An Introduction to Open G Tuning

Arlen Roth - Gibson

Guitar   Intermediate   Rock Blues Jazz   Lesson of the Day

Open G tuning is a very flexible open tuning and is used often in Slide guitar as well as in country blues styles. One of the most important things to keep in mind with open tunings is how the licks and chord positions are altered.

In today’s lesson, I will teach you where these new positions are, as well as some totally unique sounds and textures that can only be achieved within this tuning configuration.

Also unique to this tuning is the fact that even though we are in G we now have three octaves of open Ds to contend with, and this is great because the possibilities that are developed for playing in the key of D – using the open G as the IV chord – become really intriguing.

You’ll also be learning new harmony runs and positions, as well as the new chord shapes and pentatonic scales that come very easily to this new kind of open position. Hope you enjoy it!—Arlen Roth