Open E Minor (Cross-Note) TuningDelta BluesIntermediateNo Capo

Fixin' to Die Blues

Required String Notes:E - B - E - G - B - E

Tune to Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning

How to Tune from Standard to Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 2 of 6 strings to play “Fixin' to Die Blues”:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	E2	Leave as is
String 5	A2	B2	Tune up a whole step
String 4	D3	E3	Tune up a whole step
String 3	G3	G3	Leave as is
String 2	B3	B3	Leave as is
String 1	E4	E4	Leave as is

Recommended string gauge: .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046) · affiliate link

Song Overview & Tuning Breakdown

A stark 1940 Delta blues classic. Bukka White's cross-note (Open E minor) tuning puts the mournful minor third on an open string, letting him bend and slide between minor and major for the song's haunting, percussive drive.

Key Chord Voicings:

Em: 0-0-0-0-0-0Barre up 3 frets for G

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Tunings Close to Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning

Already tuned to E - B - E - G - B - E? These tunings are just one small change away.

Open D Minor / Crossnote25 songs

D - A - D - F - A - DSame chord shapes, every string a whole step lower.

Open E Tuning20 songs

E - B - E - G# - B - EOnly string 3 differs: G# instead of G.

Custom Tuning (EAEGBE)8 songs

EAEGBEOnly string 5 differs: A instead of B.

Esus2 Tuning (E B E F# B E)7 songs

E - B - E - F# - B - EOnly string 3 differs: F# instead of G.

Bukka White’s Guitar Tunings

Bukka White plays 2 of 2 songs in our catalog in Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning. Most-used tunings:

Open E Minor (Cross-Note) TuningE - B - E - G - B - E2 songs

Gear for Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning

Strings and tools that make playing "Fixin' to Die Blues" in Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning easier.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046)

Recommended gauge .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.

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D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

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“Fixin' to Die Blues” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Fixin' to Die Blues" by Bukka White in?

"Fixin' to Die Blues" is played in Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning: E - B - E - G - B - E, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Fixin' to Die Blues"?

Start from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E). String 5: tune up a whole step (A2 → B2). String 4: tune up a whole step (D3 → E3). Leave the other strings as they are.