Open D tuning is one of the most popular choices for slide guitar – and for good reason. The tuning gives you that rich, full chord sound the moment you lay the slide across the strings.
But here’s what most players miss: the real magic happens when you combine your rhythm playing with slide parts. That’s what separates the players who sound like they’re “doing slide guitar” from the ones who sound like they’ve been playing it for years.
The Open D Tuning (Quick Refresher)
Your strings are tuned to: D – A – D – F# – A – D (low to high). Those six notes together form a D major chord – so when you strum all open strings, you’re already playing music.
One thing I love about this tuning: your 6th and 5th strings form a perfect fifth. Bar them anywhere on the neck and you’ve got a power chord, just like in standard tuning. This is one of the beauties of Open D – you can get your guitar sounding like more than one guitar playing.
The I-IV-V Positions You Need to Know
In any key, the I-IV-V chords are your bread and butter. In Open D:
I chord (D): Open position (or 12th fret)
IV chord (G): 5th fret
V chord (A): 7th fret
The octave at the 12th fret is crucial for slide work. You can’t slide down to an open string – but you can slide down to the 12th fret and get the same chord. This gives you room to add those expressive slides and vibrato that make slide guitar sound so good.
Once you’ve got these positions down, you can use them to play a 12 bar blues in Open D – the most common progression you’ll encounter in blues music.
Watch: Combining Rhythm and Slide in Open D
The key is using those power chord shapes on the bottom strings to establish the groove, then jumping up to the higher strings for your slide phrases. You’ve got to use the slide in its full effect – milk it for what it’s worth.
The Major Sixth Trick
Here’s a technique Colin uses constantly: playing the perfect fifth on the 6th and 5th strings, then adding the major sixth. This creates a fuller sound that works beautifully for rhythm parts.
You can apply this to your I-IV-V changes:
D major sixth → G major sixth → back to D major sixth → up to A major sixth → G major sixth → D major sixth
This gives you a complete chord progression using just two strings and some simple movement. It’s a great way to keep the rhythm solid while leaving room for slide fills on the higher strings.
Arpeggiating the Chord
One technique I use constantly: instead of just barring the chord, try picking out individual notes from the upper register. This is called arpeggiating – you’re taking the notes of the chord and playing them separately.
At the 12th fret (your octave position), you can create some beautiful melodic phrases just by picking through the chord tones. Slide up to them, add a little vibrato – but here’s the key: you’ve got to resolve on the pitch and end on pitch. That’s what separates clean slide playing from sloppy slide playing.
Putting It All Together
The goal is to combine your bass/rhythm parts with slide fills seamlessly. Play the power chord and major sixth on the bottom end to get that groove going, then move up and answer with a slide phrase. This “call and response” between rhythm and lead is what makes slide guitar come alive.
If you want an even bluesier sound, check out Open D7 tuning – it’s a variation that adds that dominant 7th tone right into the open strings.
Want to Play Slide Guitar? Start Here (Free)
Most people grab a slide and get frustrated within five minutes. There's a reason for that, and it's easy to correct once you know the secret!
I've put together a short series of free video lessons that will get you playing slide the right way. You'll learn the best tuning to start with (hint: it's not standard!), how to lay down a mean rhythm with your slide, and why slide guitar can actually be easier than normal guitar once you know the trick.
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