The three most popular Guitar Tunings

Mark Knopfler Dire Straits Guitarist

Peter Green Blues guitarist

Jimi Hendrix guitarist

Tommy Tedesco Guitarist

Daniel Kessler guitarist

Ritchie Blackmore guitarist

Sister Rosetta Tharpe blues guitarist

Rory Gallagher Guitarist

Bob Fripp Guitarist

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Andy Summers guitarist

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Trying to find a new sound? Feeling jaded as you search for the lost chord? Then re-tuning your guitar to open alternative tunings is a great way to reinvigorate your playing.

What are the most 3 popular alternative guitar tunings (that are not the standard tuning) here's a discography of the top 10 songs using each alternative tuning with details of the tuning

What are the most Popular Alternative Guitar Tunings

You’ll get chord voicings that sound so fresh, sound so new, they really pop. Don’t take my word for it. Here are some well-known songs that perhaps you never noticed feature alternative tunings.

1. Drop D Tuning

- E A D G B e → D A D G B e

Top 10 Songs Using Drop D Tuning:

1. "Everlong" - Foo Fighters

- Album: "The Colour and the Shape" (1997)

2. "Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine

- Album: "Rage Against the Machine" (1992) Tom Morello

3. "Heart-Shaped Box" - Nirvana

- Album: "In Utero" (1993) Kurt Cobain

4. "Moby Dick" - Led Zeppelin

- Album: "Led Zeppelin II" (1969)

5. "Black Hole Sun" - Soundgarden

- Album: "Superunknown" (1994)

6. "Dear Prudence" - The Beatles

- Album: "The Beatles (White Album)" (1968)

7. "Runnin' with the Devil" - Eddie Van Halen

- Album: "Van Halen" (1978)

8. "Never Going Back Again" - Fleetwood Mac

- Album: "Rumours" (1977)

9. "Slither" - Velvet Revolver

- Album: "Contraband" (2004)

10. "Monkey Wrench" - Foo Fighters

- Album: "The Colour and the Shape" (1997)

2. Open G Tuning

E A D G B e → D G D G B D

Top 10 Songs Using Open G Tuning:

1. "Honky Tonk Women" - The Rolling Stones

- Album: Single (1969)

2. "Start Me Up" - The Rolling Stones

- Album: "Tattoo You" (1981) Keith Richards

3. "She Talks to Angels" - The Black Crowes

- Album: "Shake Your Money Maker" (1990)

4. "Little Red Rooster" - The Rolling Stones

- Album: Single (1964)

5. "Twice as Hard" - The Black Crowes

- Album: "Shake Your Money Maker" (1990)

6. "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" - Led Zeppelin

- Album: "Led Zeppelin III" (1970) Jimmy Page

7. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" - The Rolling Stones

- Album: "Sticky Fingers" (1971)

8. "Fearless" - Pink Floyd

- Album: "Meddle" (1971) David Gilmour

9. "Spanish Fandango" - Chet Atkins

- Album: Various live and compilation albums

10. "Salt of the Earth" - The Rolling Stones

- Album: "Beggars Banquet" (1968)

3. DADGAD Tuning

 E A D G B e → D A D G A D

Top 10 Songs Using DADGAD Tuning:

1. "Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin

- Album: "Physical Graffiti" (1975)

2. "Black Mountainside" - Led Zeppelin

- Album: "Led Zeppelin" (1969)

3. "Circle" - Slipknot

- Album: "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" (2004)

4. "Photograph" - Ed Sheeran

- Album: "x" (2014)

5. "Marrakesh Express" - Crosby, Stills & Nash

- Album: "Crosby, Stills & Nash" (1969)

6. "Dear Maria, Count Me In" - All Time Low

- Album: "So Wrong, It's Right" (2007)

7. "Manic Depression" - Jimi Hendrix

- Album: "Are You Experienced" (1967)

8. "Mattres Mac" - Alec Benjamin

- Album: "Narrated for You" (2018)

9. "Badge" - Cream

- Album: "Goodbye" (1969) Eric Clapton

10. "Two of Us" - The Beatles

- Album: "Let It Be" (1970)

Fun Fact: The queen of guitar tunings is Joni Mitchell who uses them extensively.