Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction to How to Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
Have you had a hard time getting the sound of your favorite rock guitarist? Have you ever felt frustrated that the guitar sounds out of tune? In the post, Tune Like a Rock Star, we talked about how Keith Richards tunes his guitar without holding down any frets. Today, you will play one of the guitar styles that works well with this special open tuning. Read more to learn how to play like a rock star with open G tuning.
This article uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
80s Hard Rock Guitar (lead and rhythm):
Tuning-up with Harmonics and How to Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
Mobile users: for best results reading the tab, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Tune the 5th string using this track:
The first step in learning how to play like a rock star with open G tuning is to tune your guitar. Tune the fifth string (the second thickest string) to the first track. The track sounds the note G. Then, use the above tablature (tab) to tune the rest of the strings to open G.
Need more detail that this? Read How to Tune the Classic Rock Open G Sound Using Harmonics where I walk you through tuning open G. It also explains how tab works.
1980s Rock Style
Electronic Tuners vs. Harmonics and How to Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
As you learn how to play like a rock star with open G tuning, you will realize that the major chords in the tuning sound awesome with distortion. The next track demonstrates a major chord (with distortion) tuned to equal temperament (using a standard electronic tuner). The third track shows the same chord (with distortion) tuned using harmonics.
Listen to both tracks. You can hear that the harmonics-based-tuning sounds smoother that the equal tempered version. In fact, the equal tempered version sort of sounds like the acoustic equivalent of curdled milk.
Equal tempered major chord (distortion):
Major chord tuned with harmonics (distortion):
How to Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning: 8os Hard Rock Guitar
Styles with sustained and repeated major chords work well in open G tuning (tuned with harmonics). This means that many 80’s pop and rock styles work with open G, particularly hard rock and heavy metal. The first tab example demonstrates how to play the rhythm guitar part in the 80s Hard Rock Guitar track. It is similar to riffs by Kiss, AC/DC, and Pat Benatar.
When you listen to the track, you might think, “What’s the big deal! I’ve heard a lot of music that sounds like this.” That is exactly the point.
You can hear when comparing tracks 2 and 3 how the tuning affects the tone of the guitar. Many professional guitarists tune their guitars to make some chords sound better than others. I have just shown you an important part of getting this classic rock sound.
Your strings, pickups, effects, and amp settings all have an impact on the guitar’s sound as well. Nevertheless, the guitar’s tuning remains an important part of the guitar’s sound that usually gets overlooked and is a significant factor for playing like a rock star with the open G tuning.
80s Hard Rock Guitar
80s Hard Rock Guitar (lead and rhythm):
How to Play Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning: Soloing
The tab examples below show the scales used for soloing. You can play G minor pentatonic over all of track 5. However, you can lock into the chord progression even better by changing to C and D minor pentatonic as well. The score above suggests when you should change scales.
Start by confining your solos to the second, third, and fourth strings. Soloing here looks and feels a lot like standard tuning.
This is why we started with open G, because open G has three strings tuned the same as standard tuning. It makes it easier for guitarists new to alternate tunings to learn how to solo over open tunings. When you can solo over these three strings, expand you playing to the rest of the strings.
The last track contains just the rhythm guitar part, so you can practice soloing over it. Here is your chance to play like the rock stars with the open G tuning. If you solo using a slide, you have the flexibility to lock the tuning of the solo in with the rhythm guitar’s intonation.
G Minor Pentatonic
C Minor Pentatonic
D Minor Pentatonic
80s Hard Rock Guitar (rhythm):
Conclusion
Once you have gotten the rhythm and soloing down, you will be well on your way to playing like a rock star with the open G tuning. Nevertheless, the tuning works with other styles of rock as well. The next intonation post will show open G tuning used in 70s rock. It incorporates elements from the Rolling Stones’ style.
Related Content
- How to Tune Like a Rock Star
- How to Tune the Classic Rock Open G Sound Using Harmonics
- Jam Like a Rock Star with Open E Tuning
- Sound Like a Rock Star with Open G Tuning
- How to Tune the Blues Rock Open D Sound Using Harmonics
- Learn How to Get a Killer Sound for Your Band
- 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
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
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