Guitar tuning
Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)
Drop D changes only one string from standard: the sixth drops from E to D. That leaves the three low strings at D-A-D, so you can play a power chord with a single finger barred across a fret.
🎸 Open the tuner in this tuningThe tuner opens already preconfigured; you only need to allow microphone access.
Strings and frequencies
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| String 1 | E4 | 329.63 Hz |
| String 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| String 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| String 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| String 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| String 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
How it sounds
It sounds heavier and darker than standard because of that extra low D, and it makes fast fifth-based riffs far easier. It is one of the most used alternate tunings precisely because it changes little and adds a lot.
Styles and genres
Example songs
- Everlong — Foo Fighters
- Killing in the Name — Rage Against the Machine
- Moby Dick — Led Zeppelin
Recommended string gauges
A standard set works, but if you play a lot in Drop D the sixth string will feel a touch loose; an 0.011-0.049 set, or one made for lower tunings, restores firmness without touching the rest.
Tuning tip
To drop from standard to Drop D by ear, fret the seventh fret of the sixth string and match it to the open fifth string (A): when you release it, the open sixth gives the correct D an octave below.