G# Piongio Guitar Scale — Open G

Guitar scale in Open G tuning — fretboard diagram

G# Piongio in Open G — Notes and Intervals

The G# Piongio scale is a Vietnamese pentatonic scale used in the Northern modal system. On Guitar, its notes are G#, A#, C#, D#, F, F#. It is associated with feelings of gaiety, liveliness, and solemnity, serving as a fundamental structure in traditional Southeast Asian art music. Commonly used in Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, World, Folk. Notable players include Trinh Cong Son. Use over sus chords, open tunings, and folk-style accompaniment. The lack of a 3rd allows harmonic flexibility.

Notes: G#, A#, C#, D#, F, F#

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 4P, 5P, 6M, 7m

Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 b6

Formula: W-WH-W-W-H-W

Number of notes: 6

Tuning: Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)

About Open G Tuning

Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) produces a G major chord when strummed open, making it the definitive tuning for slide guitar and delta blues. The tuning's natural consonance means that barring across any fret gives you a major chord, which is why it's been the backbone of blues and roots music for over a century.

From Robert Johnson to Keith Richards, Open G has shaped some of the most iconic music ever recorded. Keith Richards famously removes the low 6th string entirely in this tuning, creating his signature five-string sound on songs like 'Start Me Up' and 'Brown Sugar'. For slide players, Open G is essential — it allows clean, singing slide lines across all strings with minimal effort.

BluesSlide GuitarRockCountryFolkRoots

Notable artists: Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, Joni Mitchell, The Black Crowes

Best for: Slide guitar, delta blues, Keith Richards-style rock riffs, and open-string fingerpicking

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Open G tuning