Black Mountain Side

Required String Notes:D - A - D - G - A - D

How to Tune from Standard to DADGAD Celtic Tuning

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 3 of 6 strings to play “Black Mountain Side”:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	D2	Tune down a whole step
String 5	A2	A2	Leave as is
String 4	D3	D3	Leave as is
String 3	G3	G3	Leave as is
String 2	B3	A3	Tune down a whole step
String 1	E4	D4	Tune down a whole step

Recommended string gauge: .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046) · affiliate link

Song Overview & Tuning Breakdown

"Black Mountain Side" by Led Zeppelin is played in DADGAD Celtic Tuning (D - A - D - G - A - D). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 2 down to A, string 1 down to D. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 2 semitones down. Led Zeppelin uses this same tuning on 2 other songs in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

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Tunings Close to DADGAD Celtic Tuning

Already tuned to D - A - D - G - A - D? These tunings are just one small change away.

Open D Tuning77 songs

D - A - D - F# - A - DOnly string 3 differs: F# instead of G.

Open D Minor / Crossnote25 songs

D - A - D - F - A - DOnly string 3 differs: F instead of G.

DADDAD (Bruce Palmer Modal)17 songs

D - A - D - D - A - DOnly string 3 differs: D instead of G.

DADEAD Tuning17 songs

D - A - D - E - A - DOnly string 3 differs: E instead of G.

Led Zeppelin’s Guitar Tunings

Led Zeppelin plays 3 of 22 songs in our catalog in DADGAD Celtic Tuning. Most-used tunings:

The Rain Song (DGCGCD)D - G - C - G - C - D4 songs
DADGAD Celtic TuningD - A - D - G - A - D3 songs
C6 Tuning (CACGCE)C - A - C - G - C - E3 songs
Standard EE - A - D - G - B - E2 songs
Open F TuningC - F - C - F - A - C2 songs

Gear for DADGAD Celtic Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "Black Mountain Side" in DADGAD Celtic Tuning easier.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046)

Recommended gauge .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.

View strings

D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

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D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 3 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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“Black Mountain Side” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Black Mountain Side" by Led Zeppelin in?

"Black Mountain Side" is played in DADGAD Celtic Tuning: D - A - D - G - A - D, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Black Mountain Side"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 2: tune down a whole step (B3 → A3). String 1: tune down a whole step (E4 → D4). Leave the other strings as they are.