GuitarTuner.online

12-String Guitar tuner – Open E

E-E-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-B-B-E-E · Open

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Microphone off
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Press “Start tuner” – the browser will ask for microphone access. Sound is analysed on this device and never uploaded.

This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your 12-String Guitar is to Open E tuning (E-E-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-B-B-E-E). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.

About Open E tuning

Compared with Standard, Open E moves 6 strings. Every change is upward, the largest by 2 semitones, so the strings pull tighter than in Standard.6 strings stay exactly where they were.

How Open E differs from Standard, string by string.
StringStandardOpen EChange
3A2B2up 2 semitones
4A3B3up 2 semitones
5D3E3up 2 semitones
6D4E4up 2 semitones
7G3G#3up 1 semitone
8G4G#4up 1 semitone

Played open, the strings sound E-E-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-B-B-E-E – from E2 at the bottom to G#4 at the top, a span of 2 octaves and 4 semitones.

Open E is re-entrant: the strings do not rise steadily in pitch, so the string nearest your thumb is not the lowest note available. That is deliberate, and it is a large part of why the instrument sounds the way it does.

Strummed open, with nothing fretted, the strings spell E. That is what makes a tuning like this useful for slide playing and drones – a full chord is one straight barre away at any fret. See E shapes in this tuning →

The strings are pulled above their normal pitch, so a lighter set reduces the risk of breaking a string or over-loading the neck.

History

Where the Open E tuning comes from

Open E on the twelve-string is the brighter relative of open D. The extra tension from raising strings on a twelve-string is significant, so many players prefer open D with a capo.

History of the instrument: 12-String Guitar →

Other 12-String Guitar tunings

Standard

Standard E-E-A-A-D-D-G-G-B-B-E-EHalf Step Down D#-D#-G#-G#-C#-C#-F#-F#-A#-A#-D#-D#Whole Step Down D-D-G-G-C-C-F-F-A-A-D-D

Drop

Drop D D-D-A-A-D-D-G-G-B-B-E-EDouble Drop D D-D-A-A-D-D-G-G-B-B-D-DDrop C C-C-G-G-C-C-F-F-A-A-D-DDrop C# C#-C#-G#-G#-C#-C#-F#-F#-A#-A#-D#-D#Drop B B-B-F#-F#-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-C#-C#Drop A A-A-E-E-A-A-D-D-F#-F#-B-B

Modal

D Modal D-D-A-A-D-D-G-G-A-A-D-D

Open

Open C C-C-G-G-C-C-G-G-C-C-E-EOpen D D-D-A-A-D-D-F#-F#-A-A-D-DOpen E E-E-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-B-B-E-EOpen G D-D-G-G-D-D-G-G-B-B-D-D

Chords for this tuning

CGDAEFAll 12-String Guitar chords →
How do I tune my 12-String Guitar to Open E?

Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (E-E-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-B-B-E-E).

Which notes are used in Open E tuning?

Open E tuning for 12-String Guitar uses the notes E-E-B-B-E-E-G#-G#-B-B-E-E, listed from the lowest string to the highest.

Can I tune without a microphone?

Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.