Drop D Tuner
Press Start, allow the microphone and play the 6th string. Drop D is set: D A D G B E, only the low E goes down to D.
Press Start and allow the microphone.
Tap a string to hear its note and tune to it by ear.
Drop D tuning notes
Drop D tuning is D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4: standard tuning with the 6th string lowered a whole step, from E to D. The other five strings stay where they are. Play the low string and loosen it until the tuner shows D2 In tune; the open 6th string is then an octave below the open 4th.
| String | Note | Frequency | From standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | D2 | 73.42 Hz | down a whole step |
| 5th | A2 | 110.00 Hz | unchanged |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 Hz | unchanged |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 Hz | unchanged |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 Hz | unchanged |
| 1st | E4 | 329.63 Hz | unchanged |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; change A4 in the tuner and the table follows.
What Drop D is for
Dropping the low string to D gives you a low D, two semitones below the guitar's usual range, and power chords you can play with one finger. The bottom three strings, D A D, are a root, a fifth and an octave, so a barre across them at any fret plays a power chord.
That is why Drop D runs through rock, grunge and metal riffs, and why fingerstyle players use it for songs in D: the open 6th string becomes a bass note that rings under the melody. Chord shapes on the top five strings do not change; only shapes that use the 6th string move up two frets.
How to tune to Drop D from standard
- Press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Drop D is already selected.
- Play the 6th (low E) string and slowly loosen it. Stop when the tuner shows D2 and says In tune.
- Check by ear: the 6th string at the 7th fret should match the open 5th string (A), and its 12th-fret harmonic the open 4th string (D).
- Play all six strings once more. Lowering one string lets the neck straighten a little, which can pull the others slightly sharp.
Songs in Drop D tuning
A few well-known recordings in this tuning:
- Everlong by Foo Fighters
- Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine
- Dear Prudence by The Beatles
Want to learn a song you heard but can't name? Identify it with the microphone first.
Strings and setup
Your usual strings are fine: Drop D lowers one string by two semitones. If the low D feels loose or buzzes when you dig in, a set with a heavier 6th string, such as a 10–52 "light top, heavy bottom" set, keeps it tight. Going back to standard is the same move in reverse: tighten the 6th string up to E2.
Drop D tuning: frequently asked questions
What are the notes in Drop D tuning?
D A D G B E, from the 6th string to the 1st: D2, A2, D3, G3, B3 and E4.
How do I tune to Drop D without a tuner?
Lower the 6th string while playing it together with the open 4th string (D) until they sound like the same note an octave apart, with no wobble between them. Then check that the 6th string at the 7th fret matches the open A string.
Is Drop D the same as D standard?
No. Drop D changes only the 6th string (D A D G B E). D standard lowers all six strings a whole step (D G C F A D), so every chord sounds a step lower.
Do chord shapes change in Drop D?
Only on the 6th string. Chords on the top five strings are the same; for shapes with a bass note on the 6th string, play that note two frets higher. A one-finger barre across the three lowest strings gives a power chord.
Is Drop D bad for my guitar?
No. Lowering one string reduces the tension on the neck slightly. You may hear a little more fret buzz from the 6th string; a heavier string or a small action adjustment fixes it.
Why does the tuner show D2?
The number is the octave: D2 is the D two octaves below middle C, about 73.4 Hz. The open 4th string is D3, one octave higher.
Drop C tuning
C G C F A D: Drop D a whole step lower.
D standard tuning
D G C F A D: every string a whole step down.
Open D tuning
D A D F# A D: a D major chord on the open strings.
Half step down tuning
Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb: every string one semitone down.
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