Honestly?

Required String Notes:D - A - D - A - C# - E

How to Tune from Standard to DADAC#E Tuning

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

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	A3	Tune up a whole step
String 2	B3	C#4	Tune up 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

"Honestly?" by American Football is played in DADAC#E Tuning (D - A - D - A - C# - E). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 3 up to A, string 2 up to C#. Some strings go down and others go up, so the tension shifts across the neck. 16 other songs in our catalog use DADAC#E Tuning.

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Tunings Close to DADAC#E Tuning

Already tuned to D - A - D - A - C# - E? These tunings are just one small change away.

Name Alt-Tuning28 songs

D - A - E - A - C# - EOnly string 4 differs: E instead of D.

Custom Tuning (DADABE)12 songs

DADABEOnly string 2 differs: B instead of C#.

Custom Tuning (DADADE)8 songs

DADADEOnly string 2 differs: D instead of C#.

Custom Tuning (CGCGBD)3 songs

CGCGBDSame chord shapes, every string a whole step lower.

American Football’s Guitar Tunings

American Football plays 1 of 9 songs in our catalog in DADAC#E Tuning. Most-used tunings:

Never Meant / Midwest EmoF - A - C - G - C - E4 songs
Custom Tuning (EAC#G#BE)EAC#G#BE1 song
DADAC#E TuningD - A - D - A - C# - E1 song
Custom Tuning (EBD#F#BD#)EBD#F#BD#1 song
Custom Tuning (DAEABE)DAEABE1 song

Gear for DADAC#E Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "Honestly?" in DADAC#E 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.

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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“Honestly?” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Honestly?" by American Football in?

"Honestly?" is played in DADAC#E Tuning: D - A - D - A - C# - E, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Honestly?"?

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