50 Best Songs in Open G Tuning (2025 With Tabs & Videos)

If you’ve never played in Open G tuning before, this article has everything you need to get started! We’ve also put together an awesome list of songs in open G tuning with video lessons and tabs included.

We’ll start by getting our guitars into tune using the visual guide above. Start with your guitar tuned to standard tuning, EADGBE, and then drop your low E string, A string, and your high E string each down one whole step resulting in DGDGBD tuning, aka “Open G.” If you’d like to watch a video on how to do this, check out this video lesson.

Now that we are in tune, let’s jump into some fantastic songs to learn, but if you need additional help understanding Open G, step-by-step instructions on getting in tune, or tips and tricks to keep in mind when playing, be sure to check out my comprehensive guide to open G tuning below the songs list at the bottom of the page.

List of Open G Songs

1. That’s The Way by Led Zeppelin

Key	F# Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See That’s The Way Tabs Here

When you hear the name “Led Zeppelin,” you might think about something that is highly energetic, maybe even fast-paced sometimes, but this particular song takes a different path, and the already-mentioned band’s using a completely different approach – it has more of a folky sound, which again makes the record stand out from many of their songs.

Instrumentally, the track consists of a very interesting acoustic song created by implementing different techniques, such as sliding. The song isn’t so hard to learn, but you really have to feel the tempo of the song, which is 92 BPM, because usually, it is the key to turning any melody into a very good-sounding piece of music. Also, the song is written in the key of F# Major, which is the one I often see in such songs.

2. Sting Me by The Black Crowes

Key	C Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Sting Me Tabs Here

This is a song by the rock band called “The Black Crowes,” which is featured on their second studio album, released in 1992. The feeling given by the blues and rock atmosphere is a characteristic feature of the band’s general sound, making it worth listening to.

I think that the influence of bands such as The Rolling Stones can clearly be heard in the track’s energetic instrumentation, which features the guitar sound in this very particular and interesting tuning this list is about. That’s why many chords have their own specific way of playing, and most of them are just simple barre-shapes, which are really movable and suitable for playing around with. You don’t even have to use a capo in order to get the exact sound featured on the recording; therefore, it’s really easy to play this song when you don’t have access to such tools.

3. Tumbling Dice by The Rolling Stones

Key	B Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Tumbling Dice Tabs Here

Time to get to the immortal classics again. The song is a composition written by the members of The Rolling Stones. I guess that most people on Earth are familiar with the works created by these musicians, which definitely deserve our respect and attention.

“Tumbling Dice” is known for its bluesy vibe, which is a characteristic feature of the pieces of art created by the band itself. The guitar riff is in a very interesting key for such a song, which is B Major, around which the chord progression, featuring some interesting movements and techniques you should definitely learn, revolves around and is built in. You don’t need to use a capo for this particular song.

4. Running on Faith by Eric Clapton

Key	G Major
Genre	Blues
Tabs	See Running on Faith Tabs Here

One of the most influential blues artists is on our list again. Eric Clapton’s “Running on Faith” has become a legend in the field of music that dwells in the genre of the standard blues.

The song itself is a ballad, so it speaks on the topics of love, relationships, etc. Respectively, I can say, relying on my personal experience, that such things as meaning usually deeply influence the instrumental sound, so this composition is not an exception. The song will require you to explore itself for a little bit longer since not only does it feature many chords and a very interesting chord progression, but it also includes some interesting hand movements that you’ll certainly have to practice.

5. Come On in My Kitchen by Robert Johnson

Key	Bb Major
Genre	Blues
Tabs	See Come On in My Kitchen Tabs Here

Time for really early steps within the framework of blues music. The song was produced in 1936, which is absolutely impressive because you most likely don’t see that sort of music frequently these days, especially considering that vinyl has become way less popular, streaming services recommend totally different pieces of music, etc.

“Come On in My Kitchen” is a classic soulful blues track; therefore, it features a very classic and standard raw bluesy sound, which is perfect for people who truly appreciate that, and especially for guitar players who can analyze it better due to that fact. Also, the song might seem really hard for beginners, in my opinion, but it’ll be suitable for intermediate players who already have some experience under their belt. This is one of my personal favorite songs in Open G because I’m a big Robert Johnson fan.

