Slide blues · roots rock · fingerstyle
Open A Tuning Chords & Fretboard (EAEAC#E)
The fretboard is in Open A: E–A–E–A–C#–E, which is Open G raised a whole step. All six strings ring an A major chord, a straight bar at fret 5 is D and fret 7 is E, and one finger turns the open chord into sus4, 6th, 7th or maj7. Pick any chord below for voicings — then read the tension note, because three strings tune up.
- E–A–E–A–C#–E
- Open strings = A major
- Open G + capo 2 = same notes
- Three strings tune UP
Fretboard & chord finder
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Chord voicings
Every playable voicing of each chord in the current key, ranked V1–Vn up the neck. Filter by difficulty or chord type, and use ← → on a card to step through its voicings.
Progression looper & tab
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String tension calculator
Total: 103.8 lbs • Avg: 17.3 lbs • All Strings Safe (Balanced) • Custom .010–.046
| Str | Pitch | Scale | Gauge | Tension | Status |
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Guitar tuner
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Odd-time drum machine
Program custom odd-meter drum grooves in 4/4, 5/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, or 11/8, or enable Sync with Chord Looper so the kit plays behind your chord progressions.
Chord identifier & capo transposer
Tap frets on the neck below or type any 6-string fret grip (like 0-5-3-0-0-0 or X-3-2-0-1-0) to identify every possible chord name, interval formula, and capo equivalent.
Capo & Alternate-Tuning Transposer Equivalents
See how to play this exact concert chord using different capo positions or alternate tunings.
Fretboard & ear trainer
Master note locations across unfamiliar tunings (FACGCE, DAEAC#E, DADGAD, Standard), sharpen interval ear recognition, drill scale degrees, and spell complex chord formulas.
When practicing in alternate tunings such as FACGCE or DAEAC#E, the trainer dynamically recalculates fretboard intervals, open drone strings, and chord voicings so you build genuine muscle memory.
Open A tuning explained
Open A (E–A–E–A–C#–E) tunes the guitar to an A major chord with the fifth, E, on the bottom and top strings. It is exactly Open G raised a whole step, so every Open G shape, riff and slide lick works here, just brighter and in A — a natural key for blues and for singing along with harmonica players. The top five strings (A–E–A–C#–E) are also identical to the math-rock tuning DAEAC#E, which only differs in its low D.
The 2nd string carries the major third (C#), so the colour of the whole chord lives on one string: fret it once for sus4 (D), drop to the 1st string at fret 2 or 3 for the 6th (F#) or flat 7th (G), or fret 4 there for the maj7 (G#). With a slide, straight bars give A (open), C (3), D (5), E (7), G (10) and A again at 12 — a complete I–IV–V blues with no fretting at all.
How to tune to Open A from standard
- 6th string: E — unchanged.
- 5th string: A — unchanged.
- 4th string: D → E (up a whole step).
- 3rd string: G → A (up a whole step).
- 2nd string: B → C# (up a whole step).
- 1st string: E — unchanged.
Tension warning: three strings go up a whole step, which raises each of their tensions by roughly a quarter — the same strain as DAEAC#E. A healthy electric with a .009 or .010 set copes fine, but the plain 3rd string is the one most likely to snap. On acoustics, vintage instruments or heavier sets, the usual answer is to tune to Open G and capo at fret 2: identical pitches, no extra tension. Check the numbers in the tension calculator.
Some players use a different "Open A" voicing, E–A–C#–E–A–E (Open E's layout moved up); always check which one a song or tab expects. The fretboard above accepts either as a custom tuning.
Essential EAEAC#E chord shapes
⬇ Printable EAEAC#E chord chart (PDF)Diagrams show strings low to high (6 → 1, left to right). × = don't play that string, ○ = open string, orange = the root note. Every shape was checked note-by-note against the tuning. Press Play to load it on the fretboard above and hear it.
All six strings open: A major with E in the bass.
Skip the low E for a root-position A major.
D at fret 1 on the 2nd string — the open-tuning hammer-on chord.
B on the 3rd string for a shimmering Aadd9.
F# on the 1st string — the country/boogie 6th.
G on the 1st string for the dominant 7th.
G# on the 1st string.
Straight barre (or slide) at fret 5 — the IV chord.
Two fingers at fret 5 with open strings ringing.
Straight barre at fret 7 — the V chord.
Open-position V chord suspension that resolves to A.
Dominant 7th over the open E strings.
One finger at fret 2 on the 6th string — the relative minor.
Plain F# minor; mute the high E.
The ii chord, compact and barre-free.
Four-string B minor.
The iii chord with open top strings.
Suggested starting point on a 25.5" scale: .009–.042 or .010–.046 electric; use Open G + capo 2 on acoustic. Run your own gauges through the tension lab before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Open A the same as Open G with a capo?▾
Yes. Open G (D–G–D–G–B–D) with a capo at fret 2 sounds E–A–E–A–C#–E, identical to Open A. Using the capo avoids tuning three strings up, so it is the safer option on acoustic and vintage guitars.
Will Open A damage my guitar?▾
Raising three strings a whole step adds tension but is within what a sound modern guitar handles. Use a fresh .009–.010 set on electric, tune up gradually, and expect the plain 3rd string to be the weakest link. On fragile acoustics, use Open G plus a capo at 2.
What is the difference between Open A and DAEAC#E?▾
Only the 6th string. Open A has a low E (the fifth of A), DAEAC#E drops it to D, which turns the open chord into A over D. Every shape on strings 5–1 is identical between the two.
What is Open A good for?▾
Slide blues and boogie in A, open-string fingerpicking, and playing along with harmonica players and singers who like the key of A. Straight barres give a full I–IV–V (A at the nut, D at 5, E at 7).
Related tools & tunings
Found a mistake or want a tuning covered? Leave a note on Ko-fi. Last updated 2026-10-28.