Gorehound’s Roots Guitar Tips

Here’s a demonstration of the Open G tuning(D,G,D,G,B,D). The Gmaj Chord is played on the top 5 strings(5-1)Barring with your first finger on the 2nd fret makes an A maj, 4th fr is B, 5th fr is C, 7th-D, 9th-E, 10th-F, 12th is G again.

The “C” form chord is made by adding the second finger to the 2nd string, 1st fret and the third finger on the 4th string 2nd fret (X,O,2,O,1,O). Practice going from open G to “C”

Now try Barring the 5th fret with your first finger, put your second finger on the 2nd string, 6th fret and your third finger on the 4rth string, 7th fret. This forms an F chord. Try going from a barre on the 5th fret(C) to the F, then do the same thing on the 7th fret(D-G). Here’s an example

Open G is a great tuning for most styles of Americana/Roots music especially Blues, Country and Folk. It’s not so good for Jazz, Surf, Punk/Hardcore

Open G is the standard tuning for Dobros(along with G,B,D,G,B,D). Banjos are tuned D,G,B,D (same as the top 4 strings of G). It is often called Sabastapol. It was a very popular tuning around the turn of the last century(1900). It is better for accompanying a singer, than standard and much easier to learn.