TUNING REFERENCE

Open A tuning

E · A · E · A · C# · E

Open A is a 6-string guitar tuning with open strings E–A–E–A–C#–E.

Instrument
6-String Guitar
Strings
6
Open notes
E A E A C# E
With octaves
E2 A2 E3 A3 C#4 E4

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

E Minor on the fretboard

Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.

Choose a scale to see it in Open A. A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.

6-String Guitar referenceE Minor scale in this tuning

6-String Guitar · Open A · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

E Minor in Open A on 6-String GuitarPhysical string order is preserved, with the first catalog string at the bottom. Read exact frets and pitches in the table below. Roots carry an R marker.0123456789101112E2A2E3A3C#4E4String 1, fret 0: E2, rootERString 1, fret 2: F#2F#String 1, fret 3: G2GString 1, fret 5: A2AString 1, fret 7: B2BString 1, fret 8: C3CString 1, fret 10: D3DString 1, fret 12: E3, rootERString 2, fret 0: A2AString 2, fret 2: B2BString 2, fret 3: C3CString 2, fret 5: D3DString 2, fret 7: E3, rootERString 2, fret 9: F#3F#String 2, fret 10: G3GString 2, fret 12: A3AString 3, fret 0: E3, rootERString 3, fret 2: F#3F#String 3, fret 3: G3GString 3, fret 5: A3AString 3, fret 7: B3BString 3, fret 8: C4CString 3, fret 10: D4DString 3, fret 12: E4, rootERString 4, fret 0: A3AString 4, fret 2: B3BString 4, fret 3: C4CString 4, fret 5: D4DString 4, fret 7: E4, rootERString 4, fret 9: F#4F#String 4, fret 10: G4GString 4, fret 12: A4AString 5, fret 1: D4DString 5, fret 3: E4, rootERString 5, fret 5: F#4F#String 5, fret 6: G4GString 5, fret 8: A4AString 5, fret 10: B4BString 5, fret 11: C5CString 6, fret 0: E4, rootERString 6, fret 2: F#4F#String 6, fret 3: G4GString 6, fret 5: A4AString 6, fret 7: B4BString 6, fret 8: C5CString 6, fret 10: D5DString 6, fret 12: E5, rootER

Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.

Fret positions and pitches · first catalog string to last
Open stringFretsNotes with octaves
1 · E20 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E2 · F#2 · G2 · A2 · B2 · C3 · D3 · E3
2 · A20 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12A2 · B2 · C3 · D3 · E3 · F#3 · G3 · A3
3 · E30 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E3 · F#3 · G3 · A3 · B3 · C4 · D4 · E4
4 · A30 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12A3 · B3 · C4 · D4 · E4 · F#4 · G4 · A4
5 · C#41 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 11D4 · E4 · F#4 · G4 · A4 · B4 · C5
6 · E40 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12E4 · F#4 · G4 · A4 · B4 · C5 · D5 · E5

Intervals from the first string

Each interval is measured by pitch class from the first physical open string. String order is preserved for re-entrant and doubled-course tunings.

StringNoteSemitonesInterval
1E20Root
2A25Perfect 4th
3E30Root
4A35Perfect 4th
5C#49Major 6th
6E40Root

Compare with Standard

Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Standard. Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.

StringDefault pitchThis tuningChange
1E2E20 semitones
2A2A20 semitones
3D3E3+2 semitones
4G3A3+2 semitones
5B3C#4+2 semitones
6E4E40 semitones

Explore this string layout

Browse 6-string guitar tunings. Related tunings below prioritize the default tuning, matching interval structures, and nearby open-string pitches.

Chords available in the open strings

A Major

Scales containing every open-string pitch class

C# MinorD MajorE MajorF# MinorF# Minor pentatonicA MajorA Major pentatonicB Minor

Related tunings

StandardOpen GOpen EDrop D

TAKE IT TO THE FRETBOARD

Explore this reference in Tunings

Use the interactive workbench for custom tunings, translation, saved instruments, fingering tools, and advanced analysis.

Open Tunings