Good Time Acoustic

byOwl City

Required String Notes:DAEAAE

Tune to Custom Tuning (DAEAAE)

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

Custom Tuning (DAEAAE)

±0

Target: 73.4 Hz

-50WAITING+50

D73

A110

E165

A220

E330

How to Tune from Standard to Custom Tuning (DAEAAE)

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 4 of 6 strings to play “Good Time Acoustic”:

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	E3	Tune up a whole step
String 3	G3	A3	Tune up a whole step
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

"Good Time Acoustic" by Owl City is played in Custom Tuning (DAEAAE) (DAEAAE). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 4 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 4 up to E, string 3 up to A, string 2 down to A. Some strings go down and others go up, so the tension shifts across the neck. Owl City uses this same tuning on 1 other song in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

Looking for tabs or chords?Search Ultimate Guitar

Tunings Close to Custom Tuning (DAEAAE)

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

Name Alt-Tuning28 songs

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

Custom Tuning (DAEF#AE)6 songs

DAEF#AEOnly string 3 differs: F# instead of A.

Custom Tuning (DAEABE)4 songs

DAEABEOnly string 2 differs: B instead of A.

Custom Tuning (CGDGGD)3 songs

CGDGGDSame chord shapes, every string a whole step lower.

Owl City’s Guitar Tunings

Owl City plays 2 of 2 songs in our catalog in Custom Tuning (DAEAAE). Most-used tunings:

Custom Tuning (DAEAAE)DAEAAE2 songs

Gear for Custom Tuning (DAEAAE)

Strings and tools that make playing "Good Time Acoustic" in Custom Tuning (DAEAAE) 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.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 4 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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“Good Time Acoustic” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Good Time Acoustic" by Owl City in?

"Good Time Acoustic" is played in Custom Tuning (DAEAAE): DAEAAE, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Good Time Acoustic"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 4: tune up a whole step (D3 → E3). String 3: tune up a whole step (G3 → A3). String 2: tune down a whole step (B3 → A3). Leave the other strings as they are.