Drop D Tuning (D A D G B E)

Drop D lowers only the thickest string, string 6, a whole step from E to D. The other five strings stay in standard tuning, so the strings read D A D G B E from low to high.

Strings 6 → 1: D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4
From standard: String 6 down a whole step
Open strings: not a chord

Tuner · Drop D

A4 · 440 Hz

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Mic off

±0 ¢

Auto string detect

Uses your microphone. Audio stays on this device. No mic? Tap a string to hear its note.

TuningD A D G B E

Strings · tap to hear

How to tune to drop D from standard

String 6: E2 → D2, down 2 semitones (whole step) · tension −21 %
String 5: A2 → A2, no change
String 4: D3 → D3, no change
String 3: G3 → G3, no change
String 2: B3 → B3, no change
String 1: E4 → E4, no change

Already in Standard (E A D G B E)? Only string 6 changes: E2 → D2, down 2 semitones (whole step).

The tuner above is locked to D A D G B E, so each string reads against its own target. Tap a string button to hear its note.

Drop D (D A D G B E) chords

Frets are listed from string 6 to string 1 (× = do not play). The notes line is what each string sounds in this tuning.

D · with low D

Frets 0 0 0 2 3 2

D A D A D F♯

I (home chord). The usual open D shape, but now all six strings ring with the low D in the bass.

Em · fret 2 on three strings

Frets 2 2 2 0 0 0

E B E G B E

ii. The low E comes back at fret 2 of string 6. Lay the index flat over strings 6 to 4.

G · low root at fret 5

Frets 5 5 0 0 0 3

G D D G B G

IV. Ring finger flat on strings 6 and 5 at fret 5, index on string 1 at fret 3.

A · open

Frets × 0 2 2 2 0

× A E A C♯ E

V. Unchanged from standard. Skip string 6.

Bm · barre fret 2

Frets × 2 4 4 3 2

× B F♯ B D F♯

vi. The standard A-minor-shape barre at fret 2. Skip string 6.

Power chords: one finger flat across strings 6, 5 and 4 at any fret plays root, fifth and octave. Name it by counting half steps up from D: open = D5, fret 3 = F5, fret 5 = G5, fret 7 = A5, fret 10 = C5, fret 12 = D5 an octave up.The standard-tuning shapes, muting and a root-note chart are in thepower chords guide.

What changes when you drop D

String 6 now matches string 4 an octave lower. Every D chord and D minor chord gets a low root that standard tuning cannot give you on an acoustic, and songs in D sound noticeably fuller.

The bottom three strings, D A D, are root, fifth and octave. Fret those three strings at the same fret with one finger and you play a power chord (root and fifth, no third). In standard tuning the same sound needs two or three fingers in a slanted shape.

Strings 5 to 1 are unchanged, so every chord shape you know still works as long as it leaves string 6 out or moves the string 6 note up two frets.

What drop D is used for

Songs in D or D minor on acoustic guitar, where the open low D can ring under the whole song. Fingerstyle players use it for a bass line that walks down to a low D.

Rock and grunge riffs built on one-finger power chords on the bottom three strings. It is also the quickest alternate tuning to get into and out of: one string, one direction.

Drop D: practical notes

Tuning down: lower string 6 until its note matches string 4 an octave lower, then fine-tune with the tuner. Both strings are D, so they should ring together without a slow wobble.

Tension: only string 6 drops a whole step (about a fifth less tension on that string). Nothing else moves, so the neck barely notices and you can switch back and forth within a set.

Capo: capo 2 gives drop E (E B E A C♯ F♯) for songs in E; the power-chord rule and the shapes above move with it.

Songs in drop D

Everlong · Foo Fighters
Recorded in drop D.
Dear Prudence · The Beatles
John Lennon fingerpicks it in drop D.

FAQ

How do I tune to drop D without a tuner?

Play the open D string (string 4) and lower string 6 until it sounds the same note an octave lower. A good check: fret string 6 at fret 7; it should match the open A string (string 5).

Do normal chords still work in drop D?

Yes. Strings 5 to 1 are standard, so every chord that leaves out string 6 is unchanged. Chords that use string 6 need that note two frets higher, like the G and Em shapes above.

Is drop D bad for the guitar?

No. Only one string goes down, which slightly lowers the total tension on the neck. Switching between drop D and standard is routine.

What is double drop D tuning?

Double drop D is D A D G B D. It is drop D with string 1 also lowered a whole step, from E to D, so both the lowest and the highest strings are D, two octaves apart. Lower string 1 until it sounds an octave above the open D string (string 4), then check the other strings. Only strings 6 and 1 move from standard, so the tension change is small.

The key of D majorlow D root on string 6
The key of D minorlow D drone under minor riffs
Guitar tunerswitch tunings, or tune back to standard
Capo calculator and chord transposercapo shapes for any key
Drop C (CGCFAD)same family of tuning
Drop B (BF♯BEG♯C♯)same family of tuning
All guitar tuningsopen, drop and modal, compared