Roses Blue

Required String Notes:D - G - D - G - B - D

How to Tune from Standard to Open G Tuning

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

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	B3	Leave as is
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

"Roses Blue" by Joni Mitchell is played in Open G Tuning (D - G - D - G - B - D). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 5 down to G, string 1 down to D. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 2 semitones down. 58 other songs in our catalog use Open G Tuning.

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Tunings Close to Open G Tuning

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

Open A Tuning20 songs

E - A - E - A - C# - ESame chord shapes, every string a whole step higher.

DGDGBE Tuning (Open G6)17 songs

D - G - D - G - B - EOnly string 1 differs: E instead of D.

Double Drop D Tuning14 songs

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

Open G Minor11 songs

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

Joni Mitchell’s Guitar Tunings

Joni Mitchell plays 1 of 31 songs in our catalog in Open G Tuning. Most-used tunings:

Open D TuningD - A - D - F# - A - D6 songs
Custom Tuning (CGDFCE)CGDFCE5 songs
Open D Minor / CrossnoteD - A - D - F - A - D4 songs
Custom Tuning (FFCGAC)FFCGAC3 songs
Custom Tuning (DAEGCE)DAEGCE2 songs

Gear for Open G Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "Roses Blue" in Open G 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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“Roses Blue” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Roses Blue" by Joni Mitchell in?

"Roses Blue" is played in Open G Tuning: D - G - D - G - B - D, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Roses Blue"?

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 1: tune down a whole step (E4 → D4). Leave the other strings as they are.