Open G tuning chord chart
In Open G tuning (D G D G B D), the open strings already make a G major chord. A barre across one fret gives you a major chord, which is why Open G is loved for slide guitar and for rhythm parts in blues and rock.
How to tune to Open G
From standard tuning (E A D G B E), lower three strings by a whole step (2 semitones). The 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings stay the same.
- 6th string: E → D (down 2 semitones)
- 5th string: A → G (down 2 semitones)
- 1st string: E → D (down 2 semitones)
The open strings ring as G/D (a G chord with D in the bass). If you start a strum from the 5th string, you hear G with G in the bass.
One-finger major chords
Because the open strings make a major chord, laying one finger (or a slide) across all strings at any fret gives another major chord: the 5th fret is C and the 7th fret is D. With G at the open strings, that is the I, IV, and V chords of the key of G — enough for many songs.
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.
x 0 0 0 0 0x 0 0 0 3 0x 5 5 5 5 50 2 0 2 3 40 2 0 2 1 4x x 2 0 0 22 x 0 0 0 0x 2 2 2 1 xx 2 2 0 1 2x 4 0 4 0 4About G: the app's G (x 0 0 0 0 0) leaves out the 6th string so that G is the lowest note. In practice, strumming all six open strings (G/D, with D in the bass) is the most common way to play G in Open G; the low D is part of its sound.
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+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | x 0 0 0 0 0 | x 0 0 4 3 5 | x 12 12 12 12 12 |
| G5 | x 0 0 0 3 0 | x 0 5 0 3 5 | — |
| G7 | x 0 0 0 0 3 | x 0 0 4 6 5 | x 0 0 10 8 9 |
| C | — | x 5 5 5 5 5 | x x 10 9 8 10 |
| Cadd9 | — | x 5 5 7 5 5 | 10 9 0 9 8 x |
| D | 0 2 0 2 3 4 | — | 0 7 7 7 7 7 |
| D7 | 0 2 0 2 1 4 | 0 5 4 5 3 x | 0 11 10 11 10 10 |
| Em | x x 2 0 0 2 | — | 14 12 14 12 12 14 |
| Em7 | 2 x 0 0 0 0 | — | 14 12 12 12 12 12 |
| Am | x 2 2 2 1 x | 7 5 7 5 5 7 | x 14 14 14 13 x |
| Am7 | x 2 2 0 1 2 | 7 5 5 5 5 5 | x 14 14 0 13 14 |
| Bm | x 4 0 4 0 4 | x 4 4 4 7 0 | 9 7 9 7 7 9 |
| A | x 2 2 2 2 2 | x x 7 6 5 7 | x 14 14 14 14 14 |
| E7 | 2 1 0 1 0 0 | — | x 9 0 9 9 9 |
Tips
- Watch the 6th string. It is tuned to D, not G. For a G chord with G in the bass, start from the 5th string, or play the 6th string only when D in the bass sounds right.
- Minor chords need more fingers. The open strings are major, so minor chords such as Em and Am take a shape of their own. The app shows several for each.
- Other keys: with a capo at the 2nd fret the same shapes play in A; at the 3rd fret, in Bb.
See also: alternate tunings explained, DADGAD chords.