Guitar tuning · D A D G A D

DADGAD tuner.

D A D G A D: lowest string D2. Tune with your mic or by ear, at A4 = 440 or any pitch you need.

Tuner · Any tuning

Tune your guitar.

Pluck a string and the meter shows how far off it is. Tap any string to hear it at its true pitch and tune by ear.

  • Pick any instrument and tuning
  • Shift it down or up by half steps
  • Set A to anything: 440, 432, 442…

D A D G A D

The sound never leaves your device.

Keys: Space start or stop · ← → half step · ↑ ↓ A (Shift: bigger steps) · 1–9 string · M mode · R hear · − + volume · L copy link · Esc done

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Strings · tap to hear

Guitar · Alternate tuning

About DADGAD

The name spells the notes. Three strings drop from standard, and the open strings ring a suspended chord, neither major nor minor. The notes: D A D G A D.

DADGAD is the classic tuning of Celtic and folk guitar. It suits fingerstyle playing, with open strings ringing under the melody. Its three low strings are the same as in Drop D, so one-finger power chords still work.

Also written: DADGAD

How to get there from standard

  • String 6: lower a whole step (E2 → D2)
  • String 5: no change (A2)
  • String 4: no change (D3)
  • String 3: no change (G3)
  • String 2: lower a whole step (B3 → A3)
  • String 1: lower a whole step (E4 → D4)

Quicker from Open D: raise String 3 a half step (F♯3 → G3).

6 strings

Notes and frequencies

DADGAD: notes and frequencies in Hz at three common A4 references
StringNoteA = 440A = 432A = 442
6D273.4272.0873.75
5A2110.00108.00110.50
4D3146.83144.16147.50
3G3196.00192.43196.89
2A3220.00216.00221.00
1D4293.66288.33295.00

The tuner on this page works at any A4 from 300 to 600 Hz, and can shift the whole tuning by half steps or fine cents.

Measured

How the tuner hears D2

DADGAD goes down to D2 on String 6, 73.42 Hz. A phone mic hears D2 faintly: in our phone-mic model its fundamental arrives 6 dB quieter. Read from its overtones, D2 stayed within 1 ¢.

How the tuner listens →

String tension

Strings and tension

Strings 6, 2 and 1: about 21% less tension (approx., same strings, same scale length).

Most players keep their usual strings for this. If the lowest string feels floppy or buzzes, go one gauge heavier on that string only.

Check string tension → String by string, with your own set and scale length.

Neighboring tunings

Higher tunings first. Each rung moves every string of DADGAD by a half step; in the tuner, the ◂ ▸ arrows on the tuning chip do the same.

  1. DADGAD +2DADGAD, 2 half steps higher. Notes: E B E A B E
  2. DADGAD +1DADGAD, 1 half step higher. Notes: E flat B flat E flat A flat B flat E flat
  3. DADGADThis pageRinging folk and Celtic sound. Notes: D A D G A D
  4. DADGAD −1DADGAD, 1 half step lower. Notes: C sharp G sharp C sharp F sharp G sharp C sharp
  5. DADGAD −2DADGAD, 2 half steps lower. Notes: C G C F G C

Questions

What are the notes of DADGAD?

From String 6 to String 1: D2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4. At A4 = 440 Hz the lowest string is 73.42 Hz and the highest is 293.66 Hz.

Why is it called DADGAD?

The name spells the open strings from String 6 to String 1: D A D G A D. Together they make a Dsus4 chord, neither major nor minor, which suits Celtic and folk music.

Can I use DADGAD at A = 432 or 442?

Yes. Tap the A 440 chip and choose 432 or 442, or type any value. String 6 is 72.08 Hz at A = 432 and 73.75 Hz at A = 442.