About DADGAD tuning
DADGAD is the great modal tuning: neither major nor minor, but a suspended Dsus4 that leaves every musical door open. It's the lingua franca of Celtic guitar and the sound of Jimmy Page's 'CIA' (Celtic-Indian-Arabic) explorations, endlessly droning and endlessly flexible.
From standard, three strings drop a whole step: sixth E→D, second B→A, first E→D — the same moves as Double Drop D plus the second string. Strummed open, it should sound like a wide, unresolved D chord.
DADGAD tuning notes & frequencies (A4 = 440 Hz)
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to tune to DADGAD from standard
- String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2.
- String 2 (B3): tune down a whole step to A3.
- String 1 (E4): tune down a whole step to D4.
After changing string tension this much, make a second tuning pass — the neck settles slightly and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
Songs & artists in DADGAD
- Kashmir — Led Zeppelin
- Black Mountain Side — Led Zeppelin
Pierre Bensusan plays exclusively in DADGAD; it anchors modern Celtic and fingerstyle guitar from Davey Graham onward.
String gauge advice
Standard sets are fine; .011s or .012s suit dedicated acoustic DADGAD players.
FAQ
What are the notes of DADGAD tuning on guitar?
DADGAD tuning is D2, A2, D3, G3, A3, D4 from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune my guitar to DADGAD?
Starting from standard tuning: String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2. String 2 (B3): tune down a whole step to A3. String 1 (E4): tune down a whole step to D4. Use the tuner above — it highlights the string it hears and shows exactly how many cents you are from the target.
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