Open ERockIntermediateNo Capo

Gimme Shelter

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

How to Tune from Standard to Open E

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 3 of 6 strings to play “Gimme Shelter”:

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	G#3	Tune up a half step
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

Keith Richards' Open E tuning lets the shimmering, tremolo-treated intro riff ring as full E-major and slid chord shapes across the neck. Strumming open produces an E chord, and simple one-finger barre moves generate the song's haunting, swampy chord movement.

Key Chord Voicings:

E (0-0-0-0-0-0)Barre IV/V slides across all six stringsTremolo-picked intro figure

Looking for tabs or chords?Search Ultimate Guitar

Tunings Close to Open E

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

Open D Tuning77 songs

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

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

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

Open E Minor (Cross-Note) Tuning5 songs

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

Custom Tuning (EBEEBE)5 songs

EBEEBEOnly string 3 differs: E instead of G#.

The Rolling Stones’s Guitar Tunings

The Rolling Stones plays 1 of 10 songs in our catalog in Open E. Most-used tunings:

Open G TuningD - G - D - G - B - D7 songs
Nashville Tuning (High-Strung)E - A - D - G - B - E (High)1 song
Open E TuningE - B - E - G# - B - E1 song
Open E Minor (Cross-Note) TuningE - B - E - G - B - E1 song

Gear for Open E

Strings and tools that make playing "Gimme Shelter" in Open E 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.

View strings

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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D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 3 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

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“Gimme Shelter” Tuning FAQ

What tuning is "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones in?

"Gimme Shelter" is played in Open E: E - B - E - G# - B - E, from the lowest to the highest string.

How do I tune my guitar to play "Gimme Shelter"?

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). String 3: tune up a half step (G3 → G#3). Leave the other strings as they are.