Drop D tuning (D A D G B E)

Rock, metal and folk players, and anyone who wants a deeper bass note under a D chord without buying a baritone.

Drop D lowers only the sixth string, from E down to D. Everything else stays in standard tuning, which is why it is the most common alternate tuning: the change takes seconds and your chord shapes on the top five strings still work.

The reward is a low D that sits an octave under the fourth string, and power chords you can play with one finger across the bottom three strings.

Notes and frequencies

From the thickest string to the thinnest, at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). Changed strings are highlighted.

From standard tuning

1. String 6: lower E2 down a whole step to D2.

The other 5 strings stay in standard.

Tuning to Drop D in TuneGlass

1. The app opens in 6-string guitar mode; if you changed the instrument, switch back in Settings.
2. Tap any string circle to open the tuning editor and choose Drop D from the presets, or spin the wheel of the thickest string to D. Both are free.
3. 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

• You only need to retune one string. Pluck the open sixth string and the open fourth string together: when they stop beating against each other, you are there.
• After dropping to D the string has less tension and will drift slightly for a minute. Check it once more after playing a few chords.

Questions

Related tunings

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