Open E

Open E string notes

Low to high: E, B, E, G#, B, E. The 6th, 2nd and 1st strings keep their standard notes (E, B and E) and the three between them all rise.

Open E has the same gaps as Open D, a perfect fifth, a perfect fourth, a major third, a minor third and a perfect fourth, pitched a whole step higher, so every shape you learn in one works in the other. The 6th, 4th and 1st strings are E, the 5th and 2nd are B and the 3rd is G#. Strummed open they sound E major.

How to retune from standard

Bring the 5th and 4th strings up a whole step each, A to B and D to E, and the 3rd up a half step, G to G#. Leave the 6th, 2nd and 1st strings alone.

Take the references from the strings that stay put: the 5th string against the open 2nd string, which is the same note an octave higher, and the 4th against the open 6th string, the same note an octave lower. Once the 4th is in tune, find the G# on the 3rd string at the 4th fret of the 4th string, which is the same note.

Three strings rise and none comes down to balance them, so this retune adds tension, and a lighter-gauge set takes it more easily. You can skip it: a capo at the 2nd fret of Open D sounds as open E with no string raised.

What Open E is good for

A go-to for electric slide blues and Southern rock.

A bar across all six strings at the 5th fret sounds A major and at the 7th B major, so the open strings and two bar positions give the I, IV and V of E, the three chords of a twelve-bar blues, under one finger or one slide.

Famous songs in Open E tuning

Duane Allman played most of his slide guitar in open E, Statesboro Blues among it.

• Statesboro Blues — The Allman Brothers Band
• Jumpin’ Jack Flash — The Rolling Stones
• She Talks to Angels — The Black Crowes

More on String Warrior