goin back

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 “goin back”:

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

"goin back" by Neil Young 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. 43 other songs in our catalog use DADGAD Celtic Tuning.

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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.

Neil Young’s Guitar Tunings

Neil Young plays 1 of 11 songs in our catalog in DADGAD Celtic Tuning. Most-used tunings:

Double Drop D TuningD - A - D - G - B - D2 songs
D Standard / Whole-Step DownD - G - C - F - A - D2 songs
Custom Tuning (CGCFAC)CGCFAC2 songs
Drop D TuningD - A - D - G - B - E1 song
Drop C TuningC - G - C - F - A - D1 song

Gear for DADGAD Celtic Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "goin back" 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.

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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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“goin back” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "goin back" by Neil Young in?

"goin back" 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 "goin back"?

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.