Double Drop D tuning (D A D G B D)
Neil Young covers, fingerstyle and folk players, and anyone who wants Drop D with a matching low top string.
Double Drop D is Drop D with the first string lowered as well: both E strings come down a whole step to D, and the middle four stay in standard. Strummed open it gives a wide, hollow D chord with a doubled root two octaves apart.
It is Neil Young's tuning (Cinnamon Girl, The Loner) and a favourite of fingerstyle players who want DADGAD's drones without giving up the standard G and B strings for chord shapes.
Notes and frequencies
From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). Changed strings are highlighted.
| String | Note | Frequency (A4 = 440 Hz) | Change from standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz | −2 semitones from E2 |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz | as standard |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz | as standard |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz | as standard |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz | as standard |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz | −2 semitones from E4 |
From standard tuning
- String 6: lower E2 down a whole step to D2.
- String 1: lower E4 down a whole step to D4.
The other 4 strings stay in standard.
Tuning to Double Drop D in TuneGlass
- The app opens in 6-string guitar mode; if you changed the instrument, switch back in Settings.
- Tap any string circle to open the tuning editor and choose Double Drop D from the presets. Presets beyond the thickest string are part of TuneGlass Pro, a one-time purchase.
- Play one string at a time. The needle turns green and the scale fills when the string is in tune. Hold a string circle to hear its reference note.
Tips
- Tune the sixth string down first, then the first string against it two octaves up. Both should settle on D without beating against the open fourth string.
- The high E string loses a fair amount of tension at D. If it buzzes, a slightly heavier first string helps.
Questions
What is Double Drop D?
D A D G B D: standard tuning with both the sixth and first strings lowered a whole step to D.
Double Drop D vs DADGAD?
DADGAD also lowers the second string to A. Double Drop D keeps the B, so standard chord shapes on the middle strings still work.
Related tunings
English