Buddha on the Hill

byDavid Crosby (Lighthouse Band)

Required String Notes:DACGAE

Tune to Custom Tuning (DACGAE)

Play each string and match the pitch using your microphone. Targets are set to this song’s exact tuning (DACGAE).

Custom Tuning (DACGAE)

±0

Target: 73.4 Hz

-50WAITING+50

D73

A110

C131

G196

A220

E330

How to Tune from Standard to Custom Tuning (DACGAE)

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 3 of 6 strings to play “Buddha on the Hill”:

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	C3	Tune down a whole step
String 3	G3	G3	Leave as is
String 2	B3	A3	Tune down a whole step
String 1	E4	E4	Leave as is

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

"Buddha on the Hill" by David Crosby (Lighthouse Band) is played in Custom Tuning (DACGAE) (DACGAE). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 4 down to C, string 2 down to A. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 2 semitones down. David Crosby (Lighthouse Band) uses this same tuning on 1 other song in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

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Tunings Close to Custom Tuning (DACGAE)

Already tuned to DACGAE? These tunings are just one small change away.

Custom Tuning (DADGAE)6 songs

DADGAEOnly string 4 differs: D instead of C.

DACGCE3 songs

D - A - C - G - C - EOnly string 2 differs: C instead of A.

Custom Tuning (FACGAE)2 songs

FACGAEOnly string 6 differs: F instead of D.

David Crosby (Lighthouse Band)’s Guitar Tunings

David Crosby (Lighthouse Band) plays 2 of 2 songs in our catalog in Custom Tuning (DACGAE). Most-used tunings:

Custom Tuning (DACGAE)DACGAE2 songs

Gear for Custom Tuning (DACGAE)

Strings and tools that make playing "Buddha on the Hill" in Custom Tuning (DACGAE) 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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“Buddha on the Hill” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Buddha on the Hill" by David Crosby (Lighthouse Band) in?

"Buddha on the Hill" is played in Custom Tuning (DACGAE): DACGAE, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Buddha on the Hill"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 4: tune down a whole step (D3 → C3). String 2: tune down a whole step (B3 → A3). Leave the other strings as they are.