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Open D Minor / Crossnote Guitar Tuner

Open D Minor / Crossnote
±0
D
Target: 73.4 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
D73
A110
D147
F175
A220
D294

How to Tune to Open D Minor / Crossnote

A dark, brooding minor open chord tuning (D-A-D-F-A-D) that produces a haunting D minor chord when strummed open. Known as 'crossnote' tuning in the Delta blues tradition, it was the signature tuning of the enigmatic Skip James. The minor tonality gives this tuning a melancholy, introspective quality that's strikingly different from the bright, major sound of standard open tunings.

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 4 of 6 strings:

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2D2Tune down a whole step
String 5A2A2Leave as is
String 4D3D3Leave as is
String 3G3F3Tune down a whole step
String 2B3A3Tune down a whole step
String 1E4D4Tune down a whole step
Printable Open D Minor / Crossnote chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

Skip James was 'rediscovered' in 1964 after being lost to the music world for over 30 years. Blues researchers found him in a hospital in Tunica, Mississippi. His crossnote tuning and eerie falsetto singing style were unlike anything else in the Delta blues tradition. His song "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" was featured in the Coen Brothers film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:Standard or Medium-Lights (.012-.054 for acoustic). This is identical to Open D with the 3rd string lowered one half step from F# to F. All strings are tuned lower than standard, resulting in comfortable, low-tension playing.

Gear for Open D Minor / Crossnote

Tools that make tuning to D - A - D - F - A - D easier.

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.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 4 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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Open D Minor / CrossnoteIntermediate
D - A - D - F - A - DNo Capo
Song Details
Open D Minor / CrossnoteIntermediate
D - A - D - F - A - DNo Capo
Song Details
Open D Minor / CrossnoteIntermediate
D - A - D - F - A - DNo Capo
Song Details
Open D Minor / CrossnoteIntermediate
D - A - D - F - A - DNo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What is crossnote tuning?
Crossnote is the traditional blues name for tuning to an open minor chord instead of a major chord. 'Crossnote D' is D-A-D-F-A-D (D minor), and 'Crossnote G' is D-G-D-G-Bb-D (G minor). The 'cross' in the name may refer to the cross-like feeling of the minor key — it creates a mournful, bluesy atmosphere compared to the bright sound of major open tunings.
What tuning is Hard Time Killing Floor Blues in?
"Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" by Skip James is in crossnote D minor tuning (D-A-D-F-A-D). This tuning, combined with James' distinctive three-finger picking style and eerie falsetto voice, creates the song's unmistakable haunted quality. It was recorded in 1931 and featured prominently in the 2000 film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
How to tune to crossnote D minor?
The easiest route: first tune to Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D), then lower the 3rd string by one half step from F# to F. That single half-step change transforms the tuning from a bright D major to a dark D minor. From standard tuning: drop E→D, keep A, keep D, drop G→F (one whole step), drop B→A, drop high E→D.
Does Opeth use Open D Minor?
Opeth has used Open D minor and similar modal tunings for some of their acoustic passages, particularly on albums like "Damnation" and "Heritage." Mikael Åkerfeldt draws heavily from progressive folk and jazz, and Open D minor's dark, atmospheric quality fits Opeth's acoustic sound perfectly.