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Open F Guitar Tuner

Open F
±0
C
Target: 65.4 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
C65
F87
C131
F175
A220
C262

How to Tune to Open F

A deeply resonant open F major chord tuning used in one of Led Zeppelin's most powerful recordings, "When the Levee Breaks." Open F (C-F-C-F-A-C) requires both raising and lowering strings from standard, making it one of the more technically demanding open tunings to set up. The reward is a dark, brooding sound unlike any other open tuning.

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 6 of 6 strings:

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2C2Tune down 4 semitones
String 5A2F2Tune down 4 semitones
String 4D3C3Tune down a whole step
String 3G3F3Tune down a whole step
String 2B3A3Tune down a whole step
String 1E4C4Tune down 4 semitones
Printable Open F chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

"When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin features one of the most sampled drum patterns in music history — John Bonham's drums were recorded in a stairwell at Headley Grange, creating a massive natural reverb. The song's guitar part in Open F adds to the overwhelming, menacing atmosphere. The drum break has been sampled by the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre, and hundreds of other artists.

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:Light or medium-light strings (.010-.048). This tuning involves both raising and lowering strings, so tension management is tricky. The B→C is a half step up, while several other strings drop. Balance your gauges to maintain even tension across the neck.

Gear for Open F

Tools that make tuning to C - F - C - F - A - C easier.

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.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 6 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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Open FIntermediate
C - F - C - F - A - CNo Capo
Song Details
Open F TuningIntermediate
C - F - C - F - A - CNo Capo
Song Details
Open F TuningIntermediate
C - F - C - F - A - CNo Capo
Song Details
Open F TuningIntermediate
C - F - C - F - A - CNo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this tuning safe?
It requires care. The low E drops to C (safe), A drops to F (safe), D drops to C (safe), G drops to F (safe), but B goes UP to C (one half step — safe) and high E goes DOWN to C (safe but large drop). Overall, the tension is lower than standard since most strings go down. Use light gauges and tune slowly.
How to tune to Open F?
From standard tuning: drop E to C (2 whole steps), drop A to F (a major 3rd down), drop D to C (1 whole step), drop G to F (1 whole step), raise B to C (1 half step), drop high E to C (2 whole steps). The high E drops quite far — the string will be very loose. Consider using a heavier gauge for the 1st string position.
What tuning is When the Levee Breaks in?
"When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin uses Open F tuning (C-F-C-F-A-C). Jimmy Page plays the song with a slide in this tuning, creating the dark, heavy riff that drives the song. The original is actually a reworking of a 1929 blues song by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie.
Is Open F related to other tunings?
Open F is structurally the same as Open D transposed up three half steps, or Open E transposed up one half step. If you know Open D chord shapes, they all work in Open F — everything just sounds higher. You can also achieve Open F by placing a capo on the 3rd fret of a guitar in Open D tuning.