Beautiful Chords in Open D

From Mystery to Method

Retuning your guitar to Open D opens up many new possibilities. Playing around and hoping for happy accidents. however, can only take you so far.

The High Drone Method helps you create beautiful chords and progressions on purpose — in any key.

The basic idea is simple:

Let one or more open high strings ring while you play basic three-note chords on the other strings.

Importantly, the high drone can be any note in the scale, and each one creates its own sound.

Hear the Difference

Below, you can listen to four progressions in different keys, each in three versions: standard tuning, one high-drone guitar in Open D, and two layered high-drone guitars in Open D.

Example 1

D | Em | F#m | G

Example 2

Am | G | Em | F

Example 3

Cm | Ddim | Eb | Fm

Example 4

G | D | Em | C

Course Format

Beautiful Chords in Open D isn’t a video course. Instead, it’s based on:

written explanations,

audio recordings,

chord diagrams and tabs,

photographs,

and a comprehensive chord library.

Since the material isn’t locked inside videos, you don’t have to keep pausing and rewinding. You can simply read the explanations, listen to the examples, look at the chord shapes, and then try the ideas yourself — at your own pace.

Moreover, Lessons 1–16 focus on a single chord progression.

Keeping the progression the same from lesson to lesson makes it easier to understand how the High Drone Method works, step by step, without too many things changing at once.

Then, at the end, you’ll see how the shapes and principles you’ve learned throughout the course actually work in any key.

The 4,000+ Chord Library

The course also includes The Complete Open D High Drone Chord Library.

What It Contains

A searchable database

The library brings together more than 4,000 Open D high-drone chords in one organized place.

How It Works

Filter by key or sound

Instead of scrolling through a static chord sheet, you can filter the library by key, high drone, and voicing.

Why It Matters

Find matching chords

The library helps you move from isolated chord shapes to usable progressions. You can look for chords that work in the same key.

How You’ll Use It

A creative reference tool

Use it when writing, arranging, practicing, or experimenting in Open D.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course for me?

This course is for guitar players who want to use open tunings for beautiful chord progressions in any key, not only for strumming the open strings or learning basic major and minor chords. You don’t need to be advanced, but you should be comfortable following chord diagrams and changing between chords.

Why Open D?

There are at least four good reasons to first focus on Open D when learning how to play guitar in open tunings.

1. You only tune down from standard tuning.

This means there’s no risk of breaking strings, and you don’t need special string gauges or guitar adjustments. By contrast, many other open tunings require you to raise certain strings.

2. The open strings form a basic major chord.

This makes the fretboard easier to understand and navigate. In DADGAD and G modal, for example, this is not the case.

3. The chord formed by the open strings has its root on the sixth string.

This, too, makes the fretboard easier to understand and navigate. In many other open tunings, that root is on the fifth string.

4. It’s still different enough from standard tuning.

In other words, it gives you access to beautiful sounds and chord shapes that are hard to get otherwise.

Do I need to know music theory?

The High Drone Method is based on simple music theory, but no advanced theory is required. The course explains the ideas you need as you go: keys, major and minor chords, high drones, and how the same method can work in different keys.

Do I need special strings or a special guitar? A capo?

No. Open D is reached by tuning strings down from standard tuning. You can use a regular acoustic guitar. A capo is recommended, because it makes it easier to use different high-drone sounds.

Why no video?

The course is built around written explanations, chord diagrams, tabs, images, and audio examples. This makes it easier to study the material, return to specific examples, and practice without constantly pausing and rewinding.

Does the course work on mobile?

Yes. The course pages are designed to work in a web browser on desktop, tablet, and mobile. A larger screen may be more comfortable, however, especially when studying chord diagrams and the chord library.

What happens after I pay?

After payment, you’ll receive access instructions by email. You can then open the course in your browser and start immediately.

Is VAT included?

Yes. The price is $197, and VAT is included where applicable.

Does the course come with lifetime access?

Yes, the course comes with lifetime access. It will be available for you to access online as long as the course is offered in its current form. If, for any reason, this website will be deleted, you will have the opportunity to save the content to keep for as long as you like.

Is the purchase refundable?

No. Because Beautiful Chords in Open D is a digital product with immediate online access, all sales are final once access has been granted. By purchasing, you agree that access to the digital course begins immediately and acknowledge that you lose your right of withdrawal once access has been granted.

In this online course, you’ll learn how to use the High Drone Method in Open D.

Price: $197 (VAT included, if applicable)

Also included: The Complete Open D High Drone Chord Library

Beautiful Chordsin Open D