Gimme Shelter
Required String Notes:E - B - E - G# - B - E
Tune to Open ETuning Note Frequencies
Tune each guitar string to these exact pitch frequencies to play “Gimme Shelter”.
| String | Note Pitch | Exact Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| String 6 | E2 | 82.41 Hz |
| String 5 | B2 | 123.47 Hz |
| String 4 | E3 | 164.81 Hz |
| String 3 | G#3 | 207.65 Hz |
| String 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| String 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
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
More Songs by The Rolling Stones
Explore other guitar tunings recorded by The Rolling Stones:
Nashville Tuning (High-Strung)Intermediate
E - A - D - G - B - E (High)No Capo
Other Songs in Open E
Once tuned to E - B - E - G# - B - E, try playing these tracks next: