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

Open E is the bright, powerful cousin of open D. Strum all six open strings and you get a full, ringing E major chord - the sound behind classic slide blues and gritty rock riffs. With one-finger chords and a chiming, resonant tone, it is a favorite of slide players and songwriters alike.

This guide covers everything: how to tune to open E (and how to do it safely), the chords and scales with plain tabs, slide and blues tips, famous songs, and how open E compares to open D. Let's tune up.

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 E, the strings are tuned E B E G# B E, low to high.

What is open E tuning?

Open E tunes your strings, low to high, to E B E G# B E. Those are the notes of an E major chord (E, G#, B), so strumming the open strings sounds a full E major - no fretting needed. The lowest string stays E, so the root sits right in the bass, giving open E a strong, grounded sound.

Open E uses the exact same string intervals as open D, just one whole step higher. That single fact is important - and it leads straight to the most important safety tip below.

How to tune to open E (the safe way)

From standard tuning, you raise three strings; the 6th E, 2nd B, and 1st E stay the same.

String

Standard

Open E

6 (thickest)

E

E (no change)

5

A

B (up 1 whole step)

4

D

E (up 1 whole step)

3

G

G# (up 1 half step)

2

B

B (no change)

1 (thinnest)

E

E (no change)

Important tension warning: Open E raises three strings, which adds a lot of extra tension to your neck and top. On lighter acoustic guitars (and vintage instruments) this can be hard on the build over time. The safe alternative: tune to Open D (which lowers strings instead of raising them) and place a capo on the 2nd fret - you get the exact same pitches as open E with far less stress on the guitar. Many acoustic players prefer this method.

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

The one-finger major chord

Like all open tunings, open E lets you play a major chord by laying one finger flat across all six strings at any fret. The chord's name is the note on the low (6th) string. Slide that barre up the neck for any major chord:

  E (open)     G (barre 3)    A (barre 5)

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

B|--0------    --3------     --5------

G|--0------    --3------     --5------

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

B|--0------    --3------     --5------

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

Barre at fret

Major chord

open (0)

E

3

G

5

A

7

B

8

C

10

D

12

E (octave)

Make it minor: The open G# string (3rd string) is the "major" note. Barre your chord, but fret that G# string one fret lower than the barre to get a minor chord.
Add a 7th: Adjust the top string to drop in the bluesy flat-7 - perfect for slide.

Scales in open E (with tabs)

Scale shapes change in open tunings, so the easiest place to start is on a single string. Since the open E string is E, the patterns are simple. Play these on either E string (string 6 or string 1):

E major scale (one string)

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

   E  F# G# A  B  C# D#  E

E major pentatonic (one string)

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

   E  F# G# B  C# E

E minor / blues pentatonic (one string)

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

   E  G  A  B  D   E

Tip: Let an open string drone while you play the scale. That ringing open-string sound under your melody is the signature of open E blues.

Open E for slide and blues

Open E is a slide guitarist's dream - it is the tuning Duane Allman built his legendary slide sound on. Because the open strings are a full E major chord, a single slide laid straight across the strings gives you a major chord at any fret.

  • Slide basics. Rest the slide lightly over the fret (do not press down to the wood). Play around the 12th fret for the octave E, then slide down to find your other chords.
  • One smooth motion. Glide between the I, IV, and V chords (E, A, B) by sliding the bar - no chord 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 in open E

Open E runs through blues, rock, and roots music. A few commonly cited examples (look up tabs to learn them):

  • The Black Crowes - "She Talks to Angels"
  • The Allman Brothers Band - "Statesboro Blues" (Duane Allman's slide)
  • The Rolling Stones - several Keith Richards slide and riff tracks
  • Bob Dylan and many Delta and electric blues players

Tips for playing in open E

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

Open E vs open D

Tuning

Notes (low to high)

Character

Open E

E B E G# B E

Bright, powerful; slide and blues. Raises tension.

Open D

D A D F# A D

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

Open G

D G D G B D

Bluesy, slack-key, fingerstyle.

DADGAD

D A D G A D

Suspended, modal, Celtic.

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

Frequently asked questions

What is open E tuning?

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

How do you tune to open E?

From standard tuning, raise the 5th string A to B, the 4th string D to E, and the 3rd string G to G#. The two E strings and the B string stay the same.

Is open E hard on the guitar?

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

Why do slide players love open E?

Because the open strings are a full major chord, one slide laid across the strings gives a major chord at any fret, making smooth slide playing easy.

What is the difference between open E and open D?

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

What songs use open E tuning?

Slide and blues classics like the Allman Brothers' "Statesboro Blues" and the Black Crowes' "She Talks to Angels" are well-known examples.

Start exploring open E

Open E gives you a bold, ringing major chord and one of the best slide tones on guitar. Tune up carefully (or use the open D + capo trick), lay one finger across a fret, and start sliding. It is a fast track to that classic blues-rock sound.

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

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