FretPitch

E A E A C♯ E

Open A Tuning

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Ready when you are

The tuner listens through your microphone.

    Choose a tuning

      An A major chord on the open strings — Open G a whole step higher, with a bright tone for slide guitar.

      Press Start tuning, pluck a string and turn its peg until the needle is centred and green. The tuner already knows the Open A notes, so it tells you which string you are tuning.

      Open A notes and frequencies

      From the thickest string to the thinnest, and how far each one moves from standard tuning:

      StringNoteFrequencyFrom standard
      6th (thickest)E282.41 HzNo change
      5thA2110.00 HzNo change
      4thE3164.81 HzUp 2 semitones (a whole step)
      3rdA3220.00 HzUp 2 semitones (a whole step)
      2ndC♯4277.18 HzUp 2 semitones (a whole step)
      1st (thinnest)E4329.63 HzNo change

      About Open A

      Open A — E A E A C♯ E — makes the open strings sound an A major chord. It has exactly the same intervals as Open G, a whole step higher, so any Open G riff or chord shape works unchanged. From standard, the 6th, 5th and 1st strings stay where they are, while the 4th (D → E), 3rd (G → A) and 2nd (B → C♯) strings are each raised a whole step.

      The higher tension gives a bright, cutting tone and a firm feel under a slide, which is why it is popular for slide blues and rock.

      Tips

      • Raise strings slowly and stop at the target; three strings go up a whole step, which adds tension to the neck.
      • Prefer less tension? Tune to Open G and put a capo on the 2nd fret — the result sounds the same.

      Other tunings

      See all tunings →