My Chord Finder
GUITAR · E B E G# B E
Open E tuning chords
Open E tuning is E B E G# B E from the low string to the high string. Strum all six open strings and you hear an E major chord with E in the bass. Pick a root and chord type below to see the frets, the note each string sounds, and hear the shape.
OPEN E CHORD LIBRARY
E major0 0 0 0 0 0
Open E · E2 B2 E3 G#3 B3 E4
Low E is the root; the open strings form E major.
Each choice is checked against the Open E strings. Fret codes run low to high; 0 means open and X means muted.
Finger row: suggested finger — 1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 pinky; – not fretted. A bar means one finger holds several strings.
SELECTED SHAPE
E major
Open E · 0 0 0 0 0 0
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 · E | O | E2 | Root |
| 5 · B | O | B2 | Perfect fifth |
| 4 · E | O | E3 | Root |
| 3 · G# | O | G#3 | Major third |
| 2 · B | O | B3 | Perfect fifth |
| 1 · E | O | E4 | Root |
Hear shape plays recorded acoustic guitar samples, one note per string.
Tune from standard to Open E
Three strings go up and three stay where they are. The A and D strings rise a whole step and the G string rises a half step. Raising strings adds tension, so tune up slowly and check the neck after a few minutes. If you would rather not raise any string, tune to Open D and put a capo at fret 2: every shape on this page then works the same way.
| String | Standard | Open E | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | E2 | E2 | no change |
| 5 | A2 | B2 | up 2 |
| 4 | D3 | E3 | up 2 |
| 3 | G3 | G#3 | up 1 |
| 2 | B3 | B3 | no change |
| 1 | E4 | E4 | no change |
Play E, A and B with one finger
The open strings already form E major, so one finger laid across all six strings moves that chord up the neck. Fret 5 gives A (A E A C# E A) and fret 7 gives B (B F# B D# F# B). That is the I, IV and V of E. Tap each chord, then play the three in a row.
Minor and seventh chords need a different shape
A straight barre only makes major chords, because the major 3rd (G# in E) sits on string 3. For a minor or seventh chord, one or two strings have to move off the barre. The shapes below come from the chord tool above; tap a row to load it there.
| Chord | Frets (low → high) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0 0 0 3 0 3 | E2 · B2 · E3 · B3 · B3 · G4 | |
| 0 1 0 1 1 0 | E2 · C3 · E3 · A3 · C4 · E4 | |
| 0 0 0 0 3 0 | E2 · B2 · E3 · G#3 · D4 · E4 | |
| 0 5 4 5 5 5 | E2 · E3 · G#3 · C#4 · E4 · A4 |
Open E chord questions
What notes are in Open E tuning?
E B E G# B E, low to high (E2 B2 E3 G#3 B3 E4): the notes of an E major chord.
How do you tune to Open E?
Raise the A and D strings a whole step to B and E, and the G string a half step to G#. The low E, B and high E stay the same.
Is Open E the same as Open D with a capo?
Yes for the shapes. Open E is Open D (D A D F# A D) with every string a whole step higher, so a capo at fret 2 in Open D gives the same notes.
Is Open E tuning bad for the guitar?
Three strings go up, so string tension rises. Tune slowly; if it feels too tight, use Open D with a capo at fret 2.
How is Open E different from Open A?
Both keep the low E string. Open A (E A E A C# E) strums A major with E, its fifth, in the bass; Open E (E B E G# B E) strums E major with the root E in the bass.