Open A Tuning on Guitar: How to Tune, Play, and Use It

Open A tuning is one of the great unexplored territories for guitarists who’ve only ever played in standard tuning or maybe tried drop D. When you tune your guitar to open A, strumming all six strings produces a rich A major chord - and every major chord along the neck is a single barre across all six strings. This opens up a world of slide guitar, blues riffs, and resonant chord voicings that standard tuning can’t replicate.

Open A Tuning: The Notes

Open A tuning (also called “Spanish tuning” in some contexts): E - A - E - A - C# - E

From low to high: E, A, E, A, C#, E

Compared to standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E):

String 1 (high E): stays the same (E)
String 2 (B): goes UP to C# (up one whole step + a half step… actually up a half step)

Wait, let me recalculate:

Standard: E - A - D - G - B - E Open A: E - A - E - A - C# - E

Changes from standard:

String 6 (low E): stays E - no change
String 5 (A): stays A - no change
String 4 (D): goes UP to E (up a whole step)
String 3 (G): goes UP to A (up a whole step)
String 2 (B): goes UP to C# (up a whole step)
String 1 (high E): stays E - no change

So strings 4, 3, and 2 all go up one whole step. Strings 1, 5, and 6 stay the same.

Important: Raising three strings one whole step increases the tension significantly. If your guitar strings are already at medium gauge, tune slowly and carefully. This tuning puts more stress on the neck than standard tuning. Many players use lighter strings (10s instead of 12s) when playing in open A.

How to Tune to Open A

Start in standard tuning
Play your string 5 (A string) - this is your reference pitch
Tune string 4 up until it matches your A string exactly (you’re raising D up to E)
Tune string 3 up until it matches your string 2 when played at the 4th fret… actually the simplest approach: tune each string by ear to an A major chord shape that you already know.

Using a tuner: Simply tune each string to the target pitch: E - A - E - A - C# - E. Any chromatic tuner will show these exact pitches.

By ear: Strum open and listen for the A major chord quality. If any string clashes, adjust until it blends into the chord.

Basic Chord Shapes in Open A

The Open String Chord = A Major

Strum all six strings open. You’re playing A major. Already more resonant than a standard open A chord.

Major Chords = Single Barre Across All Strings

This is the defining feature of open tunings: one finger across all strings plays a major chord.

2nd fret barre = B major
3rd fret barre = C major (approximately, actually C# major… let me recalculate)

In open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E), the open chord is A major. Moving up frets:

Fret 2 = B major
Fret 4 = C# major (or Db)
Fret 5 = D major
Fret 7 = E major
Fret 9 = F# major
Fret 12 = A major (octave up)

For a standard I-IV-V in A: A (open) - D (5th fret) - E (7th fret)

These three barres are all you need for blues and rock in A. The ease of this is one reason slide guitarists love open tunings.

Other Chord Shapes

Beyond barres, you can create interesting voicings by fretting individual strings:

A7 (Dominant 7th):

e|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---2---|
A|---0---|
A|---0---|
E|---0---|

Asus4:

e|---0---|
B|---3---|
G|---2---|
A|---0---|
A|---0---|
E|---0---|

Am (A minor):

e|---0---|
B|---0---|
G|---1---|
A|---2---|
A|---0---|
E|---0---|

Fret the C# string (string 2) down one half step to C to convert the major chord to minor.

Slide Guitar in Open A

Open A is a classic slide guitar tuning. The open strings form a chord, so the slide simply moves the chord up and down the neck without needing to fret anything.

How to Use a Slide

Hold the slide on your ring or pinky finger, lightly resting on top of the strings - don’t press down. The slide should float above the fret you want, directly above the metal fret bar (not between frets).

Basic slide positions:

Open strings = A major
5th fret = D major (slide lightly across all strings)
7th fret = E major
12th fret = A major (one octave up)

For a basic three-chord blues in A: slide between open, 5th fret, and 7th fret.

Muting the Slide

Slide guitar in standard tuning requires some left-hand muting to prevent unwanted string noise. In open A, the muting comes from your other fingers trailing behind the slide (resting on the strings without pressing down) to dampen string resonance.

Single-String Slide Work

Beyond full-bar sliding, you can slide individual strings or pairs. In open A:

Single-string slide on the high E creates a clear lead melody
Two-string slide on strings 1 and 2 creates parallel thirds

Songs and Artists Using Open A

Derek and the Dominos / Eric Clapton - “Layla” uses open A-style guitar (actually open E in the slide section, but closely related).

The Rolling Stones - Keith Richards frequently uses open G and open A-based tunings for his rhythm work. “Gimme Shelter” has open-tuning DNA.

Joni Mitchell - Mitchell used dozens of alternate tunings, with open A variants appearing throughout her discography.

Mississippi Fred McDowell - A delta blues master whose slide work in open A defines the raw, unprocessed slide guitar sound.

Bonnie Raitt - Modern slide guitar in a blues-rock context, using open A tuning for her signature slide lines.

Chord Progressions in Open A

Basic 12-Bar Blues in A

The 12-bar blues is the natural home for open A playing. Using single barre chords:

Bars	Chord	Fret Position
1-4	A	open
5-6	D	5th fret
7-8	A	open
9	E	7th fret
10	D	5th fret
11-12	A	open

Open A Rock Progression

A - D - E (open, 5th fret, 7th fret)

Loop these three barre chords. Add some slide movement between chord positions for texture.

Open A with Voice Leading

One of the advantages of open tunings is easy voice leading - you can fret individual strings within a barre position to create chord variations.

A major to A7: Release the ring finger (or one finger) on the C# string to create the minor 7th (G natural) - actually in open A this creates a suspended or dominant variation depending on which string you adjust.

Experiment with fretting and releasing individual strings within barre positions to find voicings that standard tuning can’t produce.

Retuning Tips

Returning to standard tuning after open A requires bringing strings 4, 3, and 2 back down. Tune slowly and in small increments. Don’t forget to check string 3 and 4 carefully - going from A back to G and D respectively.

If you plan to switch between tunings frequently, consider:

A second guitar kept in open A
Lighter gauge strings that handle the increased tension better
A clip-on tuner to confirm you’re back in standard before playing with others

Try This in Guitar Wiz

While Guitar Wiz’s Chord Library primarily shows standard tuning shapes, use it to look up A major, D major, and E major chord theory - understanding which notes make up each chord helps you understand what you’re playing when you barre at different frets in open A. The root, 3rd, and 5th of each chord are exactly what rings across all strings at each barre position. The Guitar Wiz Tuner can help you confirm each string pitch when tuning up to open A - just match each string to its target pitch (E-A-E-A-C#-E) before you start playing.

Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store - Explore the Chord Library

Conclusion

Open A tuning is a doorway to a different guitar experience - especially for slide playing and blues. The immediate chord accessibility (every barre is a major chord) and the resonant open-string sound make it worth exploring even if it’s just a weekend experiment. Tune up carefully, try some single-barre chord progressions, and if you have a slide, lay it across the strings for an instant delta blues moment. It’s one of the most rewarding tunings to explore.

FAQ

What is the difference between open A and open E tuning?

Open E tuning is E-B-E-G#-B-E (all strings make an E major chord open). Open A tuning is E-A-E-A-C#-E. Open E requires raising three strings like open A, but the resulting chord is E instead of A. Many guitarists use a capo at the 2nd fret in open A to effectively create an open B tuning.

Is open A the same as Spanish tuning?

The term “Spanish tuning” historically refers to various open tunings and is not universally standardized. Some sources use it for open G, others for open A. It’s best to use “open A” with the specific tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) to avoid ambiguity.

Can open A damage my guitar?

Raising three strings by a whole step increases neck tension compared to standard tuning. Most modern guitars handle this fine, but very old or delicate instruments may be stressed. Use lighter strings if you plan to stay in open A for extended periods.