Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Introduction to DADGAD Tuning (Patreon)

Published:
2023-03-03 17:26:33
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Downloads

Content

Hello all,

This week I'm taking a look at one of my favourite alternate tunings: DADGAD. I first discovered this tuning through listening to Jimmy Page, way back when I first started playing guitar. It sounds beautiful, and is relatively easy to get started with since a lot of great sounding chords can be played with just one finger. 

I've tabbed out most of the examples found in the video below. I've also written out the little piece I play right at the start of the video. 

Hope you enjoy watching. 

Speak next week,

Adrian 

Files

Get inspired with DADGAD: my favourite alternate tuning

This video is an introduction to beautiful sounds of DADGAD tuning. I talk a little bit about the history of the tuning, then show some of my favourite way to use it. Tabs can be found on Patreon (pay what you like): https://www.patreon.com/anyonecanplayguitar My beginner soloing course: https://courses.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk Intro noodling 000:00 Hi 00:26 About DADGAD 01:25 Getting in tune 03:55 Getting started 06:04 Easy one-finger chords 09:34 2 finger chords 11:09 Chords on the top strings 15:35 Celtic noodling 17:20 Octaves 19:54 Bye 20:52 My latest album: https://zodiactoys.bandcamp.com/releases Please subscribe here for many more YouTube lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/anyonecanplayguitarcouk Check out my website: https://www.anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk Social blah: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acpgtr/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/acpgtr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anyonecanplayguitar.co.uk

Comments

Steve Reed

Awesome, Adrian! From an senior LZ fan. Memories of Page's RAH performance of White Summer.

Steve Reed

Also assume this would sound great on a 12 string?

pannac

😂😂😂thanks a lot especially for the „Celtic Noodling“, I never heard of that expression for a style I actually love. I‘ll be noodling Celtic in Dadgad a lot from now. (And still a beginner, I think open or alt tunings really teach a lot about intervals and the fretboard in general.) Best regards from Munich

Peter Healy

Thanks again Adrian. DADGAD evokes memories of the Woodford Folk Festival down here in OZ. A place that really opened up my Music Palette over the years I was able to attend. As far as Guitarists Richard Thompson comes to mind for me as well.

Jeff Sims

Excellent content. Hands on theory lesson. It's amazing how many people seem to avoid open tunings because of perceived complexity. Another music myth busted.

Chris Roadesa

Isn't DADGAD the turning for Save it For Later?

Brian Scott

How fortuitous. I was unfamiliar with this tuning until the other day when I started learning Kashmir and now here you are with this. Cheers!

Peter Weldon

That was a mistake Dave Wakeling made when tuning his guitar. He *thought* he was tuning to DADGAD, but accidentally tuned to DADAAD. Happy accident, I suppose. :)

Ralph Blair

Hi Adrian thanks for this. A colleague of mine in the mid 80s shared his love of Celtic music w me, a great gift it was, I’ve listened to Planxty, Andy Irvine/Paul Brady and many other great musicians since. The attached link is I guess my favorite DADGAD (I’m pretty sure) tune, I don’t know if you’ve heard it, but if not, I hope you like it, and a lesson would be great! https://youtu.be/vZ7oYCx6tBw

Steven Brownlie

Thank you Adrian. As I stated on YT this is the best introduction to DADGAD I've seen. It is easy to hear why so many players consider it the 'perfect' and most instinctive tuning for guitar. Please do have a listen to Jeff Martin of the Tea Party. I've caught a few of his acoustic gigs down here in NSW and he's obviously a devotee of Bert Jansch, Jimmy Page etc. Thank you for all the terrific lessons. Much appreciated my friend.

anyonecanplayguitar

Absolutely. I don't think I've ever tried DADGAD on a 12 string, but I'm sure it would work brilliantly. Might have to give it a go soon.

anyonecanplayguitar

Thanks Florian! Yes, even if you're a beginner I think you can get a lot from exploring open tunings. It definitely gets you thinking in a more musical way rather than just relying on standard grips and shapes.

Jon

Thanks for another great lesson and nudge to spend some time with this tuning. Paul Brady's 'Arthur McBride' is another great example and it's a good time for and anti-war song. Thanks for keeping these coming! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGkhPx529g