Thin Air

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

How to Tune from Standard to DADEAE Tuning

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

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	E3	Tune down 3 semitones
String 2	B3	A3	Tune down 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

"Thin Air" by Don Ross is played in DADEAE Tuning (D - A - D - E - A - E). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 6 down to D, string 3 down to E, string 2 down to A. Overall string tension drops, with the biggest change being 3 semitones down. 11 other songs in our catalog use DADEAE Tuning.

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Tunings Close to DADEAE Tuning

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

DADEAD Tuning17 songs

D - A - D - E - A - DOnly string 1 differs: D instead of E.

Nick Drake Modal (DADF#AE)13 songs

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

Custom Tuning (DADGAE)6 songs

DADGAEOnly string 3 differs: G instead of E.

Custom Tuning (DADEAB)4 songs

DADEABOnly string 1 differs: B instead of E.

Don Ross’s Guitar Tunings

Don Ross plays 1 of 5 songs in our catalog in DADEAE Tuning. 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 DADEAE Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "Thin Air" in DADEAE 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.

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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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“Thin Air” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Thin Air" by Don Ross in?

"Thin Air" is played in DADEAE Tuning: D - A - D - E - A - E, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Thin Air"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 6: tune down a whole step (E2 → D2). String 3: tune down 3 semitones (G3 → E3). String 2: tune down a whole step (B3 → A3). Leave the other strings as they are.