Different guitar tuning and how to choose it

[Easyrider7467]

Hello,
When a guitarists alters his std open string tuning, how do they decide on what notes to re-tune the open tuning to? Are they tuning to a chord that can be played without being fretted or just randomly choose notes. What is the music theory behind this to decide? Thanks in advance,John

[Hotrodder]

Re: Different guitar tuning and how to choose it

There are many types of tunings

Some have every string tuned down 1/2, 1, or 2 steps but otherwise it's tuned like normal.
Some just drop the low string to d.
Some tune it so the open strings are a E, D, G, C etc chord. This is used a lot when playing slide, and Keith Richards used a 5 string tele (no low e string)) tuned to G for a lot of Rolling Stones tunes

Some experimental players use a random tuning to get a sound they like, but most tunings are based on a chord or scale.