Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why you can’t get you guitar to sound like the rock and blues stars’? How you tune impacts how you sound. Read more to learn how to tune the blues rock open D sound using harmonics.
Like open G, open D is another popular tuning with blues and rock guitarists. Open D has the advantage that the root of the chord is on the 6th string, making it a good tuning for riffs.
This article uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Stefan Grossman Tunes the Blues Rock Open D Sound
The respected blues teacher Stefan Grossman studied under country blues guitarist Rev. Gary Davis. In the YouTube video, Stefan Grossman Teaches “Vestapol” (Pt. 1 of 3), he demonstrates tuning open D.
Keith Richards has also tuned in open D and the related open E tuning. Grossman, like Richards, fine tunes without using frets, which remains a critical element in tuning the blues rock open D sound.
Blues Rock Open D Tuning Video
How to Tune the Blues Rock Open D Sound Using Harmonics
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
- Again, we tune using harmonics as harmonics make it easier to tune outside of equal temperament. First, use an electronic tuner to get into open D: DADF#AD. Then, use harmonics to fine-tune the strings.
- If you need an explanation of tab and how to play harmonics, please review:
- If you have a hard time hearing the harmonics in bar 3, add distortion. This boosts the harmonic overtones and will makes it so the upper harmonics pop out more. Once you have the hang of tuning with harmonics, you can try tuning like Grossman.
- Strum your pick across the strings. If you’ve done it right, you’ll have tuned the blues rock open D sound.
How to Play the Blues Rock Sound
- Once you finish tuning, barre your first finger across the strings, moving your finger up and down the guitar neck to change chords. The root of the chord is on the 6th string, which is the column on the left side of the chart below.
- Tuning blues rock open D with the harmonics helps the chords to have a vibrant quality and can be used with or without distortion.
Why Harmonics are Used to Tune the Blues Rock Open D Sound
- In 1980, Ternstrom and Sundberg found that the first common harmonic between notes aided singers when tuning intervals.
- Likewise, we’re tuning the first common harmonic between strings to simulate how Keith Richards and Stefan Grossman tune, as they most likely (subconsciously) rely on the first common harmonic (the way the singers in Ternstrom and Sundberg’s study did) as they tuned blues rock open D.
Songs that Work with the Open D & Open E
Jumping Jack Flash Video (in Open E)
- The Rolling Stones songs Gimme Shelter and Jumping Jack Flash are both played in open E. Open E is like open D, but tuned a little higher, so both songs work in open D. To play Jumping Jack Flash in open D, fix a capo at the 2nd fret.
- Alternately, you can tune to open E. However, open E puts more strain on your guitar neck as you will tune some strings higher than standard tuning. If you want to tune open E with harmonics, first use an electronic tuner to get into open E. The strings get tuned from lowest to highest: E B E G# B E. Since the intervals between strings stays the same, you can fine tune using harmonics with the above tab.
- Once you’ve tuned up blues rock open D (with a capo), try learning Jumping Jack Flash from the video. It sounds fantastic. (Sitting on) the Dock of the Bay can also be played in open D tuning. Have fun!
Related Content
- How to Tune Like a Rock Star
- Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
- Sound Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
- Jam Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
- Learn How to Get a Killer Sound for Your Band
- How to Tune the Classic Rock Open G Sound Using Harmonics
- Tune Your Ukulele Like a Hawaiian
- Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament
- How to Use an Extremely Accurate Guitar Strobe Tuner: to Make Your Guitar Sound Awesome
- Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament
© 2020 Geoffrey Keith
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