Open A Tuning Guide: Chords, Songs, and How to Tune

Open A is the bright, punchy cousin of open G. Strum all six open strings and you get a full, ringing A major chord - a bold, energetic sound that slide and blues players love. With one-finger chords and a strong, chiming tone, it is easy to start and instantly fun to play.

This guide covers everything: how to tune to open A (and how to do it without straining your guitar), the chords and scales with plain tabs, slide and blues tips, and famous songs.

How to read the tabs: The six lines are your strings (top = thin high string, bottom = thick low string). A number is the fret to press; 0 is open. In open A, the strings are tuned E A E A C# E, low to high.

What is open A tuning?

Open A tunes your strings, low to high, to E A E A C# E. Those are the notes of an A major chord (A, C#, E), so strumming the open strings gives you a full A major - no fretting needed. It is a bright, powerful tuning, and it uses the exact same string intervals as open G, just one whole step higher.

That last point matters a lot - and it leads to the most important tip below.

How to tune to open A (the safe way)

From standard tuning, you raise three strings; the 6th E, 1st E, and one other stay put or move only slightly.

String

Standard

Open A

6 (thickest)

E

E (no change)

5

A

A (no change)

4

D

E (up 1 whole step)

3

G

A (up 1 whole step)

2

B

C# (up 1 whole step)

1 (thinnest)

E

E (no change)

Tension warning: Open A raises three strings, adding extra tension to your neck and top. On lighter or vintage acoustics this can stress the build over time. The safe alternative: tune to open G (which lowers strings instead of raising them) and put a capo on the 2nd fret - you get the same pitches as open A with far less strain. Many acoustic players prefer this method.

When it is right, strumming all six open strings sounds like one big A major chord.

The one-finger major chord

Like all open tunings, open A lets you play a major chord by barring one finger straight across all six strings. The chord's name is the note on the 5th string (A). Slide the barre up the neck for any major chord:

  A (open)     C (barre 3)    D (barre 5)

e|--0------    --3------     --5------

C#|-0------    --3------     --5------

A|--0------    --3------     --5------

E|--0------    --3------     --5------

A|--0------    --3------     --5------

E|--0------    --3------     --5------

Barre at fret

Major chord

open (0)

A

2

B

3

C

5

D

7

E

9

F#

12

A (octave)

Make it minor: The open C# string (2nd string) is the "major" note. Barre your chord but fret that C# string one fret lower for a minor sound.

Essential open A chords

Beyond the one-finger major, here are useful shapes (written low string to high):

Chord

Frets (low to high)

Notes

A major (open)

0 0 0 0 0 0

Strum and you are in A.

Movable major

barre any fret

Name = note on the 5th string.

A7

0 0 0 0 0 3

Raise the top string for a bluesy 7th.

D / IV chord

barre fret 5

The IV chord in the key of A.

E / V chord

barre fret 7

The V chord in the key of A.

Tip: Like open G, the "Keith Richards" move works here too - from a major barre, add color by hammering on and pulling off with your free fingers while the open strings ring.

Scales in open A (with tabs)

Start on a single string. Play these on the open A string (string 5, open = A):

A major scale (one string)

A|--0--2--4--5--7--9--11--12--|

   A  B  C# D  E  F# G#  A

A major pentatonic (one string)

A|--0--2--4--7--9--12--|

   A  B  C# E  F# A

A minor / blues pentatonic (one string)

A|--0--3--5--7--10--12--|

   A  C  D  E  G   A

Tip: Let an open string drone while you play the scale - that ringing sound under your melody is the heart of open A blues.

Open A for slide and blues

Open A is a slide guitarist's favorite, especially in blues. Because the open strings are a full A major chord, a single slide laid across the strings gives you a major chord at any fret.

  • Slide basics. Rest the slide lightly over the fret (do not press to the wood). Play around the 12th fret for the octave A, then slide down to your other chords.
  • One smooth motion. Glide between your I, IV, and V chords (A, D, E) by sliding the bar - no shapes to grab.
  • Free fingers for licks. Since a major chord is just a barre, your other fingers are free for hammer-ons, pull-offs, and bluesy fills.

Famous songs and players in open A

Open A appears across blues and roots music. A few commonly cited examples:

  • Delta and electric blues slide players who want a brighter, punchier sound than open G
  • Robert Johnson and other early blues pioneers used open A and open G interchangeably
  • Many slide and bottleneck players who capo open G up to open A pitch

Tips for playing in open A

  • Mind the tension. If you use open A often on acoustic, the open G + capo 2 method protects your guitar.
  • Let it ring. Open A rewards sustain - let open strings drone for a full sound.
  • Try a slide. Even a cheap slide unlocks instant bluesy magic.
  • Start simple. Loop A (open) and D (barre 5) to feel how easy chord changes become.

Open A vs other open tunings

Tuning

Notes (low to high)

Character

Open A

E A E A C# E

Bright, punchy A major; slide and blues. Raises tension.

Open G

D G D G B D

Same shapes, lower and softer; gentler on the guitar.

Open D

D A D F# A D

Full D major; slide and fingerstyle.

Open E

E B E G# B E

Bright E major; slide. Also raises tension.

Tip: Open G with a capo on fret 2 sounds identical to open A - and is easier on your strings and neck. See our Open G, Open D, and Open E guides to compare.

Frequently asked questions

What is open A tuning?

Open A tunes the strings, low to high, to E A E A C# E. The open strings form an A major chord, so strumming without fretting gives a full A chord.

How do you tune to open A?

From standard tuning, raise the 4th string D to E, the 3rd string G to A, and the 2nd string B to C#. The two E strings and the A string stay the same.

Is open A hard on the guitar?

It can be. Open A raises three strings, adding tension. To be safe - especially on acoustics - tune to open G and capo the 2nd fret for the same pitches with less stress.

Why do slide players love open A?

Because the open strings are a full major chord, one slide across the strings gives a major chord at any fret, making smooth slide playing easy - with a brighter tone than open G.

What is the difference between open A and open G?

They use the same string intervals, but open A is a whole step higher. Open G is lower and gentler on the guitar; open A is brighter and more powerful.

Start exploring open A

Open A gives you a bold, ringing major chord and a punchy slide tone. Tune up carefully (or use the open G + capo trick), lay one finger across a fret, and start sliding - a fast track to bright, energetic blues and roots playing.

Want an acoustic that handles alternate tunings beautifully? Explore the Timberline 6-string collection.

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