Open E and Open D Tuning
The first tunings discussed are the keys of E and D. As mentioned earlier, these two tunings are based upon the same chord shape, except for the one tone difference. The two tunings also have a slight difference of character because the strings are looser with open "D" tuning.
If tuning the guitar to open "E" tuning, the notes of the open strings (starting from the 6th string) are E, B, E, G#, B and E. To obtain this tuning the fourth and fifth strings will need to be raised a tone and the third string raised a semitone.
This can be done simply in three steps:
Step One
Tune the open fifth string to the "B" note on the seventh fret of the sixth string.
Step Two
Tune the open fourth string to the fifth fret note on the fifth string (which is now an E note).
Step Three
Tune the open third string to the fourth fret note on the fourth string (which is now G#).
To tune the guitar to open "D", the open strings need to be, beginning from the sixth string, D, A, D, F#, A, D. Open "D" tuning has a different sound because the strings are much looser causing a more reverberated droning sound rather than the brighter, crisper sound from open E tuning.
This time the sixth, second and first strings will be lowered a tone, and the third strong lowered a semi tone.
Step One
Detune the sixth string so the seventh fret note on the sixth string is the same pitch as the open fifth string.
Step Two
Detune the third string so it is the same pitch as the fourth fret of the fourth string.
Step Three
Detune the second string so it is the same pitch as the third fret on the third string.
Step Four
Detune the first string so it is the same pitch as the fifth fret on the first string.
