Guitar tuning
Open C Tuning
Open C tunes the open strings to a C major chord with a wide, ringing low-to-high spread.
- Notes low to high
- C, G, C, G, C, E
- Strings
- 6
- Default frets
- 24
- Open pitch range
- C2 to E4
- 24-fret pitch range
- C2 to E6
- Also called
- CGCGCE
How this tuning changes the guitar
The open strings spell C-G-C-G-C-E, a wide C major voicing containing three roots, two fifths, and one major third. The large low-string retuning changes tension more substantially than most open tunings.
Fretboard and chord implications
Repeated C and G strings support octave shapes, drones, and broad fingerstyle voicings. A full barre transposes the major chord, while the high E string supplies the third that distinguishes major from suspended or power-chord sounds.
Open C Tuning fretboard notes
Open C Tuning string notes
| String | Note | Pitch |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | C | C2 |
| 5 | G | G2 |
| 4 | C | C3 |
| 3 | G | G3 |
| 2 | C | C4 |
| 1 | E | E4 |
Common uses
- acoustic guitar
- fingerstyle
- ambient guitar
- songwriting
Practice this tuning
- Tune from low to high as C G C G C E, then play each open string while saying its note name and string number aloud.
- Find C, E, and G on each string through fret 12 and connect the nearest chord tone without jumping more than five frets.
- Compose a C-centered pattern that keeps a low C drone while moving triad inversions across the top three strings.
Open this tuning in the fretboard tool
Start with open c tuning loaded, then adjust root, scale, fret count, labels, colors, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboard