34 Recorded Songs•6 Unique Tunings

Dream Theater Guitar Tunings

Dream Theater has used standard and alternate guitar tunings across their recorded discography. Below you will find 34 songs with exact string notes and tuning configurations.

Tune Your Guitar

Dream Theater Songs & Guitar Tunings

Filter:

Showing 34 of 34 matching songs

Song Title	Tuning required	Genre / Style	Tune Now
A Change of Seasons	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
a nightmare to remember	C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning	Alternative / Rock	Tune
As I Am	C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning	Alternative / Rock	Tune
At Wits End	D - G - C - F - A - DD Standard / Whole-Step Down	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Blind Faith	ADGCEACustom Tuning (ADGCEA)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Bridges In The Sky	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Build Me Up Break Me Down	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Caught in a Web	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Endless Sacrifice	D - G - C - F - A - DD Standard / Whole-Step Down	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Fall Into The Light	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
False Awakening Suite	GCFA#D#GCCustom Tuning (GCFA#D#GC)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Honor Thy Father	C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Illumination Theory	ADGCFADCustom Tuning (ADGCFAD)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
In The Name Of God	C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Just Let Me Breathe	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Lie	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Misunderstood	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Overture 1928	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Pale Blue Dot	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Paralyzed	Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbMeshuggah 7-String (Bb Standard)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Raw Dog	ADGCFADCustom Tuning (ADGCFAD)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Stream Of Consciousness	Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbHalf-Step Down / Eb Standard	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Bigger Picture	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Dance of Eternity	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Dark Eternal Night	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Glass Prison	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Mirror	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Root Of All Evil	Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbHalf-Step Down / Eb Standard	Alternative / Rock	Tune
The Shattered Fortress	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
These Walls	ADGCEACustom Tuning (ADGCEA)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
This Dying Soul	B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Untethered Angel	C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Viper King	AEADGBECustom Tuning (AEADGBE)	Alternative / Rock	Tune
Wither	Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbMeshuggah 7-String (Bb Standard)	Alternative / Rock	Tune

A Change of SeasonsAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

a nightmare to rememberAlternative / Rock

C Standard Tuning

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C

As I AmAlternative / Rock

C Standard Tuning

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C

At Wits EndAlternative / Rock

D Standard / Whole-Step Down

D - G - C - F - A - D

Blind FaithAlternative / Rock

Custom Tuning (ADGCEA)

Bridges In The SkyAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Build Me Up Break Me DownAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Caught in a WebAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Endless SacrificeAlternative / Rock

D Standard / Whole-Step Down

D - G - C - F - A - D

Fall Into The LightAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

False Awakening SuiteAlternative / Rock

Custom Tuning (GCFA#D#GC)

Honor Thy FatherAlternative / Rock

C Standard Tuning

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C

Illumination TheoryAlternative / Rock

Custom Tuning (ADGCFAD)

In The Name Of GodAlternative / Rock

C Standard Tuning

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C

Just Let Me BreatheAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

LieAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

MisunderstoodAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Overture 1928Alternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Pale Blue DotAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

ParalyzedAlternative / Rock

Meshuggah 7-String (Bb Standard)

Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

Raw DogAlternative / Rock

Custom Tuning (ADGCFAD)

Stream Of ConsciousnessAlternative / Rock

Half-Step Down / Eb Standard

Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

The Bigger PictureAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

The Dance of EternityAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

The Dark Eternal NightAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

The Glass PrisonAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

The MirrorAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

The Root Of All EvilAlternative / Rock

Half-Step Down / Eb Standard

Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

The Shattered FortressAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

These WallsAlternative / Rock

Custom Tuning (ADGCEA)

This Dying SoulAlternative / Rock

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

Untethered AngelAlternative / Rock

C Standard Tuning

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C

Viper KingAlternative / Rock

Custom Tuning (AEADGBE)

WitherAlternative / Rock

Meshuggah 7-String (Bb Standard)

Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

Dream Theater's Most Used Tunings

17 songsTuning Profile

7-String Standard B

B - E - A - D - G - B - E

View tuning & songs

6 songsTuning Profile

Custom Tuning (ADGCEA)

ADGCEA

View tuning & songs

5 songsTuning Profile

C Standard Tuning

C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C

View tuning & songs

2 songsTuning Profile

D Standard / Whole-Step Down

D - G - C - F - A - D

View tuning & songs

2 songsTuning Profile

Meshuggah 7-String (Bb Standard)

Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

View tuning & songs

2 songsTuning Profile

Half-Step Down / Eb Standard

Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb

View tuning & songs

String Pitch Guide: 7-String Standard B

Primary tuning reference used for 17 songs in Dream Theater's catalog.

String #Pitch NoteVisual Gauge

6B

5E

4A

3D

2G

1B

Dream Theater Guitar Tuning Overview

Dream Theater utilizes a dynamic selection of guitar tunings to achieve distinct voice leading, open resonance, and chord voicings across their music. While standard tuning forms the foundation for many tracks, alternate tunings—such as drop tunings and open tunings—play a pivotal role in shaping their signature guitar sound.

Using our interactive tuner above, you can inspect each string note required for Dream Theater songs, tune your guitar using microphone pitch detection, and explore chord voicings for each song.

Explore Similar Artists

Bring Me The Horizon

Type O Negative

Popular Guitar Tunings

In Your Atmosphere / Esus2 Tuning (E - B - E - F# - B - E)Neon Tuning (Drop C Acoustic) (C - A - D - G - B - E)Iris Tuning (B - D - D - D - D - D)Name Alt-Tuning (D - A - E - A - C# - E)Never Going Back Again (Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb)Never Meant / Midwest Emo (F - A - C - G - C - E)Pink Moon Modal (C - G - C - F - C - E)Nick Drake Modal (DADF#AE) (D - A - D - F# - A - E)Teen Age Riot Noise (G - A - B - D - E - G)Drop C + Low A (A - G - C - F - A - D)Standard E (E - A - D - G - B - E)Half-Step Down / Eb Standard (Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb)