Open A tuning (E A E A C♯ E)

Slide and Delta-blues players who want Open G's shapes with more bite.

Open A tunes the open strings to an A major chord: E A E A C♯ E. Like Open E, three strings go up: the fourth to E, the third to A and the second to C♯. The sixth, fifth and first stay in standard.

It is Open G a whole step higher, the tuning of Robert Johnson's and Son House's slide recordings and still a staple for bottleneck players.

Notes and frequencies

From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). Changed strings are highlighted.

From standard tuning

1. String 4: raise D3 up a whole step to E3.
2. String 3: raise G3 up a whole step to A3.
3. String 2: raise B3 up a whole step to C♯4.

The other 3 strings stay in standard.

Tuning to Open A in TuneGlass

1. The app opens in 6-string guitar mode; if you changed the instrument, switch back in Settings.
2. Tap any string circle to open the tuning editor and choose Open A from the presets. Presets beyond the thickest string are part of TuneGlass Pro, a one-time purchase.
3. Play one string at a time. The needle turns green and the scale fills when the string is in tune. Hold a string circle to hear its reference note.

Tips

• Three strings rise, so tune in small turns and listen for the chord locking in. The sixth string E is not part of the A chord but makes a fine bass note.
• Open G with a capo at the second fret gives the same notes without raising any string.

Questions

Related tunings

English