Open E Tuning (E B E G♯ B E)

Open E tunes the strings from low to high to E B E G♯ B E (typed E B E G# B E), so the open strings sound an E major chord. From standard you raise strings 5 and 4 a whole step and string 3 a half step; strings 6, 2 and 1 stay.

Strings 6 → 1: E2 B2 E3 G♯3 B3 E4
From standard: Strings 5 4 3 change
Open strings: E (E G♯ B)

Tuner · Open E

A4 · 440 Hz

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Mic off

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Auto string detect

Uses your microphone. Audio stays on this device. No mic? Tap a string to hear its note.

TuningE B E G♯ B E

Strings · tap to hear

How to tune to open E from standard

String 6: E2 → E2, no change
String 5: A2 → B2, up 2 semitones (whole step) · tension +26 %
String 4: D3 → E3, up 2 semitones (whole step) · tension +26 %
String 3: G3 → G♯3, up 1 semitone (half step) · tension +12 %
String 2: B3 → B3, no change
String 1: E4 → E4, no change

The tuner above is locked to E B E G♯ B E, so each string reads against its own target. Tap a string button to hear its note.

Open E (E B E G♯ B E) chords

Frets are listed from string 6 to string 1 (× = do not play). The notes line is what each string sounds in this tuning.

E · all open

Frets 0 0 0 0 0 0

E B E G♯ B E

I (home chord). Strum all six strings.

E7 · one finger

Frets 0 0 0 0 3 0

E B E G♯ D E

I7. Fret 3 on string 2 adds D, the flat seventh. The bluesy pull towards A.

A · barre fret 5

Frets 5 5 5 5 5 5

A E A C♯ E A

IV. Flat finger across fret 5, or the slide held straight over the fret wire.

B · barre fret 7

Frets 7 7 7 7 7 7

B F♯ B D♯ F♯ B

V. Two frets above A. E, A and B make a twelve-bar blues in E.

C♯m · two fingers

Frets × 2 0 0 2 0

× C♯ E G♯ C♯ E

vi. Fret 2 on strings 5 and 2, skip string 6.

Any straight barre is a major chord, named by counting half steps up from E: fret 1 = F, fret 3 = G, fret 5 = A, fret 7 = B, fret 10 = D, fret 12 = E an octave up.

Why open E sounds brighter than open D

Open E has exactly the same intervals as open D, one whole step higher: three E strings in three octaves, two Bs, and the major third G♯ on string 3. The chord shapes are identical, only the pitch changes.

What changes the sound is tension. Open D slackens strings; open E tightens three of them. Tighter strings ring louder and brighter and push back harder against a slide, which is why slide players who want cut and sustain reach for open E.

The two outer E strings are the same notes as in standard tuning, so the low and high E still match any other guitar or a tuner set to standard.

Note	Open strings
E	3 of 6
G♯	1 of 6
B	2 of 6

What open E is used for

Electric and acoustic slide guitar in blues and Southern rock. Duane Allman recorded much of his slide playing with the Allman Brothers Band in open E.

Songs in E with a ringing open chord: like open D, the open strings are the I chord and straight bars at frets 5 and 7 give A and B, the IV and V of E.

Open E and your guitar: tension first

Strings 5 and 4 go up a whole step and string 3 a half step, so those strings pull harder on the neck and the bridge than in standard (see the tension figures in the steps above). Most steel-string acoustics handle it with light strings, but do not tune a classical (nylon) guitar this way, and avoid it on an old or fragile instrument.

The gentler route to the same sound: tune to open D and put a capo on fret 2. The pitches are identical and every string stays at or below standard tension.

Back to standard: lower strings 5 and 4 a whole step and string 3 a half step, then recheck all six. Do not leave a guitar in open E for long if the bridge or top already shows strain.

A song in open E

Statesboro Blues · The Allman Brothers Band
Duane Allman plays the slide part in open E.

FAQ

Is open E bad for an acoustic guitar?

Not for a healthy steel-string guitar with light or medium strings: three strings gain tension, which a sound guitar takes. For an older or delicate guitar, or heavy strings, use open D with a capo on fret 2 instead.

What is the difference between open E and open D?

Only the pitch: open E is open D raised a whole step on every string. All chord shapes are the same; open E is brighter and tighter.

Which strings change from standard?

Three: string 5 from A to B and string 4 from D to E (each up a whole step), and string 3 from G to G♯ (up a half step). Strings 6, 2 and 1 stay E, B, E.

Is there an open E tuning chord chart?

Yes, the chord shapes above are the chart: E with all strings open, E7 with one finger, A with a barre at fret 5, B with a barre at fret 7, plus C♯m. Any straight barre is a major chord: fret 1 is F, fret 3 is G, fret 5 is A, fret 7 is B, fret 10 is D and fret 12 is E an octave up.

Standard tuning (EADGBE)back to the reference tuning
The key of E majorthe open strings ring an E chord
Guitar tunerswitch tunings, or tune back to standard
Capo calculator and chord transposercapo shapes for any key
Open G (DGDGBD)same family of tuning
Open D (DADF♯AD)same family of tuning
All guitar tuningsopen, drop and modal, compared