Open C Tuning (C.G.C.G.C.E)

Open C is a deep, rich tuning which can be played in most styles and keys. William Ackerman's Townsend Shuffle and John Fahey's Requiem for Mississippi John Hurt give an idea of the versatility and spaciousness of the C tuning.

The three C and two G strings can be exploited to provide numerous variations on the chords given in the accompanying chart. For instance, the open C minor chord can be played several ways, since any of the three C strings can be played open or at the third fret.