Ultimate Guide to Open E Tuning – Chords, Scales, Tabs, and Songs

Open E is a tuning that makes your open strings spell out an E Major chord.

It is different from tunings such as open D or G in the sense that open E requires you to tighten some of your strings, while most of the open tunings consist of down tuning certain strings.

Because of this, you might actually benefit from a lighter string gauge.

It is usually recommended to upgrade to heavier gauges when you experiment with the other open tunings just mentioned such as Open D or G, so take this into account if you’re curious about trying open E.

Having your lowest string tuned the same as in standard tuning and being able to play major chords with a one-finger barre shape will feel comfortable right off the bat, as you don’t need to relearn that string.

One of the most popular Open E players nowadays is Derek Trucks. He’s arguably the best slide player around, and he’s been playing in this tuning since he was a kid, heavily influenced by his idol, Duane Allman from The Allman Brothers Band.

Be sure to check out our full guide to alternative tunings as well as our guides to Open D, Open G and Drop C tuning.

Want to learn more about music theory?
Check out our ultimate guide to music theory to find more jumping off points.

How to Tune Your Guitar in Open E Tuning

The E Major triad has the notes E (root), G# (major 3rd) and B (perfect 5th).

That means that instead of the usual EADGBE you have in standard tuning, you’ll have the following notes (starting from the lowest string):

  • E
  • B
  • E
  • G#
  • B
  • E

You might have noticed already that the notes on the 5th, 4th and 3rd strings are actually higher pitched than they usually are in standard tuning. This will increase the tension on your neck, so be aware that you may need to make truss rod adjustments.

If you’re planning on keeping a guitar in Open E for extended periods of time, take it to a professional who can set it up perfectly for this tuning. You don’t want to damage the neck on your guitar by increasing the tension from the strings.

Also, if the strings feel too stiff, consider lighter strings.

If you haven’t got a tuner handy, you can go from standard tuning to Open E by ear by going through the following steps:

  • Pluck the 6th string (E), then the 4th string (D). Now, tighten the 4th string until its pitch matches the low E string.
  • Next, pluck the 2nd string (B), then the 5th string (A). Now, tighten the 5th string until it matches your B string.
  • This leaves you with EBEGBE. However, this spells an E minor chord. You still need to raise the 3rd string by a semitone. 
  • If you can identify intervals by ear, pluck the 4th string (now tuned to E), and then the third string. Now, tighten it until those 2 strings together form a major third interval.
  • Alternatively, play the 4th string on the 4th fret (G#) and tighten the 3rd string until their pitches match.

Despite being possible to tune a guitar this way, a tuner is still recommended. Tuning stability isn’t perfect when changing tunings and you’ll most likely need to readjust all the strings after you finish tuning for the first time.

How to Play Chords in Open E Tuning

Major Chords in Open E Tuning

Major chords consist of a root note, a major third and a perfect fifth.

The Open E tuning makes playing major chords a breeze because you can literally play them with one finger across the neck, just like in the other open tunings you might have tried out.

Since the 6th string is still an E, it is even easier to find your root notes than it is in Open G or D, since you do have to drop that string to a D in those tunings.

Here are a couple of examples of how you play major chords in Open E:

E Major Chord
F# Major Chord
B Major Chord

Minor Chords in Open E Tuning

Minor chords contain a root note, a minor third and a perfect fifth. Drop the 3rd by a semitone on a major chord and you now have its minor counterpart.

Because of this, you can’t play them with a one-finger barre shape, but they aren’t super challenging to play either.

Here are some examples to get you started:

E Minor Chord
B Minor Chord
E Minor 7 Chord

Seventh Chords in Open E Tuning

Seventh (or dominant) chords contain a root, major third, perfect fifth and a minor seven. Their tritone interval makes them dissonant, which is why they sound great when you resolve them into their corresponding first degree chord (for instance, resolving G7 into C Major).

They frequently appear in all music genres, but you’ll find them most often in blues. Since this tuning is quite blues-oriented, these are a must know!

Find some suggestions on how you can play these chords in Open E:

E7 Chord
A7 Chord
A7 Chord

Open Chords in Open E Tuning

In some contexts, nothing beats the sound of a full-bodied chord with open strings ringing. This is something that guitarists should take advantage of when they can. 

Here you have a few examples of open chords you can play in Open E:

C# minor Chord
E6 Chord
Eadd2 Chord

Scales in Open E Tuning

Since we don’t have our strings tuned by fourths anymore when we’re in Open E, the finger patterns that previously worked to play scales have to be relearned in this new tuning.

This section will show you where you can find the notes for the most commonly used scales in Open E.

E Major Scale

The major scale’s formula is: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. 

In E Major, this means we need to sharpen F, C, G and E, giving us the notes E, F# G# A B C# D#.


Here’s where you’ll find all these notes on your fretboard when you tune your guitar to Open E:

E Major Scale

E Natural Minor Scale

The natural minor scale has the following formula: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7.

In E Major, this translates to the notes E F# G A B C and D.

The following diagram illustrates where those notes are found in Open E:

E Natural Minor Scale

E Minor Pentatonic Scale

A tried and tested scale for melodic ideas and solos across any genre, the minor pentatonic scale uses the following notes: 1 b3 4 5 b7.

In E, this gives us E G A B and D.

Here’s the location of those notes on the fretboard of a guitar in Open E:

E Minor Pentatonic Scale

E Minor Blues Scale

The minor blues is another great choice for soloing, especially in a blues context. 

Its formula is: 1 b3 4 b5 5 b7.

In summary, it is the same as the minor pentatonic scale, but with an added note, which we call the blue note (b5 of the scale).

In E, this translates to the following notes: E G A Bb B and D.

Find those notes on the following frets after tuning to Open E:

E Minor Blues Scale

E Major Blues Scale

Another popular choice is the major blues scale.

It is basically the same as the major pentatonic scale, but with an added b3 (the blue note in major blues). 

Its formula is: 1 2 b3 3 5 6.

In E, that means we’ve got the notes E F# G G# B and C#.

Here are the frets that correspond to those notes in Open E tuning:

E Major Blues Scale

The Allman Brothers Band – Statesboro Blues

You’ll notice that The Allman Brothers Band has an extensive catalog of songs written in Open E. It’s the tuning legendary guitarist Duane Allman mainly used for his classic riffs and slide licks. 

Statesboro Blues is a great starting point to learn some blues language in Open E.

Allman Brothers Band – Statesboro Blues Tab

Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way

Joe Walsh also played in Open E in some songs such as Rocky Mountain Way.

This song features easy to learn phrases that you could apply to other songs with ease, making it a great choice to start with.

Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way Tab

The Rolling Stones – No Expectations

The Rolling Stones used open tunings on almost every song in their discography, and although most are in Open G, some other tunes like No Expectations are played in Open E.

Remember, you can always use a capo to transpose your favorite riffs to other keys. For instance, place it on the second fret and you’ve got Open D.

Rolling Stones – No Expectations Tab

Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi

A classic song by Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Taxi uses very simple one-finger barre voicings and other easy chord shapes that will get you used to this tuning in no time.

Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi Tab

Rush – Headlong Flight

The heaviest sounding song on this list, Headlong Flight by Rush proves Open E is useful for more genres of music other than blues and classic rock!

Rush – Headlong Flight Tab

More Songs In Open E Tuning

  • Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
  • Glen Hansard – Say it to Me Now
  • Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks (full album recorded in Open E)
  • Billy Gibbons – Just Got Paid
  • Derek Trucks – Midnight in Harlem
  • Dave Mason – We Just Disagree
  • The Smiths – The Headmaster Ritual
  • Hoobastank – Crawling in the Dark

Conclusion

Open E is a fantastic choice if you’re curious about open tunings. One of the main reasons is that you don’t need to relearn your lowest string, which will help when you need to quickly find the root notes of your chords.

However, take into account that you’ll be subjecting your guitar to a higher tension on its neck, so be careful not to damage it – especially if you’re playing a vintage or particularly valuable guitar.

Make sure to experiment with a slide, your guitar action, string gauge and you might find that this is the tuning for you!

  • Gustavo Pereira

    Gustavo is a Portuguese musician based in Barcelona, where he’s studying jazz and modern music interpretation on the electric guitar. While not writing for KGR, Gustavo busies himself giving online guitar lessons, writing for Guitar Space and other online guitar sites, and travelling to watch his jazz favorites.