DADGAD  &  Irish music

What is DADGAD? It is an alternative to standard tuning (EADGBE) in which the notes become D A D G A D, from the lowest to the highest. This is what is called an open tuning because sounding all the open strings would make a chord: Dsus4. It is a widely-used tuning in Irish and Breton music and is sometimes used in rock and pop music.

 

DADGAD tuning is useful for playing traditional music because it maintains a "drone" note permanently. Also, chords that are difficult to achieve in standard tuning can be played, including the so called "modal" chord (no 3rd) and barre chords.

​

The first guitarists of traditional Irish music to use this tuning were Mícheál Ó Domhnaill and Dáithí Sproule in the 1970s.

 

​