Like the relationship between G minor and open-G (major) tunings, D minor tuning has just one note different from open-D tuning. The F# in open-D tuning is tuned down to F, so D minor tuning is DADFAD. You’ll also notice that this is just one note different from DADGAD. The tune Doug uses to demonstrate D minor tuning in this lesson is an Irish harp tune, “Celia Connellan,” which comes from Thomas Connellan, a contemporary of legendary Irish harpist Turlough O’Carolan. In this video, Doug shows you the tuning, how to modify what you know from open-D tuning to play in D minor, and also how to shift what you learned for G minor over one string to sound in D minor. He also shows you how to play some interesting chords in D minor, as well as how to play major chords in D minor tuning.
