Click here and we will send you Chords in Open-G Tuning pdf.
Let's concentrate on the tunings that Keith uses. He has played songs in many open tunings including open E and open G tunings. I've seen lots of bands playing songs such as Honky Tonk Women and Brown Sugar, but playing them in standard guitar tuning. Well, it's never going to sound right unless you retune your guitar to open G tuning. In standard tuning you tune your guitar strings to E,A,D,G,B,E - in open G you tune them to D,G,D,G,B,D, but Keith takes the top (thickest) D string off - so he plays only 5 strings. To change from standard tuning drop the high E string to D, drop the A string to G, and drop the low E string to D.
You'll need to understand Tab (guitar tablature) if you are to make the most of this site. If you don't know how to read guitar tablature (tab) look here
Keith Richards and open G tuning
Most guitar players are not aware of the alternate tunings that some bands use, so when they try to play those songs they don’t sound ‘right’ even if they play the right chords. Next time you’re watching your local band play Brown Sugar for example, ask yourself “does that sound exactly right?” The chances are it won’t because it will be played in standard tuning.
Keith Richards has used lots of alternate tunings but the one he’s used the most is open g tuning. It’s quite easy to change the tuning on a standard guitar to open g tuning however, and although you’ll have to learn some new chord shapes, they are comparatively easy to play!
To change to open g we only need to detune 3 strings, the 1st (thinnest), 5th and 6th strings. Tune the 1st string down a tone to D – check it against your 4th string (which is a D). Do the same for the 6th string, down a tone to D – check it against your 4th string. Then finally tune your 5th string down to G – check it against your 3rd string (which is a G). Keith usually takes the top 6th string off, so you might want to do that too.
Now if you play the strings from top to bottom you get a nice sound – in fact it’s the chord of G major. If you fret the strings at the fifth fret (which you can do with one finger), you have a C major chord. There you are, you’ve already learnt how to play two chords in open g tuning!
Click here and we will send you Chords in Open-G Tuning pdf.
Learn to play guitar better! Click Here!