The Open E Minor tuning for the guitar is a powerful and resonant setup that immediately brings the instrument into the key of E minor. This tuning is renowned for its ease of playing minor chords and creating strong, driving drone effects, making it a favorite for blues, slide guitar, and various forms of rock and folk music.

Technical Analysis

• Instrument Type: This tuning is designed for the Guitar.
• Tuning Structure: The open strings are tuned to E2-B2-E3-G3-B3-E4, creating a full E minor chord across the instrument.
• String Modifications: Compared to standard tuning (E A D G B E), only two strings are altered: the 5th string (A) is raised a whole step to B, and the 4th string (D) is raised a whole step to E. The low E, G, B, and high E strings remain at their standard pitches.
• Harmonic Foundation: The prominent E and B notes across multiple octaves strongly reinforce the root and fifth of the E minor chord, providing a rich, full sound when all open strings are strummed. The G note on the 3rd string provides the minor third, completing the triad.

Open Chords and Possibilities

With the Open E Minor tuning, the guitar itself becomes an E minor chord, allowing for immediate and powerful open voicings simply by strumming all strings. This setup greatly simplifies playing minor chords:

• One-Finger Minor Chords: By using a single finger or a slide to barre all strings across a fret, you can instantly create different minor chords. For example, barring all strings at the 1st fret yields F minor, at the 3rd fret gives G minor, and at the 5th fret gives A minor.
• Drone & Rhythm: The strong open minor chord provides an excellent foundation for rhythmic playing, enabling a driving, almost percussive feel, especially when combined with single-note melodies on the higher strings.
• Slide Guitar: This tuning is particularly well-suited for slide guitar, as the parallel intervals allow for smooth glissandos and easy formation of minor chords by simply sliding a single bar or slide along the fretboard.

While primarily focused on minor tonalities, experienced players can find ways to voice major chords or other extended harmonies with more intricate fingerings, adapting to the unique intervallic relationships this tuning offers.

The final open string notes for the Open E Minor tuning are as follows:

• String 6 (Low E): E2
• String 5 (A String in Standard): B2
• String 4 (D String in Standard): E3
• String 3 (G String in Standard): G3
• String 2 (B String in Standard): B3
• String 1 (High E): E4

How to Tune

To achieve the Open E Minor tuning, start from standard E A D G B E tuning and apply the following adjustments:

• String 6 (Low E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 5 (A String): Tune up 2 semitones to B.
• String 4 (D String): Tune up 2 semitones to E.
• String 3 (G String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 2 (B String): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (High E): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

Important Note on String Tension: Tuning strings up by 2 semitones (a whole step) is generally considered safe for standard light to medium gauge guitar strings. However, always tune slowly and carefully, checking the pitch frequently. For any string movements exceeding 4 semitones (up or down), it is strongly recommended to consider using a different string gauge specifically designed for higher or lower tension to prevent string breakage or potential damage to your instrument's neck and bridge.