It Takes a Year

Required String Notes:D - G - D - G - A - D

How to Tune from Standard to DGDGAD Tuning

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 4 of 6 strings to play “It Takes a Year”:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	D2	Tune down a whole step
String 5	A2	G2	Tune down a whole step
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

"It Takes a Year" by Will Ackerman is played in DGDGAD Tuning (D - G - D - G - A - D). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 4 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 5 down to G, string 2 down to A, string 1 down to D. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 2 semitones down. 8 other songs in our catalog use DGDGAD Tuning.

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Tunings Close to DGDGAD Tuning

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

Open G Tuning59 songs

D - G - D - G - B - DOnly string 2 differs: B instead of A.

DADGAD Celtic Tuning44 songs

D - A - D - G - A - DOnly string 5 differs: A instead of G.

Open G Minor11 songs

D - G - D - G - Bb - DOnly string 2 differs: A# instead of A.

Custom Tuning (DGDF#AD)8 songs

DGDF#ADOnly string 3 differs: F# instead of G.

Will Ackerman’s Guitar Tunings

Will Ackerman plays 1 of 3 songs in our catalog in DGDGAD Tuning. Most-used tunings:

Custom Tuning (C#G#C#G#C#E)C#G#C#G#C#E1 song
DGDGAD TuningD - G - D - G - A - D1 song
Custom Tuning (EAEGBE)EAEGBE1 song

Gear for DGDGAD Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "It Takes a Year" in DGDGAD 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 4 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

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“It Takes a Year” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "It Takes a Year" by Will Ackerman in?

"It Takes a Year" is played in DGDGAD Tuning: D - G - D - G - A - D, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "It Takes a Year"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 5: tune down a whole step (A2 → G2). 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.