How to Tune a Guitar to Open G
Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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To tune a guitar to open G, retune the strings to D G D G B D. The D, G and B strings stay put, while the low E string drops to D, the A string drops to G, and the high E string drops to D. Tune each string to its note with a chromatic tuner set to A440.
Set the tuner to chromatic mode
Clip the tuner to the headstock and set it to chromatic mode so it reads every note you play. The KLIQ UberTuner-MAX and the Snark Silver Snark have a chromatic mode. Set the calibration to A440, the standard reference pitch, unless you are tuning to match other instruments set differently. The KLIQ UberTuner-MAX has a calibration range of 430-450 Hz, and the Snark ST-8HPT offers pitch calibration at 432 and 442 Hz. Leave the setting at A440 for ordinary playing.
Drop the low E string to D
Pluck the low E string and watch the tuner display. Turn the tuning machine for that string to lower the pitch until the display shows D. If the note reads sharp, lower it below D and come back up to the note so the string settles at the right pitch. Check the string again after it settles, since a string that has moved a long way can drift.
Drop the A string to G
Pluck the A string and lower it until the tuner shows G. The A string drops a whole step, so turn the tuning machine slowly and watch the display as the note falls. If you pass G, raise the pitch back up to G so the string settles at the right pitch. The D string stays at D, so leave it alone.
Drop the high E string to D
Pluck the high E string and lower it until the tuner shows D. The high E string drops a whole step, so turn the tuning machine slowly and watch the display. The G and B strings stay where they are, so leave them alone. Strum the open strings and check each string on the tuner: the notes should read D G D G B D, from the low string to the high string.
Tune back to standard tuning
When you are done playing in open G, tune the strings back to standard tuning: E A D G B E. Raise the low D string to E, raise the G string to A, and raise the high D string to E. The D, G and B strings stay where they are. Check each string on the tuner after the changes, since changing the tension on a string can shift the others.
What you need
KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On Guitar
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with a chromatic mode, an octave display, and vibration-based pitch detection that ignores background noise.
- Chromatic mode
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip On
Snark SIL-RED Silver Snark Chromatic Tuner Red
A chromatic clip-on tuner with a high resolution display that rotates 360 degrees and vulcanised rubber joints.
- Chromatic mode
Snark ST-8HPT High Precision Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with pitch calibration at 432 and 442 Hz and an anechoic sound shield for easier tuning in room noise.
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip-On
These come from our ranked list Best Tuners, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Which strings change for open G tuning?
The low E string goes down to D, the A string goes down to G, and the high E string goes down to D. The D, G and B strings stay where they are. Set a chromatic tuner to A440 and tune each string to its new note.
Can I tune to open G with a clip-on tuner?
Yes. Set the tuner to chromatic mode and calibrate it to A440, then tune each string to its open G note.
Do I need to change strings for open G?
No. Open G tuning uses the same strings, retuned to D G D G B D. The strings go down in pitch, not up, so the tension stays within the range the guitar is set up for. Check each string on the tuner after the changes.
Ranked guitar tuners lists
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