How to Tune an Acoustic Guitar to Open A

The standard tuning for a guitar is EADGBE where each letter in the sequence indicates the note that an unfretted (open) string plays, proceeding from the lowest to the highest string. However, there are other tunings that are used for many purposes.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Observe the open A tuning. It is EAEAC#E and may be achieved from standard tuning by tuning the second through fourth strings up by two half-steps.

2. Notice that this tuning has the same effect as fretting the second through fourth strings at the second fret in the familiar A major chord. The guitar now plays an A chord when all of the strings are open, thus the name "open A tuning."

3. Examine the value of an open A tuning on a slide guitar. Because all six strings form an A chord with the open strings, a slide player can now form any desired chord simply by placing the slide across all six strings (or at least the first three) at the correct fret.

4. Use the first two fingers of the fret hand to provide additional chord voicings in the open A tuning. The presence of the slide on the ring finger limits the chord patterns that may be used but some are still available to the slide player.

5. Play in a pure slide style with open A tuning. Lap or pedal steel guitars are played in this manner and the frets are used only as a visual reference. Dobros and other resonator guitars also use this technique frequently.