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Guitar tuning

Open E

Open D's shapes, a whole step up — the open strings ring an E major chord.

Electric · 6 in line
E2B2E3G♯3B3E4
Acoustic · 3 + 3
E2B2E3E4B3G♯3
6th
E2
82.4 Hz
5th
B2
123.5 Hz
4th
E3
164.8 Hz
3rd
G♯3
207.7 Hz
2nd
B3
246.9 Hz
1st
E4
329.6 Hz

Note names won’t tune your guitar.

Knowing the strings should read E B E G♯ B E is the easy half. Landing each frequency — and knowing whether you are nine cents flat or three — is the half that needs an ear or an instrument.

1
Open Dial and play a string
It listens as soon as you play. Nothing to press.
2
Turn each peg until the needle centres
Three strings tune up: A to B, D to E, and G to G sharp. Go gently — they are under extra tension.
3
Check the remaining strings
Changing tension on one string shifts the neck slightly. The rest usually need a nudge.
Get Dial for iPhone Standard tuning free
Alternate tunings, one-time unlock
Dial showing the low E string at 82.4 hertz, needle centred

What Open E is for

Duane Allman and Derek Trucks territory. Same intervals as Open D but brighter and tighter — and harder on the neck, since three strings tune up rather than down. Some players prefer Open D with a capo at the second fret to spare the guitar.

A few chords to try

E
Open
A
Barre 5th
5fr
B
Barre 7th
7fr

Nearby tunings