Open tunings are some of the most rewarding alternate tunings to explore. When you strum all the open strings without fretting any notes, you hear a full, resonant major chord. This unlocks new creative possibilities and changes how you interact with the fretboard. This guide explains open tunings and how to master them.
An open tuning is any tuning where strumming all the open strings (unfretted) produces a major or minor chord. The three most common are Open D, Open E, and Open G, each producing a different chord.
Open D: D-A-D-F#-A-D (D major chord) Open E: E-B-E-G#-B-E (E major chord) Open G: D-G-D-G-B-D (G major chord)
Instead of thinking about individual string names, you’re thinking about chord tones. This fundamentally changes how you approach the instrument.
Open tunings offer unique musical benefits:
Instant full chords. Strum the open strings and you have a complete chord—no fretting required. Beginners can sound musical immediately.
Drone effects. Let strings ring while you fret others, creating natural drone effects.
Slide guitar magic. Open tunings are perfect for slide guitar. Slide between positions and everything is in-key—incredibly musical.
New fretboard relationships. The fretboard layout changes, making you rediscover patterns and shapes.
Songwriting inspiration. The different sonic character inspires different musical ideas than standard tuning.
Blues and slide tradition. Open tunings have deep roots in blues, folk, and slide traditions. Learning them connects you to musical heritage.
This is one of the most popular open tunings:
How to tune:
Result: D-A-D-F#-A-D
Music styles: Blues, folk, slide guitar, alternative rock
Advantages: Bright enough for rock, dark enough for blues, perfect for slides
When played with a slide, open E is warm and soulful:
How to tune:
Music styles: Blues, classic rock, acoustic slide guitar
Advantages: Warm, bluesy character, excellent for expressive slides
Open G is the most bluesy open tuning:
How to tune:
Music styles: Delta blues, slide guitar, acoustic blues
Advantages: Rich, blues-soaked tone, perfect for fingerpicking blues
This is the most reliable approach:
If you don’t have a tuner:
But honestly, an electronic tuner is invaluable for open tunings—the intervals are non-standard and your ear needs references.
The magic of open tunings:
The one-finger major chord: Press down anywhere on the high frets of the fretted strings and you get a major chord in that key.
Sliding chords: Slide up or down the fretboard while keeping pressed strings stationary—everything stays in-key.
Drone playing: Let some strings ring while fretting others, creating natural drone effects.
Fingerpicking patterns: Open tunings are excellent for fingerpicking since the string arrangement creates interesting harmonic patterns.
Your hands need recalibration. Open tuning string positions are different. Your fingers will initially feel like they’re in wrong positions. This settles within a few days.
Muscle memory is different. Standard tuning shapes don’t directly translate. You’ll need to learn new patterns.
Ear training accelerates. The drone and chord effects of open tuning accelerate ear development—you hear harmony more clearly.
Practice slowly. Expect a week or two of adjustment before open tuning feels as natural as standard.
Strings buzz unexpectedly. Open tunings increase string tension on some strings. Buzzing usually settles as strings adjust. If persistent, consider professional setup.
It’s hard to play fast. Open tunings weren’t designed for speed—they’re designed for tone and harmony. Embrace this character.
I can’t play songs in standard tuning anymore. This temporary “interference” happens when switching between tunings. Keep both tunings in your rotation to maintain both.
The intervals feel weird. Completely normal. Stick with it—after a week, open tuning will feel natural.
Open D:
Open E:
Open G:
Open tunings are more than alternate tunings—they’re different ways of thinking about the guitar. They connect you to blues traditions, slide guitar history, and creative possibilities that standard tuning can’t easily access.
Start with open D, invest a couple weeks of dedicated practice, and you’ll unlock a completely new dimension of guitar playing. The magic of strumming an open chord without fingering anything never gets old.