6. Wonderful Life by Alter Bridge

Key	G Major
Genre	Progressive metal
Tabs	See Wonderful Life Tabs Here

The next song was a pretty rare one, but that doesn’t mean it’s worse or better. I discovered it not long ago, and I found the song contains a lot of energy inside and is unique because of the distinct sound that the band itself produces in most of their songs. Just give it a shot, and if you like it, you can always learn it.

As you can see in the actual tab, the verses there consist of two parts, each of which is pretty unique and interesting to learn and play around with. Try to feel the song, and especially enjoy the fact that you’ll have the possibility to enjoy the sound of open strings because you don’t have to use a capo here.

7. Elephants by Them Crooked Vultures

Key	Bb Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Elephants Tabs Here

The next one is a song by the band Them Crooked Vultures, formed by rock legends Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age on vocals and guitar, Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters and Nirvana on drums and backing vocals, and John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin on bass guitar and keyboards. Therefore, you can already predict that it is going to be an amazing pick if you ever want to explore new pieces of music because these people really know what they’re doing.

“Elephants” is a very dynamically rich track, especially when played at its original tempo of 176 BPM, which is really fast and lively. This one isn’t based only on a single chord progression: it has a riff that you can even spend some time practicing with since it’s more like one for intermediate players.

8. High Speed by Coldplay

Key	G Minor
Genre	Alternative
Tabs	See High Speed Tabs Here

Coldplay has proven to be a very great band whose music has survived for years and years, and the next track can only expand this statement and bring it to a further extent.

“High Speed” is not a regular song of theirs; it features a perfect combination of things that together can make a perfect alternative song: a vibey instrumental track, cool vocals, and a very interesting key, which is, in the given situation, G minor, creating a fascinating tandem with the Open G tuning we’re focusing on. Don’t be surprised by the number of various chords and their extensions; the song isn’t for beginners but, in my opinion, is perfect for intermediate players that want to expand their arsenal of songs they can play.

9. Hand of Fate by The Rolling Stones

Key	C Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Tabs Here

The next one is by the iconic British rock band, The Rolling Stones. The song was meticulously shaped by the members of the band, so the teamwork usually brings out a great type of synergy that yields to a good-quality sound of a piece of music or a piece of lyric.

The composition itself, from the perspective of the melody, has a very bluesy feeling, which is a really good feat for this particular tuning we’re talking about since it is the one that perfectly conveys the appropriate mood. If the key of C Major might bring you some thoughts related to the simplicity of the song, check out the actual tab and figure out that it has many interesting fills and movements that truly make it sound gorgeous. The Rolling Stones has a number of Open G songs, but this is probably my favorite to play on guitar.

10. South City Midnight Lady by The Doobie Brothers

Key	C Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See South City Midnight Lady Tabs Here

The next song was created by the rock band called “The Doobie Brothers” in 1973. Patrick Simmons is not only the one who wrote it but also who is also the band’s guitarist; therefore, it’s more likely that he was especially focused on the guitar sound itself.

It is a very interesting and groovy track that makes you feel a little bit relaxed, but if you are actually the one who is playing the song on the guitar at the moment, you should better be focused on the sound you get out of your instrument, especially considering the fact that the guitar part features pull-offs and hammer-ons, so concentrate on making these movements sound as clear as possible in order to get the best out of your performance.

11. Evergreen by The Black Crowes

Key	D Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Evergreen Tabs Here

This particular song by The Black Crowes, an American rock band, conveys the rock vibe of the 80s, as many really good songs of that time do; therefore, it may be a good choice to get your hands on when next time picking a song to listen to.

The band is known for its bluesy sound, which this song perfectly fits into and doesn’t feel out of place at all. You might have never heard about this exact one by the band because usually it’s passed by; however, the composition is really good, and you should definitely listen to it. The song incorporates a cool chord progression in the key of D major, combined with great simple fills that make the melody sound diverse and interesting.

12. Black Door by The Black Keys

Key	G Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Black Door Tabs Here

This is a very interesting one because it was created by the band “The Black Keys,” which is a rock duo. That particular fact makes it really cool because of the vibe such bands usually convey, especially when the relationship between two people doesn’t disturb their creations.

The greatest part of the whole song is its riff, which is really unusual for such a tuning as Open G; therefore, it’d be a great one to expand the variety of melodies and songs you can play. Don’t forget to use slide movements to yield more to the particular vibe of the composition. You’ll also need to use such techniques as vibrato, hammer-ons, pull-offs, etc., so don’t forget to practice more and more in order not to encounter trouble while playing the song.

