Open C# is a classic blues standard tuning, offering a rich and resonant foundation for your playing. This tuning transforms your guitar into an instrument that naturally rings with a C# major chord when strummed open, making it exceptionally intuitive for slide guitar and creating powerful, full-bodied sounds with minimal effort.

Technically, this is an Open C# Major tuning, meaning the open strings spell out the notes C#, F, and G# across the fretboard. The specific note arrangement is C#3 G#3 C#4 F3 G#4 C#5. This configuration creates a C# major triad (C#-F-G#) with doubled roots and fifths, giving it a powerful, harmonically complete sound. Because the open strings form a major chord, barring across any single fret will automatically yield a major chord in that respective key. For instance, a single finger barred across the 1st fret will produce a D Major chord, and across the 2nd fret an Eb Major chord, and so on. This simplicity makes it a favorite for blues, folk, and rock musicians looking for open, droning sounds and easy chord changes.

How to Tune

• Low E String (6th String): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C#3. Please take care when tuning down 3 semitones to avoid potential string damage or instability, especially if your strings are old or of a lighter gauge.
• A String (5th String): Tune down 1 semitone from A to G#3.
• D String (4th String): Tune down 1 semitone from D to C#4.
• G String (3rd String): Tune down 2 semitones from G to F3.
• B String (2nd String): Tune down 3 semitones from B to G#4. Please take care when tuning down 3 semitones to avoid potential string damage or instability, especially if your strings are old or of a lighter gauge.
• High E String (1st String): Tune down 3 semitones from E to C#5. Please take care when tuning down 3 semitones to avoid potential string damage or instability, especially if your strings are old or of a lighter gauge.

String 6 (Low E): C3#

String 5 (A): G3#

String 4 (D): C4#

String 3 (G): F3

String 2 (B): G4#

String 1 (High E): C5#