If you tune your cigar box guitar to Open G, switching to Open E tuning (EBE) will be a breeze. Open E is exactly like Open G but pitched lower (a minor third or three frets down). In this lesson, I’ll take you through the basics of Open E tuning, show you how to play the E blues scale in three positions, play along with a video with tablature, and break down the riffs from Freddie King’s “Hide Away.”

If you are new to the cigar box guitar, check out my first intro lesson here.

Blues not your thing? Check out the  Top 10 Grunge Riffs. or the Top 10 Beatles Riffs. 

Summary

• Open E Tuning on Cigar Box Guitar
• What’s the Difference Between a Blues Minor and a Blues Major Scale?
• The E Blues Major Scale in 3 Positions
• Tutorial of Freddie King’s “Hide Away” in Open E Tuning
• Hide Away Video and Tablature
• Historical Context

Open E Tuning on Cigar Box Guitar

Of course, many of you may already use Open E tuning, but here is a refresher. At this point, I’d suggest grabbing your guitar tuner. Let’s begin by tuning the strings:

• 3rd string: E (lowest – thickest string)
• 2nd string: B
• 1st string: E

Once you’ve tuned your strings to EBE, you’re ready to explore the scales. For example, learning the E blues scales will immediately help you navigate the fretboard in this tuning. Let’s take a closer look at three blues scales in Open E next.

Need more cigar box blues? How about some roots blues riffs.

The E Blues Major Scale in 3 Positions

Once you’ve tuned your cigar box guitar to EBE, it’s time to dive into the E blues major scale. We are focusing on the blues major because it is a handy scale to know and one of the blues scales used in the tune “Hide Away.”

Learning the E blues major scale in different positions will give you more ways to play riffs and solos in other songs. Moreover, it will also help you learn “Hide Away.”

What’s the Difference Between a Blues Minor and a Blues Major Scale?

The blues and major blues scales are both used in blues music but have slightly different sounds. In our lesson, we focus on the key of E. For instance, the E “blues” scale has a more “bluesy” sound because it includes the blue note (b5):

On the other hand, the E major blues scale has a brighter, more uplifting feel because it stays closer to the major scale’s structure:

The E Blues Major Scale in 3 Positions

Here’s how to play the E major blues scale across three positions on the fretboard below. While there isn’t necessarily a “best” fingering, it’s important to focus on musicality rather than technically trying to remember which finger to use.For example, creating melodic riffs can be more rewarding in free-flow mode rather than sticking to a specific fingering pattern.

Position One

We begin with the open position major blues scale. This scale is a good starting point to get familiar with the scale’s sound, play around with some fingerings, and give you hours of fun to create easy blues licks. Furthermore, it’s an excellent way to start improvising without overthinking.

Position Two

Next, let’s move up to Position 2, around frets 5-9. This position gives you more room to bend notes and add expression. Similarly, try to create little riffs and don’t worry about the fingering – just jam!

Position Three

Finally, we get to Position 3, which you’ll find around the 12th fret. This pattern allows you to make higher-pitched blues runs, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, etc. As a result, you’ll find it easier to add a dramatic flair to your playing.

Now that we’ve learned the E major blues let’s see how Freddie King used this scale and learn the classic blues tune “Hide Away.”

Tutorial of Freddie King’s “Hide Away” in Open E Tuning

While “Hide Away” follows a standard 12-bar blues format, the arrangement is far from conventional. For example, the track is a medley of blues licks and motifs (including the Peter Gunn theme!) stitched together to create 2:34 of classic blues guitar.

Of course, we have to make adjustments for our cigar box guitar, but I think this tune works pretty well with three strings and is a nice addition to your repertoire of blues tunes. First, let’s look at some of the main riffs, and then we will play the whole tune in the video.

Creating a Call and Answer Blues Riff

1. **Main Riff:** The main riff is an excellent example of the E blues major scale. There is a lot to unpack in the first three bars, as highlighted in the tab below:

•    He begins with a blues riff (Call), followed by
•    A self-accompanying blues boogie shuffle, and
•    An answer to the original call.

Your Turn

After you learn the riff, try to create your own tune using the E blues scales above and mimicking what Freddie did in “Hide Away.” In addition, if you usually play by yourself, this type of riff and accompaniment idea is excellent for developing your rhythm and creating a library of your own riffs.

*Tip: use a metronome or drum pattern to keep everything in sync.*

Cool Turnaround Riff

2. **Turnaround:** The next riff I want to point out is the lead-up and turnaround at the end of the first 12 bars. Many blues players have copied this lick over the years, and it will sound very familiar. As a result, you’ll quickly add a classic blues feel to your playing.

Secondary Riff #1

3. **Secondary Riff 1:** Now, another riff you have heard with a thousand variations (“Hound Dog,” for example). The takeaway here is the slide from the third (G) to the fourth fret (G#), which we have seen in the blues major scales above

Secondary Riff #2

4. **Secondary Riff 2:** This riff is similar to riff one but with a hammer-on and a steady rhythm. Here, you want to keep the triplets nice and even and palm mute the strings (P.M.). Additionally, focus on maintaining a consistent groove.

Classic Riff Borrowing

5.**Peter Gunn Theme:** Finally, Freddie injects the tried-and-true “Peter Gunn” theme. I mean, every player will likely play this riff at some point! See the video for the tabs.

Hey, it’s time to get down to business and play the tune already!

Hide Away Video and Tablature

To sum up, here’s a video that breaks down “Hide Away.” It includes scrolling tablature so you can follow along at your own pace. Learn each riff, see how they’re played, and practice as you go. Remember, you can always slow down the video in the YouTube settings.

To purchase the Tablature from Sheet Music Plus go here. 

Historical Context

Freddie King’s 1961 instrumental Hide Away is one of the most iconic pieces in blues history. It showcases King’s unique blend of Texas and Chicago blues, his mastery of phrasing, and the power of instrumental storytelling. Released on the Federal label and produced by Sonny Thompson, Hide Away became a crossover hit, reaching #5 on the R&B charts and #29 on the Billboard Hot 100—a remarkable achievement for an instrumental blues track.

Hide Away emerged during a transformative era for blues. The 1950s and early 1960s saw the migration of blues from the rural South to urban centers like Chicago, where electrified instrumentation and a more polished production style gave rise to Chicago blues. Freddie King, originally from Texas, brought a distinctive approach to the Chicago scene, blending the raw energy of Texas blues with the refined techniques he encountered in Chicago.

The song is rooted in the blues tradition of borrowing and reinterpreting material. King co-wrote Hide Away with Sonny Thompson, but the track borrows from several sources, including Hound Dog Taylor’s Taylor’s Boogie and a theme from The Peter Gunn Theme by Henry Mancini. The song has been covered by countless artists, including Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayall.

Wrapping Up: Open E Tuning for Cigar Box Guitar

Open E tuning is another versatile option to add to your cigar box guitar approach. You will find many tunes that work well with Open E since the standard tuning for guitar is EADGBE. If you sing and play, always start with the best key for your range, then adapt your tuning based on that. 

By learning the E blues scales in multiple positions and exploring Freddie King’s “Hide Away,” you’ll add some classic riffs and a classic tune to your repertoire.

If you have suggestions for more lessons, please leave your comments below.