Breaking Away

Required String Notes:C - G - D - G - B - D

How to Tune from Standard to Open G Variant

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

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	D2	Tune down a whole step
String 5	A2	G2	Tune down a whole step
String 4	D3	D3	Leave as is
String 3	G3	G3	Leave as is
String 2	B3	B3	Leave as is
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

"Breaking Away" by Owen is played in Open G Variant (C - G - D - G - B - D). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 5 down to G, string 1 down to D. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 2 semitones down. Owen 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 Open G Variant

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

Open A Tuning20 songs

E - A - E - A - C# - ESame chord shapes, every string a whole step higher.

DGDGBE Tuning (Open G6)17 songs

D - G - D - G - B - EOnly string 1 differs: E instead of D.

Double Drop D Tuning14 songs

D - A - D - G - B - DOnly string 5 differs: A instead of G.

Open G Minor11 songs

D - G - D - G - Bb - DOnly string 2 differs: A# instead of B.

Owen’s Guitar Tunings

Owen plays 3 of 12 songs in our catalog in Open G Variant. Most-used tunings:

Open G TuningD - G - D - G - B - D3 songs
DADGAD Celtic TuningD - A - D - G - A - D2 songs
DADEAD TuningD - A - D - E - A - D1 song
CGCGCD Tuning (Csus2 Modal)C - G - C - G - C - D1 song
Open C TuningC - G - C - G - C - E1 song

Gear for Open G Variant

Strings and tools that make playing "Breaking Away" in Open G Variant 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.

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“Breaking Away” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Breaking Away" by Owen in?

"Breaking Away" is played in Open G Variant: C - G - D - G - B - D, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Breaking Away"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 5: tune down a whole step (A2 → G2). String 1: tune down a whole step (E4 → D4). Leave the other strings as they are.