Slide Guitar Lesson: Open E Tuning chords

So how do you play chords in Open E tuning? Well it’s pretty simple actually. In this slide guitar lesson, I’ll show you how to play the major chords in a 12 bar blues in the key of E.

First let’s look at the tuning in open E. It goes as follows from low to high. E B E G# B E. Now to play a chord all you need to do is lay your slide across any fret and that is a major chord. The chord name is determined by the note on the Low E string. For ex. if you play across the 12th fret with the slide, you have an E major chord because the 12th fret note on the Low string is E.

We can also play only 3 notes for our chords using the E G# and B strings. simply play these 3 notes on the 12th fret and you’ll have the E major chord. This will give you the 1 3 and 5 needed for a major chord.

Many chords and patterns can be played by simply laying the slide across 2 or 3 strings which makes it easy to play different styles in the tuning. No slide guitar lesson would be complete without telling you about muting the strings not played. Now when you play the chord use your thumb for the E string and your 1st and 2nd fingers on the G#, and B strings. Mute the lower strings with your palm.  In my DVD, Slide Guitar Method 1 Open E Tuning, I cover all these chords and more for the beginner slide guitarist.

For more info, check out my website, Learning Guitar Now.