Open Tuning for Blues Guitar — Complete Guide
Open tunings re-tune the guitar so that the open strings form a major chord. This makes slide guitar intuitive (one position = one chord), enables richer drone-based voicings, and accesses a set of chord shapes unavailable in standard tuning.
Why Blues Guitarists Use Open Tunings
Slide compatibility: When open strings form a chord, moving a slide to any fret plays the same chord at a higher pitch — immediately playable without knowing complex chord shapes under the slide.
Drone strings: Open tunings allow one or more strings to ring open while the other strings are fretted — creating a droning, hypnotic quality characteristic of Delta blues.
Root/5th bass movement: In Open G and Open D, the low strings are tuned to the root and fifth of the chord — ideal for bass-note/chord alternation patterns used in acoustic blues.
Open E Tuning (E-B-E-G#-B-E)
How to Tune
From standard (EADGBE):
- Low E string: unchanged (E)
- A string: up a whole step to B
- D string: up a whole step to E
- G string: up a half step to G#
- B string: unchanged (B)
- High E string: unchanged (E)
Result: All six strings form an E major chord when played open.
Chord Shapes in Open E
| Chord | Position | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| E major | Open | All strings open |
| F# major | 2nd fret | Barre all strings |
| A major | 5th fret | Barre all strings |
| B major | 7th fret | Barre all strings |
| E major (octave up) | 12th fret | Barre all strings |
The I-IV-V blues in E = open, 5th fret, 7th fret.
Famous Players
- Derek Trucks: Primary tuning. Plays a Fender Stratocaster in Open E. His slide phrasing treats the open tuning as a way to access vocal-like melodic lines.
- Duane Allman: Used Open E extensively alongside Open A.
- Elmore James: The Chicago slide pioneer whose "Dust My Broom" is the archetypal Open E slide piece.
Open G Tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D)
How to Tune
From standard (EADGBE):
- Low E string: down a whole step to D
- A string: down a whole step to G
- D string: unchanged (D)
- G string: unchanged (G)
- B string: unchanged (B)
- High E string: down a whole step to D
Result: All six strings form a G major chord when played open.
Chord Shapes in Open G
| Chord | Position | Shape |
|---|---|---|
| G major | Open | All strings open |
| A major | 2nd fret | Barre all strings |
| C major | 5th fret | Barre all strings |
| D major | 7th fret | Barre all strings |
The 5-String Variant (Keith Richards)
Keith Richards removes the low D string entirely and plays Open G on 5 strings. This removes the bass root note from the low end — the resulting chord voicings have a unique "floating" quality without a definitive bass note. His primary songwriting tuning for Rolling Stones material.
Famous Players
- Robert Johnson: The Delta blues archetype. Most of his recordings are in Open G or variants.
- Muddy Waters: Chicago blues interpretation of Delta Open G.
- Keith Richards: Blues-rock rhythm playing. "Brown Sugar", "Honky Tonk Women", "Start Me Up" all in Open G.
- Ry Cooder: Roots music and slide work extensively in Open G.
Open D Tuning (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
How to Tune
From standard (EADGBE):
- Low E string: down a whole step to D
- A string: unchanged (A)
- D string: unchanged (D)
- G string: down a half step to F#
- B string: down a whole step to A
- High E string: down a whole step to D
Result: All six strings form a D major chord when played open.
Characteristics
Open D is functionally equivalent to Open E but transposed down a tone — all the same shapes, a whole step lower in pitch. Less string tension than Open E (strings are tuned down, not up).
Famous Players
- Joni Mitchell: Extensively uses Open D and variants for her complex folk/jazz compositions.
- Leo Kottke: Acoustic fingerpicking in Open D.
- Delta blues tradition: Many field recordings from the 1920s–30s used Open D.
Open A Tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
How to Tune
From standard (EADGBE):
- Low E string: unchanged (E)
- A string: unchanged (A)
- D string: up a whole step to E
- G string: up a whole step to A
- B string: up a whole step to C#
- High E string: unchanged (E)
Result: All six strings form an A major chord when played open.
Warning: Open A raises three strings above standard pitch — increases neck tension significantly. Check truss rod after retuning, especially on acoustic guitars.
Famous Players
- Duane Allman: Used Open A alongside Open E for Allman Brothers slide material.
- Bonnie Raitt: Slide playing in Open A.
- Robert Johnson: Some songs recorded in Open A.
Combining Open Tunings with a Capo
A capo at fret 2 in Open G = Open A. A capo at fret 2 in Open D = Open E. This allows access to higher-pitched voicings with the lower string tension of the lower tuning — a useful technique for acoustic slide.
FAQ
Q: Will open tunings damage my guitar? A: Open D and Open G tune strings down — less tension, no damage risk. Open E and Open A tune some strings up — more tension. Check your truss rod, especially on acoustic guitars. Avoid extreme tension on parlour guitars or vintage instruments.
Q: Can I play standard chord songs in open tuning? A: Yes, but the chord shapes are different. Most players keep a second guitar in standard tuning and switch for open tuning songs.
Q: What tuning does Robert Johnson use? A: Robert Johnson used multiple tunings. His most used were Open G and Open D. Exact tunings on original field recordings vary — Johnson tuned to the instrument available at the session.