F# or F), so the sound is neither major nor minor. That is why DADGAD fits Celtic and folk music, fingerstyle playing, and songs in D or G. Shapes that leave some strings open let those open strings ring under the melody.
Basic chords
These are the first shapes the app finds for each chord, mostly up to the 4th fret. The black dot is the lowest note; the letters in the dots are the intervals (R is the root). “x” means do not play that string.
0 0 0 2 0 00 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 2 0 42 2 0 0 2 00 2 0 0 2 0x x 5 4 5 5x 0 2 2 4 2x 0 0 0 0 0x 2 0 4 2 4x 2 0 2 0 0In the key of D, the most used chords are D (or D5 and Dsus4), G, A (or A7sus4), Bm, and Em7. Major G has no shape up to the 4th fret in DADGAD. Around the 5th fret, play x x 5 4 5 5, or let the open 4th string ring with 5 5 0 4 5 x (in the app, tap “Other shape”). G/D and Gmaj7 also work in its place.
More shapes in every position
The same chords in the low (up to fret 4, often with open strings), middle (starting at frets 3–6), and high (fret 7 and up) positions. Numbers are frets from the 6th string to the 1st; “—” means the app found no natural shape there.
| Chord | Low (to fret 4) | Middle (from frets 3–6) | High (fret 7+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| D5 | 0 0 0 2 0 0 | 0 0 0 7 5 7 | 0 0 7 7 0 7 |
| Dsus4 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 5 0 5 5 | 12 12 12 12 12 12 |
| D | 0 0 0 2 0 4 | 0 0 4 7 5 7 | 0 0 0 11 12 12 |
| Dm | 0 0 0 2 0 3 | 0 5 7 7 8 x | 0 0 0 7 8 7 |
| Em7 | 2 2 0 0 2 0 | x 7 5 7 5 5 | 14 14 12 12 14 12 |
| F#m | 4 4 4 2 0 x | 4 4 4 6 4 7 | x 9 11 11 0 11 |
| G | — | x x 5 4 5 5 | x 10 0 0 10 9 |
| G/D | 0 2 0 0 2 0 | 0 5 5 4 5 x | 12 14 12 12 14 12 |
| Gmaj7 | — | 5 5 4 4 5 4 | x 10 9 11 9 9 |
| A | x 0 2 2 4 2 | x 0 7 6 7 7 | x 0 11 9 12 11 |
| Asus4 | x 0 0 2 0 2 | 7 5 0 7 7 x | 7 7 7 7 7 7 |
| A7sus4 | x 0 0 0 0 0 | 7 5 5 7 5 5 | x 12 12 12 12 12 |
| Bm | x 2 0 4 2 4 | — | 9 9 9 11 9 12 |
| Bm7 | x 2 0 2 0 0 | — | 9 9 7 7 9 7 |
| Cadd9 | x 3 0 0 3 2 | — | 10 10 0 9 10 x |
Tips
- Let strings ring. Many DADGAD shapes keep the 1st, 2nd, or 5th string open. Do not mute them; the ringing open strings are the sound of the tuning.
- Use a capo for other keys. With a capo at the 2nd fret, the same shapes play in E; at the 5th fret, in G.
- Find any chord. In the app, choose DADGAD and any chord to see more shapes, hear them, or name a shape you found yourself.
See also: alternate tunings explained, Open D and Drop D chords.