Day 4 - You Can't Always Get What You Want In Open E Tuning

This lesson introduces open E tuning – where strumming all six strings produces an E major chord. With a capo at the 8th fret, you'll play Can't Always Get What You Want using shapes that connect directly to what you've learned in open G.

What You Will Learn:

• How to tune to open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E)

• Using a capo at fret 8 to play in the key of C

• The signature intro riff with hammer-ons

• The Keith Richards chord shape translated to open E

• How open E and open G shapes relate to each other

• Adding reverb and effects for authentic tone

Open E Tuning Setup

From standard tuning: string 5 (A) goes up a whole step to B, string 4 (D) goes up to E, and string 3 (G) goes up to G#. Strings 6, 2, and 1 remain unchanged. With a capo at fret 8, your open strings now produce a C major chord.

The Signature Riff

The intro uses your middle finger at fret 2 on string 4, creating a Csus2 sound before resolving to the open C chord. The rhythm is down-down-up-down-down-down-up-down-up. This simple riff, combined with the open tuning's natural resonance, creates that massive sound.

Connecting Open E and Open G

Everything you learned in open G works in open E – just move it up one string. The Keith Richards chord shape (like the Start Me Up chord) now sits on strings 2, 3, and 4 instead of strings 3, 4, and 5. This connection means your open tuning vocabulary instantly doubles.