How did Keith Richards’s five-string open G tuning shape the Rolling Stones’ sound?

Keith Richards’s use of a five-string open G tuning—a banjo-inspired technique where the guitar’s lowest string is removed—is a fundamental element of the Rolling Stones’ signature sound.12

This tuning, combined with his blues-rooted musicality and specific electronics modifications to his Fender Telecaster, helped define the band's hard-edged, chord-heavy rock style. By weaving his guitar lines with a second guitarist—a technique partially inspired by Chicago blues musicians—Richards created a distinct rhythmic texture that earned him the nickname "the Human Riff." This approach allowed him to move beyond standard lead playing, focusing instead on the driving, energetic rhythm that became a hallmark of the group's most successful recordings.12