13. Bad To The Bone by George Thorogood & The Destroyers

Key	G Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Bad To The Bone Tabs Here

This one is a classic rock song by George Thorogood & The Destroyers, released in 1982 as part of their eponymous album. The song contains a very recognizable edgy and energetic guitar riff, which is not a very often thing for songs written not in the Standard Tuning.

The song became well-known due to its catchy chorus and instrumentation used there. This one features slide movements, an upbeat sound created by the tempo of 147 BPM used there, and the cherry on top is the key of G Major, creating a very powerful sound which the main chord progression revolves around.

14. Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip

Key	G Major
Genre	Pop Rock
Tabs	See Bobcaygeon Tabs Here

Time for some Canadian rock songs! This one is by the band called “The Tragically Hip,” released in 1998 as part of their sixth studio album. The song was also written with not only one person but the whole band, so the synergy there should certainly yield a great sound and meaning to the composition.

“Bobcaygeon” is widely regarded as one of The Tragically Hip’s most beloved and iconic songs, and no wonder why: the song features an amazing combination of the genres of folk-rock and alternative rock, so loved by many people around the world. The guitar sound is very jangly here, and it uses chords such as Bm, C, G, Em, Am, and D, perfectly adding up to the main feeling conveyed by the key of the composition.

15. Misunderstood by Wilco

Key	D Major
Genre	Alternative
Tabs	See Misunderstood Tabs Here

Of course, I couldn’t pass the alternative genre by; the next song is one by the American alternative rock band Wilco, which is featured on their critically acclaimed album “Being There.” The band is a great example of how to really be creative, mix certain genres, and use different tunings.

This certain composition represents a standout track itself, also showcasing the band’s tendency for exploration and poetic songwriting. Since the track features a combination of such genres as folk-rock, country, alternative rock, etc., it really changes the way the guitar is exposed to the listener. The thing I personally like about it is the mixture of open strings’ sound and the use of pull-offs and hammer-ons, which yields a very distinct sound.

16. Down Down by Status Quo

Key	E Major
Genre	Rock
Tabs	See Down Down Tabs Here

The next song is called “Down Down,” and it is a rock composition by the band Status Quo, which was released in 1974. The song was again written by more than one person, which sometimes makes a song more elaborated and thoughtful.

The combination has become one of the most known tracks in their discography; therefore, you might have already heard about it.

Speaking of the instrumental part, you can find it very interesting because not only does it feature the tuning of Open G, but you will also need to put your capo on the 4th fret in order to replicate the original sound of the recording. This can really make you think of the guitar part in a different way now, especially while listening to the song consciously and analyzing each part of it.

17. I Can’t Be Satisfied by Muddy Waters

Key	D Major
Genre	Blues
Tabs	See I Can’t Be Satisfied Tabs Here

I bet that if you’ve ever been exploring blues music, you’ve already heard of such a great representative of creators in this particular field of music as Muddy Waters. “I Can’t Be Satisfied” is his blues song. It was one of his early recordings (released in 1948), and it marked the beginning of his successful career as a blues artist.

The guitar sound is very traditional for such a song: a cool riff that features slides and certain periods and sections where you really need to let some notes ring for a little longer, whereas for some of the notes, this lifespan may be a little shorter. As many blues songs do, the composition features some moments of longing and personal struggles that can be picked up by your ear, not only in terms of the instrumentation but also the meaning put into the track.

18. Uprising by Muse

Key	B Minor
Genre	Alternative
Tabs	See Uprising Tabs Here

This certain band is very popular among guitarists and just people who are interested in deconstructing songs and analyzing them. “Uprising” is a song by the English rock band Muse, released in 2009.

The song was written by the band’s frontman, Matthew Bellamy, who is a very skilled guitarist; therefore, from this point on, you can easily tell that the actual sound featured on the recording is really good and worth listening to and paying attention to analytically. The most interesting part is that the song is in the key of B Minor, which is a very unusual one to reach the sound using such a tuning as Open G. In order to make the guitar part sound cleaner, you have to acquire the skill of muting certain notes when playing certain chords in the song’s chord progression.

19. Hello, I’m In Delaware by City and Col

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