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open E minor chords?

Hi All,

Just finished (minus small cosmetics) my first CBG. It is three string, tuned to open E. I chose open E because I have fooled around with bass guitar for a couple years and open E seems easier to play.

Problem I'm having is how to play minor chords. I realize this is because of my lack of knowledge about the topic in general, but I was hoping someone could explain this to me. I also play left handed.

So for example, Who'll stop the rain by CCR starts with G, F, Em. I have been fretting the high E string at the third fret, but I'm not sure this is correct. Or, should I just play the root like with the bass?

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 27, 2012 at 7:01am

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 27, 2012 at 7:05am

There are many ways to string and tune a CBG, but it all comes down to how you want the instrument to "function". As for strumming chords, the best approach I have found is retuning from GDg (use standard strings ADg) to ADf# (Open D) using this tuning it is possible to create a method of movable chords that functions very similar to a standard 6 string. Please see the video. I hope this helps. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Gus on November 27, 2012 at 4:24pm

I think KLB probably answered your question, so I'll just go on record with this: love the middle tuning key mounted that way.

CBG people: we're nothing if not creative.

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Permalink Reply by Will Hatch on November 28, 2012 at 1:26am

Thanks for the replies Gents. I like using barre chords with the open E because at this point it is the easiest thing for me. I hopefully will move on to standard tuning some time. I guess what I really wish I had was a comprehensive chord chart for a three string tuned to open E.

I also switched to steel strings and am using the E,A,D strings. Gives it a nice deep sound.

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Permalink Reply by jeff maurer on November 28, 2012 at 5:29am

you could hit the open top string, fret the middle string at the fifth fret and the bottom string at the third fret. ive been wanting to try this tuning setup and experiment with heavier strings.

i like how you got your strings on a straight path from the nut to the tuning pegs. nice clean looking gitty.

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Permalink Reply by Sharecropper on November 28, 2012 at 5:52am

Hi , Will ! I'm no expert but I'll try to give you a few ideas . If you go to the home page , at the top right of the page there is a place you can type in a search . Type in "The old Greek bouzouki chord chart . In the first thing that came up when I searched is a pdf file for this instrument , that is tuned DAd . I'm assuming you are tuned Ebe , so you would have to transpose these to E , but the same chord shapes work ( or you could tune to DAd .) DAd tuning and EBe are relevant to each other and that they are composed of the first (root) , the fifth and the first again an octave higher . DAd is also also used in "drop D" tuning on a standard guitar . You could also look up open E chords on a standard guitar and play what you can on the strings you have , but many of these chords would be incomplete using only three strings . Also check out some banjo tunings ,any of those tunings would allow you to use three out of the four stings used in most chords on the banjo . Get a banjo chord book for the tuning you've picked and you're good to go . DAd and Ebe both lack a third in open tuning . It is the change in the third that makes a minor or major chord . That being said , I play my minor chords the same as my major chords if it sounds okay "to me"!! I tune Gdg ,( Still the first , the fifth and the first an octave higher .) I like the sound of this tuning ...... but it is a bear to work with when trying to make different chords !!

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 28, 2012 at 10:08am

When you say Open E, do you mean EBE tuning?

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Permalink Reply by Will Hatch on November 29, 2012 at 1:10am

Yes, I have it tuned to EBE. The downer I'm finding with this type of tuning is some notes are quite high on the fretboard (D and C with open E). I guess until I can deal with standard tuning, I'll have to work with it. I've got the minor chords down now, but am struggling with 7th chords; weird finger gyrations!

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on February 24, 2014 at 6:07pm

There is a c at the first fret and a d at the third. If you can't reach these from the nut you scale is far too long :)

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on November 29, 2012 at 3:01am

E5 or 151 Tuning is good for walking bass lines, shuffle rhythms, two lines of music: alternating bass and slide on the first string, doublestops. Technically, it is not Open E because it is not a full chord like 513 / BEg# tuning. Although, I prefer to tune down a whole step to ADf# and capo 2 if I want to play Open E.

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Permalink Reply by Sharecropper on November 29, 2012 at 6:20am

Keni Lee (you da man!!) is correct . 151 tuning lacks a 3rd and is not a "true" chord . Lacking a 3rd in the tuning causes all kinds of problems when trying to make chords. Will , you mentioned " until I can deal with standard tuning " ......... so , here's a thought . What about tuning to DGB ? ( An idea I got from Uncle John.) This gives you a 513 tuning and are what the 4th , 3rd and 2nd strings are in STANDARD tuning on a regular guitar ! This "may" allow you to use standard chord charts and apply them to those three strings . Keni Lee , I would love to hear your thoughts on this ! As I have not tried it and I'm walking on the edge of what I know about music theory !! Will , you could do a"bass" tuning of this by tuning a low E string and two A strings to DGB ....... or even a low E string tuned to D and G & B( 3rd & 2nd) strings tuned to G & B ( kind of a baritone Lowe Bow tuning ) !