The First Ride

Required String Notes:F - A - C - G - C - E

How to Tune from Standard to Never Meant / Midwest Emo

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

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	F2	Tune up a half step
String 5	A2	A2	Leave as is
String 4	D3	C3	Tune down a whole step
String 3	G3	G3	Leave as is
String 2	B3	C4	Tune up a half 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

"The First Ride" by Don Ross is played in Never Meant / Midwest Emo (F - A - C - G - C - E). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 up to F, string 4 down to C, string 2 up to C. Some strings go down and others go up, so the tension shifts across the neck. 33 other songs in our catalog use Never Meant / Midwest Emo.

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Tunings Close to Never Meant / Midwest Emo

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

C6 Tuning (CACGCE)10 songs

C - A - C - G - C - EOnly string 6 differs: C instead of F.

Custom Tuning (EG#BF#BD#)9 songs

EG#BF#BD#Same chord shapes, every string a half step lower.

DACGCE3 songs

D - A - C - G - C - EOnly string 6 differs: D instead of F.

Custom Tuning (FADGCE)3 songs

FADGCEOnly string 4 differs: D instead of C.

Don Ross’s Guitar Tunings

Don Ross plays 1 of 5 songs in our catalog in Never Meant / Midwest Emo. Most-used tunings:

Custom Tuning (DAEF#AE)DAEF#AE1 song
Custom Tuning (FACFCF)FACFCF1 song
Custom Tuning (CGDGBC)CGDGBC1 song
Never Meant / Midwest EmoF - A - C - G - C - E1 song
DADEAE TuningD - A - D - E - A - E1 song

Gear for Never Meant / Midwest Emo

Strings and tools that make playing "The First Ride" in Never Meant / Midwest Emo 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 3 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

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“The First Ride” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "The First Ride" by Don Ross in?

"The First Ride" is played in Never Meant / Midwest Emo: F - A - C - G - C - E, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "The First Ride"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune up a half step (E2 → F2). String 4: tune down a whole step (D3 → C3). String 2: tune up a half step (B3 → C4). Leave the other strings as they are.