What is an open string on guitar?
An open string is a guitar string played without a finger pressing on it. When picked or strummed, it rings out with the note that it's tuned to.
On a chord diagram, an "O" on the left of a string means play it open. For example, the open G chord below includes three open strings: the D, G, and B strings.
GC shape
Related glossary terms
- How do I read a guitar chord diagram? - explains the O and X symbols used for open and muted strings
- What are open guitar chords? - chords built using one or more open strings
- Nut - the point an open string rings from