Open C tuning

The open strings sound a C major triad with three Cs and two Gs, so the open chord is heavy on the root. The third appears only on the first string, which makes single-note shapes clear but the open chord thick in the low register.

1st E
2nd C
3rd G
4th C
5th G
6th C

Notes, highest to lowest: C G C G C E
Notes, lowest to highest: E C G C G C
Strings: 6
Interval pattern: 6th to 5th: 7 semitones; 5th to 4th: 5 semitones; 4th to 3rd: 7 semitones; 3rd to 2nd: 5 semitones; 2nd to 1st: 4 semitones
Family: open
Typical scale length: 25.5–26.5 in
Open strings contain: C
Written use: A low, wide slide and fingerstyle tuning, normally strung with heavy gauges because of the slack fifth string.
Key of this tuning: C

Strings

Each string of this tuning, with its scientific pitch, its MIDI note number (middle C is 60) and its distance above the lowest string.

String	Note	Octave	MIDI	Semitones above the lowest	Interval
1st (highest)	E	4	64	28	Major third plus two octaves above the lowest string
2nd	C	4	60	24	Perfect unison plus two octaves above the lowest string
3rd	G	3	55	19	Perfect twelfth above the lowest string
4th	C	3	48	12	Perfect octave above the lowest string
5th	G	2	43	7	Perfect fifth above the lowest string
6th (lowest)	C	2	36	0	the reference string

Common chord shapes

The shapes below were found by searching this tuning's fretboard. The search prefers the lowest playable position, requires every chord tone, spans no more than four frets and allows no muted string between two sounding ones. Shapes in an altered tuning are not the standard ones: they are the shapes this tuning actually produces.

Chord	Shape (lowest string first)	Notes	Degrees	Span	Sounding	Quality
C	0-0-0-0-0-0 (6→1)	C G C G C E	1 5 1 5 1 3	0	6	Major
F	0-2-0-2-0-1 (6→1)	C A C A C F	5 3 5 3 5 1	2	6	Major
G	2-0-2-4-2-3 (6→1)	D G D B D G	5 1 5 3 5 1	4	6	Major
Am	0-2-0-2-0-0 (6→1)	C A C A C E	b3 1 b3 1 b3 5	2	6	Minor
C7	0-0-0-3-0-0 (6→1)	C G C A# C E	1 5 1 b7 1 3	3	6	Dominant seventh
Csus4	0-0-0-0-0-1 (6→1)	C G C G C F	1 5 1 5 1 4	1	6	Suspended fourth

Chord

Shape (lowest string first)

Notes

Degrees

Span

Sounding

Quality

0-0-0-0-0-0 (6→1)

C G C G C E

1 5 1 5 1 3

Major

0-2-0-2-0-1 (6→1)

C A C A C F

5 3 5 3 5 1

Major

2-0-2-4-2-3 (6→1)

D G D B D G

5 1 5 3 5 1

Major

0-2-0-2-0-0 (6→1)

C A C A C E

b3 1 b3 1 b3 5

Minor

0-0-0-3-0-0 (6→1)

C G C A# C E

1 5 1 b7 1 3

Dominant seventh

Csus4

0-0-0-0-0-1 (6→1)

C G C G C F

1 5 1 5 1 4

Suspended fourth

Diatonic chords in C

The seven triads built on the major scale of this tuning's home key, each as a playable shape in this tuning.

Numeral	Chord	Notes	Shape (lowest string first)	Sounding	Quality
I	C	C E G	0-0-0-0-0-0 (6→1)	6	Major
ii	Dm	D F A	2-2-2-2-2-1 (6→1)	6	Minor
iii	Em	E G B	4-0-4-4-4-0 (6→1)	6	Minor
IV	F	F A C	0-2-0-2-0-1 (6→1)	6	Major
V	G	G B D	2-0-2-4-2-3 (6→1)	6	Major
vi	Am	A C E	0-2-0-2-0-0 (6→1)	6	Minor
vii°	Bdim	B D F	2-4-2-4-2-1 (6→1)	6	Diminished

Numeral

Chord

Notes

Shape (lowest string first)

Sounding

Quality

C E G

0-0-0-0-0-0 (6→1)

Major

D F A

2-2-2-2-2-1 (6→1)

Minor

iii

E G B

4-0-4-4-4-0 (6→1)

Minor

F A C

0-2-0-2-0-1 (6→1)

Major

G B D

2-0-2-4-2-3 (6→1)

Major

A C E

0-2-0-2-0-0 (6→1)

Minor

vii°

Bdim

B D F

2-4-2-4-2-1 (6→1)

Diminished

What this tuning is used for

A low, wide slide and fingerstyle tuning, normally strung with heavy gauges because of the slack fifth string.

GenreFingerstyleUsed for low drone-based arrangements in C.
GenreBlues and slideUsed where a deep root is wanted under a major triad.

Related tunings

TuningOpen Gan open C with fewer repeated roots
TuningOpen Aa fourth higher
TuningDADGADa suspended rather than a major open chord

Everything in C · All tunings

TuningOpen G tuning — D G D G B DD G D G B D · 6 strings
TuningOpen A tuning — E A C# E A EE A C# E A E · 6 strings
TuningDADGAD tuning — D A D G A DD A D G A D · 6 strings
TuningDADGAD with a low C tuning — C G D G A DC G D G A D · 6 strings
TuningDrop C tuning — C G C F A DC G C F A D · 6 strings
ChordC11 — Dominant eleventh1 9 3 11 5 b7 · C D E F G Bb
ChordC13 — Dominant thirteenth1 9 3 5 13 b7 · C D E G A Bb
ChordC6 — Sixth1 3 5 6 · C E G A

Everything in this key: C · Tunings · Theory Atlas