OPEN TUNING / REFERENCE
Open A tuning.
The open strings form A major over a low E bass. Straight barres move that major chord, with the fifth remaining in the bass.
3 STRING CHANGES
D→E · G→A · B→C♯
LOW TO HIGH · STRINGS 6 TO 1
AGT / TUNING MAP · 440 HZ
E A E A C♯ E
STRING 6
E
STRING 5
A
STRING 4
E
STRING 3
A
STRING 2
C♯
STRING 1
E
HOW TO TUNE
Set each string to its target pitch.
This version raises strings 4, 3 and 2. Tune cautiously and stop if tension feels excessive. Open G with capo 2 is an alternative route to the same sounding pitches.
01 · String 6: keep E2; String 5: keep A2.
02 · String 4: raise D3 to E3 (2 semitones); String 3: raise G3 to A3 (2 semitones).
03 · String 2: raise B3 to C♯4 (2 semitones); String 1: keep E4.
After each full pass, recheck all six strings with a chromatic tuner. Stop if a string feels unusually tight.
KEEP YOUR BEARINGS
Check notes before names.
A familiar grip can sound different after retuning. Read the tuning map and use the chord explorer before trusting a shape name.
Notes and fingerings are shown from string 6 to string 1.
WHAT ACTUALLY CHANGES
An A major chord before you fret a note.
These are sounding pitches, shown from string 6 to string 1: E2, A2, E3, A3, C♯4, E4.
What transfers
✓ Strings 6, 5 and 1 keep their standard pitches.
✓ A straight six-string barre preserves a major chord.
✓ Open G shapes have the same geometry, sounding two semitones higher.
What needs checking
· Raise strings 4 and 3 by two semitones and string 2 by two.
· The low E is the fifth of A, not its root.
· Open G plus capo 2 gives these sounding pitches without retuning upward.
CHORD & SCALE EXPLORER
Start with A. Move from there.
Use the selected starter shapes, search another chord, or map a scale across frets 0 to 15. This explorer is set to Open A.
These selected charts are the practical starting points for this tuning.
Familiar shapes appear first where available. Choose a shape that suits your hand. Where a fifth is omitted, the chart says so. For a first set to practise, open Starter chords.
The high string is shown at the top and the low string at the bottom. Scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
THE BARRE SHORTCUT
One finger. Six strings.
A straight six-string barre gives a major chord. The fifth is in the bass.
A
OPEN
B
FRET 2
D
FRET 5
E
FRET 7
G
FRET 10
A
FRET 12
FIRST PROGRESSION
A major → D major → E major → D major
Strum all six strings at frets 0, 5, 7 and 5. The chords are A, D, E and D major; their bass notes are E, A, B and A.
SCALE MAP
Open A: find A major.
On string 5, play frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12: A, B, C♯, D, E, F♯, G♯, then A.
Play the notes slowly in order, then reverse them. Keep the timing even and let each note speak.
0 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12
Choose the same root and scale in the explorer to see the notes on all six strings.
The high string is shown at the top of the scale map. Each row follows one string.
RELATED TUNING
Open A or Open G?
Use Open A
Choose Open A for A-major sounding pitches. Choose Open G when you prefer to lower strings, then add capo 2 if you need the same pitch level.
Explore Open G
Open the related reference and compare the six string pitches before changing a familiar shape.
Explore Open G tuning →QUICK REFERENCE
Open A tuning checks
What are the open-string pitches?
Strings 6 to 1: E2, A2, E3, A3, C♯4, E4.
What do the chord names mean?
They name the sounding notes in this tuning. A familiar fingering can have a different chord name after retuning. The fingering numbers run from string 6 to string 1; x means mute.
Can I use a different octave?
Use the octave numbers in the tuning map. A pitch-class match alone does not tell you that a string is in the intended octave.
How do I get back to standard?
Return strings 6 to 1 to E2, A2, D3, G3, B3 and E4. Recheck every string with a chromatic tuner.