{"id":40,"date":"2025-02-10T05:38:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T05:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everythingsixstring.info\/?p=40"},"modified":"2025-09-16T06:01:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T06:01:38","slug":"open-a-tuning-guitar-how-to-tune-to-open-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-7gu7n.wasmer.app\/index.php\/open-a-tuning-guitar-how-to-tune-to-open-a\/","title":{"rendered":"Open A Tuning Guitar \u2013 How to Tune to Open A"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you want to\u00a0learn the blues on your guitar, it\u2019s a great idea to tune to open A. You can hear open A guitar tuning in some hit songs. For example, I first recognized it in Seven Nation Army\u2019s hit\u00a0The White Stripes<\/a>. So, what is open A guitar tuning, and what are its variations?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Open Tuning on Guitar?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To understand open tuning, let\u2019s look at standard tuning first<\/a>. Your guitar\u2019s tuning is the notes it makes when you strum the strings<\/a> without holding down any frets. So, standard guitar tuning sets the strings in this sequence: E-A-D-G-B-E. Note that this is from left to right, reading from the 6th to the 1st string. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, with open tuning, you\u2019re changing the strings so you can play specific chords without holding the frets. So, for open A guitar tuning, you\u2019ll modify the strings to play an A Major chord<\/a> when you strum it. To do that, you can tune your strings to make these noises instead (left to right): E-A-E-A-C#-E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this tutorial, we\u2019re going to focus on how to tune open A for a six-string guitar. If you need to learn more about how to count guitar strings first, hop over to my other article<\/a> for a crash course! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try another open tuning: Open E guitar tuning<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Tune \u2018Slide\u2019 Open A<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Both open A tuning and slide guitar<\/a> technique are staples for playing the blues. So, if you\u2019re going to learn songs like Crossroads Blues<\/a>, use the variation below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide open A tuning makes your strings have an E-A-E-A-C\u266f-E sequence. Your high E (1st), A (5th), and low E (6th) strings will stay the same. But your D (4th), G (3rd), and B (2nd) strings will change. In order, this is how you\u2019ll tune each one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n