Illinois Blues

Required String Notes:D - A - D - F - A - D

How to Tune from Standard to Open D Minor / Crossnote

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

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	F3	Tune down a whole step
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

"Illinois Blues" by Skip James is played in Open D Minor / Crossnote (D - A - D - F - A - D). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 4 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 3 down to F, string 2 down to A, string 1 down to D. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 2 semitones down. Skip James uses this same tuning on 3 other songs in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.

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Tunings Close to Open D Minor / Crossnote

Already tuned to D - A - D - F - 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 F.

DADGAD Celtic Tuning44 songs

D - A - D - G - A - DOnly string 3 differs: G instead of F.

DADDAD (Bruce Palmer Modal)17 songs

D - A - D - D - A - DOnly string 3 differs: D instead of F.

DADEAD Tuning17 songs

D - A - D - E - A - DOnly string 3 differs: E instead of F.

Skip James’s Guitar Tunings

Skip James plays 4 of 4 songs in our catalog in Open D Minor / Crossnote. Most-used tunings:

Open D Minor / CrossnoteD - A - D - F - A - D4 songs

Gear for Open D Minor / Crossnote

Strings and tools that make playing "Illinois Blues" in Open D Minor / Crossnote 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 4 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

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“Illinois Blues” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Illinois Blues" by Skip James in?

"Illinois Blues" is played in Open D Minor / Crossnote: D - A - D - F - A - D, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Illinois Blues"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 3: tune down a whole step (G3 → F3). 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.