Open G (GDGD) Tuning
Tune your viola to Open G (GDGD) — G3, D4, G4, D4
About Open G (GDGD) Tuning
Open G tuning (G3-D4-G4-D4) rearranges the viola's strings to produce a G5 power chord when played open. The C string is raised from C3 to G3 (though in practice the standard G3 string remains, and the C string is tuned up), the G string stays at G3... actually, looking at the note assignments: the four strings become G3-D4-G4-D4. This means the lowest string is raised from C3 to G3, the second string stays at G3... Let me clarify: with G3 on the lowest string, D4 on the second, G4 on the third, and D4 on the fourth, the tuning creates alternating G and D notes that ring as a pure open fifth across the entire instrument.
Open G tuning has deep roots in folk music traditions around the world. On the violin, Open G (GDGB or GDGD variants) is a staple of old-time Appalachian fiddling, Scottish Highland music, and Scandinavian folk traditions. Adapted to the viola's lower range, Open G produces a particularly warm, resonant drone that suits modal folk melodies beautifully. The tuning encourages a style of playing where open strings ring continuously beneath melodic lines, creating a self-accompanying texture that a single player can sustain without any harmonic accompaniment.
The symmetrical structure of Open G — with its alternating G and D notes — simplifies many aspects of viola technique while complicating others. Double stops in fifths become trivially easy since adjacent strings are already a fifth apart, and drone-based playing requires minimal left-hand effort. However, standard scale patterns must be entirely relearned, and some keys become significantly more difficult to access. Players who adopt Open G typically develop a specialized repertoire of folk tunes, improvisations, and contemporary pieces that exploit the tuning's unique strengths.
String Notes
Recommended Strings
The most significant change in Open G is that the lowest string must be tuned up from C3 to G3, a dramatic increase in pitch that places considerable extra tension on the string. A standard C string may not withstand this increase or may produce a thin, strained tone at the higher pitch. Consider using a G string from a standard set in the lowest position. The remaining strings require less adjustment — the D4 stays at standard pitch, the A4 is lowered to G4, and the top D4 means the highest string drops significantly from A4. Use medium-tension strings for the upper positions and experiment to find a comfortable balance.
How to Tune to Open G (GDGD)
- 1.Start from standard CGDA tuning. This tuning involves significant changes to three of the four strings, so proceed carefully.
- 2.Tune the C string (lowest) up from C3 to G3 (196.00 Hz). This is a large upward adjustment — a perfect fifth. Raise the pitch gradually to avoid breaking the string. If using a standard C string, monitor the tension carefully.
- 3.The G string (second string) remains at G3 — no adjustment needed. Verify it is in tune at 196.00 Hz. Note that you now have two strings at the same pitch (G3), which will create a unison or near-unison effect.
- 4.Tune the D string (third string) up from D4 to G4 (392.00 Hz). This is a significant raise — a perfect fourth. Again, increase the pitch gradually.
- 5.Tune the A string (highest) down from A4 to D4 (293.66 Hz). This is a large downward adjustment. Verify the final tuning: G3-D4-G4-D4, with alternating fifths and fourths between adjacent strings.
Best Keys for Open G (GDGD)
G Major
The home key — the open strings provide the root and fifth of a G chord. Melodies in G flow naturally over the open-string drone, and simple fingerings produce complete harmonies.
G Minor
Achieved by adding a Bb on the appropriate string. The open G-D fifth is tonally neutral, supporting minor as naturally as major.
D Major
The dominant key, with the open D strings providing the tonic. Alternating between G and D drones is a fundamental technique in folk music using this tuning.
C Major
The subdominant key. Accessible through first-position fingering, with the open G functioning as the fifth of the chord for natural resonance.