Keith Richards has always loved this one, and has written many classic Rolling Stones riffs in open G. Many slide players also prefer open G, which is tuned to a G major chord.
Tuning Tips
- Start by tuning your sixth string down a tone to D. Check the tuning with the fourth (D) string.
- Then tune your fifth string down a tone to G. Check the tuning with the third (G) string.
- Lastly, tune your first string down a tone to D. Check the tuning with the fourth (D) string.
Tab of Songs in This Tuning...
Start Me Up - Classic Rolling Stones riff played in open G tuning. Note that Keith Richards removed the lowest string from his telecaster for this song (and many others), so the notation only includes notes on the top five strings.
Honkytonk Women - More open G tuning from the Rolling Stones. Scroll down to the bottom of the tab to see the proper way to play the song.
Other Resources
Chords in Open G - Alan Horvath provides quite a few different usable chord shapes, with diagrams, for use in open G tuning.
YouTube Open G Video Lesson - Justin Sandercoe has put together a nice video lesson describing how to play licks by the Dandy Warhols and the Rolling Stones in open G tuning.
