34 Recorded Songs•5 Unique Tunings
Dream Theater Guitar Tunings
Dream Theater has used standard and alternate guitar tunings across their recorded discography. Below you will find 34 songs with exact string notes and tuning configurations.
Dream Theater Songs & Guitar Tunings
Showing 34 of 34 songs
| Song Title | Tuning required | Genre / Style | Tune Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Change of Seasons | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| a nightmare to remember | C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| As I Am | C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| At Wits End | D - G - C - F - A - DD Standard / Whole-Step Down | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Blind Faith | ADGCEACustom Tuning (ADGCEA) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Bridges In The Sky | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Build Me Up Break Me Down | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Caught in a Web | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Endless Sacrifice | D - G - C - F - A - DD Standard / Whole-Step Down | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Fall Into The Light | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| False Awakening Suite | GCFA#D#GCCustom Tuning (GCFA#D#GC) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Honor Thy Father | C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Illumination Theory | ADGCFADCustom Tuning (ADGCFAD) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| In The Name Of God | C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Just Let Me Breathe | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Lie | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Misunderstood | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Overture 1928 | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Pale Blue Dot | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Paralyzed | A#D#G#C#F#A#D#Custom Tuning (A#D#G#C#F#A#D#) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Raw Dog | ADGCFADCustom Tuning (ADGCFAD) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Stream Of Consciousness | Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbHalf-Step Down / Eb Standard | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Bigger Picture | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Dance of Eternity | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Dark Eternal Night | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Glass Prison | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Mirror | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Root Of All Evil | Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbHalf-Step Down / Eb Standard | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| The Shattered Fortress | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| These Walls | ADGCEACustom Tuning (ADGCEA) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| This Dying Soul | B - E - A - D - G - B - E7-String Standard B | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Untethered Angel | C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CC Standard Tuning | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Viper King | AEADGBECustom Tuning (AEADGBE) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
| Wither | A#D#G#C#F#A#D#Custom Tuning (A#D#G#C#F#A#D#) | Alternative / Rock | Tune |
A Change of SeasonsAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - Ea nightmare to rememberAlternative / Rock
C Standard Tuning
C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CAs I AmAlternative / Rock
C Standard Tuning
C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CAt Wits EndAlternative / Rock
D Standard / Whole-Step Down
D - G - C - F - A - DBlind FaithAlternative / Rock
Bridges In The SkyAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EBuild Me Up Break Me DownAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - ECaught in a WebAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EEndless SacrificeAlternative / Rock
D Standard / Whole-Step Down
D - G - C - F - A - DFall Into The LightAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EFalse Awakening SuiteAlternative / Rock
Honor Thy FatherAlternative / Rock
C Standard Tuning
C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CIllumination TheoryAlternative / Rock
In The Name Of GodAlternative / Rock
C Standard Tuning
C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CJust Let Me BreatheAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - ELieAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EMisunderstoodAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EOverture 1928Alternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EPale Blue DotAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EParalyzedAlternative / Rock
Custom Tuning (A#D#G#C#F#A#D#)
A#D#G#C#F#A#D#Stream Of ConsciousnessAlternative / Rock
Half-Step Down / Eb Standard
Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbThe Bigger PictureAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EThe Dance of EternityAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EThe Dark Eternal NightAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EThe Glass PrisonAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EThe MirrorAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EThe Root Of All EvilAlternative / Rock
Half-Step Down / Eb Standard
Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbThe Shattered FortressAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EThese WallsAlternative / Rock
This Dying SoulAlternative / Rock
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - EUntethered AngelAlternative / Rock
C Standard Tuning
C - F - Bb - Eb - G - CViper KingAlternative / Rock
WitherAlternative / Rock
Custom Tuning (A#D#G#C#F#A#D#)
A#D#G#C#F#A#D#Dream Theater's Most Used Tunings
17 songsTuning Profile
7-String Standard B
B - E - A - D - G - B - E
8 songsTuning Profile
Custom Tuning (ADGCEA)
ADGCEA
5 songsTuning Profile
C Standard Tuning
C - F - Bb - Eb - G - C
2 songsTuning Profile
D Standard / Whole-Step Down
D - G - C - F - A - D
2 songsTuning Profile
Half-Step Down / Eb Standard
Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb
String Pitch Guide: 7-String Standard B
Primary tuning reference used for 17 songs in Dream Theater's catalog.
String #Pitch NoteVisual Gauge
6B
5E
4A
3D
2G
1B
Dream Theater Guitar Tuning Overview
Dream Theater utilizes a dynamic selection of guitar tunings to achieve distinct voice leading, open resonance, and chord voicings across their music. While standard tuning forms the foundation for many tracks, alternate tunings—such as drop tunings and open tunings—play a pivotal role in shaping their signature guitar sound.
Using our interactive tuner above, you can inspect each string note required for Dream Theater songs, tune your guitar using microphone pitch detection, and explore chord voicings for each song.
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Popular Guitar Tunings
In Your Atmosphere / Esus2 Tuning (E - B - E - F# - B - E)Neon Tuning (Drop C Acoustic) (C - A - D - G - B - E)Iris Tuning (B - D - D - D - D - D)Name Alt-Tuning (D - A - E - A - C# - E)Never Going Back Again (Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb)Never Meant / Midwest Emo (F - A - C - G - C - E)Pink Moon Modal (C - G - C - F - C - E)Nick Drake Modal (DADF#AE) (D - A - D - F# - A - E)Teen Age Riot Noise (G - A - B - D - E - G)Drop C + Low A (A - G - C - F - A - D)Standard E (E - A - D - G - B - E)Half-Step Down / Eb Standard (Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb)