Open C tuning (C G C G C E)
Devin Townsend fans, drone and ambient players, and anyone who wants the widest open chord a six-string can make.
Open C tunes the guitar to a C major chord with a very deep root: C G C G C E. The sixth string drops two whole steps to C, the fifth a whole step to G, the fourth a whole step to C, the third stays at G, the second comes up a half step to C and the first stays at E.
The sound is enormous: three Cs across three octaves under a single E. Devin Townsend built a career on it, and it is a classic for drones and heavy, ringing chords.
Notes and frequencies
From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). Changed strings are highlighted.
| String | Note | Frequency (A4 = 440 Hz) | Change from standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | C2 | 65.41 Hz | −4 semitones from E2 |
| 5 | G2 | 98.00 Hz | −2 semitones from A2 |
| 4 | C3 | 130.81 Hz | −2 semitones from D3 |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz | as standard |
| 2 | C4 | 261.63 Hz | +1 semitone from B3 |
| 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz | as standard |
From standard tuning
- String 6: lower E2 down two whole steps to C2.
- String 5: lower A2 down a whole step to G2.
- String 4: lower D3 down a whole step to C3.
- String 2: raise B3 up a half step to C4.
The other 2 strings stay in standard.
Tuning to Open C in TuneGlass
- The app opens in 6-string guitar mode; if you changed the instrument, switch back in Settings.
- Tap any string circle to open the tuning editor and choose Open C from the presets. Presets beyond the thickest string are part of TuneGlass Pro, a one-time purchase.
- 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
- The sixth string at C is very loose on standard gauges. Many players put a heavier sixth string on (.056 or more) and leave the rest.
- The second string goes up to C. Tighten it slowly; it is the one string in this tuning that can snap.
Questions
What are the notes of Open C?
C G C G C E from low to high, which sounds a C major chord when strummed open.
Which strings change from standard?
Four of them: the sixth down two steps, the fifth and fourth down a whole step each, the second up a half step. The third and first stay.
Related tunings
English