Sunwheel dance
Required String Notes:E - B - E - G# - B - E
Tune to Open E TuningHow to Tune from Standard to Open E Tuning
Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 3 of 6 strings to play “Sunwheel dance”:
| 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
"Sunwheel dance" by Bruce Cockburn is played in Open E Tuning (E - B - E - G# - B - E). Starting from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), you retune 3 of 6 strings: string 5 up to B, string 4 up to E, string 3 up to G#. Overall string tension rises, so tune up slowly to avoid breaking strings. 19 other songs in our catalog use Open E Tuning.
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Tunings Close to Open E Tuning
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#.Bruce Cockburn’s Guitar Tunings
Bruce Cockburn plays 1 of 2 songs in our catalog in Open E Tuning. Most-used tunings:
- Open E TuningE - B - E - G# - B - E1 song
Gear for Open E Tuning
Strings and tools that make playing "Sunwheel dance" in Open E 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.
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.
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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“Sunwheel dance” Tuning FAQ
What tuning is "Sunwheel dance" by Bruce Cockburn in?
"Sunwheel dance" is played in Open E Tuning: E - B - E - G# - B - E, from the lowest to the highest string.
How do I tune my guitar to play "Sunwheel dance"?
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.
What string gauge should I use for Open E Tuning?
Use a .010–.046 set. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.
More Songs by Bruce Cockburn
Explore other guitar tunings recorded by Bruce Cockburn:
Other Songs in Open E Tuning
Once tuned to E - B - E - G# - B - E, try playing these tracks next: