DADGAD (Celtic)

DADGAD (Celtic) string notes

Low to high: D, A, D, G, A, D, which is where the name comes from. Against standard tuning (E, A, D, G, B, E) three strings move and three stay.

Neighbouring open strings are a perfect fifth, a perfect fourth, a perfect fourth, a whole step and a perfect fourth apart. Together they sound Dsus4: D with its fourth (G) and its fifth (A), and no third. A chord with no third is neither major nor minor, which is why DADGAD sounds open, modal and a little unresolved.

Three strings, the 6th, 4th and 1st, are the same D in three octaves, and the 5th and 2nd are the same A in two. All that doubling is the drone.

How to retune from standard

Bring the 6th, 2nd and 1st strings down a whole step each and leave the 5th, 4th and 3rd alone.

Every string you move has an octave partner among the strings you leave alone, so the job can be done by ear: the 6th against the open 4th string, which is the same note an octave higher, the 2nd against the open 5th string, the same note an octave lower, and the 1st against the open 4th string, the same note an octave lower.

The tuning is also one string away from Open D: from there, raise the 3rd string up a half step, F# to G, and you have DADGAD.

What DADGAD (Celtic) is good for

Beloved in Celtic and folk fingerstyle, and in acoustic rock for its ringing drones.

With no third in the open strings, the same drone sits under major and minor melodies alike, so a tune can lean either way without the accompaniment changing. Fret the 3rd string at the 2nd fret and the fourth drops out, leaving a bare D5. Barre all six strings at the 5th fret and the whole shape slides up as Gsus4, at the 7th as Asus4.

Famous songs in DADGAD (Celtic) tuning

The British folk guitarist Davey Graham popularised the tuning after hearing an oud player in Morocco, and Jimmy Page carried it into rock.

• Black Mountain Side — Led Zeppelin
• She Moved Through the Fair (trad.)
• Kashmir — Led Zeppelin

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