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Step 1
Use a guitar that is already tuned with concert EADGBE tuning. These letters represent the notes that the open (unfretted) strings will play, beginning with the thickest string and ending with the thinnest string.
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Step 2
Form an A chord with a guitar using the tuning in Step 1. This chord is familiar to guitarists and requires the second, third and fourth highest strings to be fretted at the second fret.
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Step 3
Tune to open A by raising the pitch of the second, third and fourth strings by two half-steps. The guitar will now play an A chord without any fretting required. However, the heightened tension greatly increases the chances of these strings breaking.
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Step 4
Keep the same voicing on the guitar while reducing the tension on the strings that were tightened in Step 3. Lower all strings one full step from the open A tuning achieved in Step 3.
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Step 5
Observe the net change from concert tuning to open G tuning. The first, fifth and sixth strings are lowered one full step, giving a tuning of DGDGBD. Note that this gives a voicing of the fifth note, root note, fifth note, root note, third note and fifth note. This reduction in tension may require the two lowest strings to be replaced with heavier gauge strings.
