How To Play Guitar In Open D Minor Tuning!

Learning how to play the guitar comes with many challenges. If you are stuck in a rut or you are looking for something new and expressive, open tunings can change your perspective on how to play the guitar.

Here at Acoustic Life, we love introducing guitar geeks to new concepts. Whether you have played open D tunings or you have never heard of open tunings, our quick run-down of the open D-minor tuning can help you with your guitar journey.

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Open Tuning

Before we launch into our discussion of the open D-minor tuning, let’s get acquainted with the concept of tuning the guitar. Typically, the guitar is tuned EADGBe. This tuning tunes each string a perfect fourth apart from each other — in other words, the fourth scale degree of an open string is the next string (with the exception of the G string to the B string).

In open tunings, we change the standard tuning to create a lush, open chord. This means that whenever you strum all the strings, you are actually playing a chord. One of the most popular open tunings, open D tuning, tunes a guitar DADGAD. For another unique twist, some players play DADF#AD. This second tuning adds an interesting layer because it swaps the perfect fourth (G) for a major third (F#).

Many guitar lessons online or guitar classes will teach you a variety of open tunings. At Acoustic Life, we are always striving to improve your guitar experience. We have talked about open G tunings, power chords, drop D tunings, power chords in drop-D tuning, and so much more. So, we wanted to share with you one of the more original and obscure open tunings: the D-minor open tuning.

D-Minor Open Tuning

One of the best things about open tunings is they transform your perspective of the fretboard. The open D-minor tuning dramatically changes all of your chords and fingerings on the guitar. In some ways, playing certain chords and scales becomes easier. In other ways, open D-minor tuning presents unique challenges.

Tuning your guitar to open D-minor tuning starts with tuning your low E string down to a D. From there, keep the A and D strings the same. The G string drops a whole step to an F — this makes the open tuning minor since F is the minor third of D. The B string drops to an A, and the high E string drops to a D. The final tuning — DADFAD.

There you have it! You now have the open D-minor tuning. It can be a little difficult getting used to it, but one of the best ways to acquaint yourself with the new tuning is playing a minor scale on the high D string. It might not seem like much, but you can strum all of the strings while playing the D-minor scale on the high D.

Learn How to Play the Guitar Online and More

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