The Secret Behind Keith Richards’ Five-String Guitar

Last week while noodling on my Tele, I discovered the wonderful world of Open G-Tuning. Once you tune it up, you can't help but get that "Keef" sound. In a couple hours I mastered: Brown Sugar, Can't You Hear Me Knocking and Stat Me up. I was hooked.. EXCEPT... I didnt feel the need to clip off my Low E string. Thats the topic of this weeks Essay.

Why did Keith Richards, use only the lower 5 -Stings?... Because apparently six strings were too many.

Keith Richards is a riff machine, and the secret weapon behind his iconic sound is a weird one:He removes his low E string entirely.

That’s right — a five-string guitar tuned to open G (D–G–D–G–B–D).

So why does he do it?

1. Open G Makes Instant Rolling Stones Chords

Open G means you can barre one finger across the neck and get a full major chord.Those big, jangly Stones riffs? A single finger can do that.

Keith likes simple. Simple grooves. Simple riffs. Simple… everything.

2. Removing the Low E Removes Mud

With the low string gone, the guitar sits perfectly in the mix.No booming lows.No clutter.Just pure swagger.

3. It Forces a Different Perspective

Taking away a string makes you rethink everything. You find new chord shapes, new voicings, and riffs that you’d never create otherwise.

4. It Fits His Rhythm-First Philosophy

Keith is a rhythm guitarist at heart.Open G lets him:

·       hammer-on partial chords

·       create percussive grooves

·       let chords ring with attitude

It’s rhythm guitar heaven.

5. It Sounds Like Keith. Period.

Play a Telecaster in open G with the low E removed, add a little grit, and BOOM — instant Stones.