Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar

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

How to Tune from Standard to Open G Tuning

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 3 of 6 strings to play “Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar”:

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

"Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar" by The Rolling Stones is played in Open G Tuning (D - 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. The Rolling Stones uses this same tuning on 6 other songs in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

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Tunings Close to Open G Tuning

Already tuned to D - 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.

The Rolling Stones’s Guitar Tunings

The Rolling Stones plays 7 of 10 songs in our catalog in Open G Tuning. Most-used tunings:

Open G TuningD - G - D - G - B - D7 songs
Nashville Tuning (High-Strung)E - A - D - G - B - E (High)1 song
Open E TuningE - B - E - G# - B - E1 song
Open E Minor (Cross-Note) TuningE - B - E - G - B - E1 song

Gear for Open G Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar" in Open G 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.

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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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“Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar" by The Rolling Stones in?

"Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar" is played in Open G Tuning: D - G - D - G - B - D, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Brown Sugar Keiths Guitar"?

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.

What string gauge should I use for Open G Tuning?

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

Which other The Rolling Stones songs use this tuning?

"Start Me Up", "Honky Tonk Women", "Brown Sugar", "Cant You Hear Me Knockin Keiths Guitar", "Honkey Tonk Woman Keiths Guitar", "Start Me Up Keiths Guitar" — all in D - G - D - G - B - D, so you can play them without retuning.