How do you figure out chords with alternative tunings, such as DADGAD? Is there a formula. I'm new to this.

erm i don't really use that tuning but....

is your in DADGAD then to do a D major chord you could...

D-0
A-2
G-0
D-0
A-2
D-0

G major would be


D-5
A-7
G-5
D-5
A-7
D-5

there'll be other ways but i just figured it out off the top of me head here.

Welcome to chordbook strumbo, I haven't seen a formula in my meanderings around net but I'm thinking what you would have to know are what notes in standard tuning comprise the chord you wish to play, and also which frets in DADGAD tuning to press to make the chord.

This means you'd need to know the names of the notes on the neck when in the alternate tuning, plus you need to know the notes in each chord....pretty much like  we do now in standard tuning. There is another way and that is chord charts, but you've already seen plenty of those, right? I googled up quite a few first try with 'chord charts for dadgad guitar tuning' typed in the search. Hope this helps, if not, let us know and someone will help.

GuitarZen

Here's something that could possibly help out. I find it easier  to experiment when I'm start with something familiar. The most famous song I know of that uses DADGAD is a little tune called Kashmir by Led Zep.


d------------------------------------------------------------------
A------------------------------------------------------------------
G---2----2----2-----2---2--2----3--3--3---3-3-3-----4------------5----
D---0----0----0-----0---0--0----0--0--0---0-0-0-----0--6x-------0---6x-
A---5----5----5-----5---5--5----5--5--5---5-5-5-----5------------5-----
D------------------------------0---------------------0-----------0--

something similar to that. Hope that helps you out, my thinking is if your gonna use standard chords then standard tune will accomplish that.