A tuning for the guitar that is not the standard tuning (E A D G B E). See 'Drop D' and 'Open G Tuning'.

Other alternative tunings:

D A D G A D (lowest to highest)

Most chords are fairly simple in this tuning. For example, a "D5" chord is as follows:

D ---
A ---
A -2-
D ---
A ---
D ---

A "G" chord is fairly similar:

D ---
B -2-
G ---
D ---
A -X-
D -X-

Remember that an "X" means that the string isn't to be played, and a number stands for which fret is to be pressed on the string.

Another tuning is E A B E B E (lowest to highest). This tuning was used by Jars of Clay for the song "Flood". Some chords in this tuning:

"E5"

E ---
B ---
E ---
B ---
B -2-
E ---

"A"

E  ---
C# -2-
E  ---
C# -2-
A  ---
E  -X-

Other chords can be worked out by studying the chords on a standard tuning, and studying the string-tuning for individual strings.

A handful of well-known alternative tunings, the artists who've used them, and some links to tablature:

F#F#GGAA - Sonic Youth(nearly complete tab archive at http://www.sonicyouth.com/mustang/tab/index.html), Archers of Loaf

CGDGBB - Pavement,Thurston Moore

DAEF#AD - "Dadd9" tuning. Joni Mitchell, among others.

CGBbEbFBb - Weird one. Joni Mitchell on "Sex Kills"

CGCGCE - "Open C". John Fahey (see http://www.johnfahey.com/CTuning.htm for an absolutely hilarious lesson.)

DADF#AD - Fahey, "Poor Boy Long Ways From Home" (http://www.johnfahey.com/TabPoorBoyLWFH.htm)

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