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Drop D tuning

Drop D tuning is D A D G B E, from the lowest string to the highest. Compared with standard: 6th string down a whole step. Tap a string to hear it.

Tap a string to hear its note, then tune yours to match.

About drop D

Drop D is standard tuning with only the 6th string lowered a whole step, from E to D. It gives a guitar a deeper low note and is one of the quickest changes to make and undo.

It is heard everywhere from heavy rock and metal riffs to fingerstyle folk, where the low D rings under songs in D.

Drop D tuning notes

Each open string from the 1st, the thinnest, to the 6th, with the frequency a tuner looks for.

Drop D tuning: each string’s note and frequency, with A4 at 440 Hz
StringNoteFrequencyFrom standard
1stE4329.63 HzSame as standard
2ndB3246.94 HzSame as standard
3rdG3196 HzSame as standard
4thD3146.83 HzSame as standard
5thA2110 HzSame as standard
6thD273.42 HzDown a whole step from E

Every other note’s frequency is on the note frequency chart.

How to tune to drop D

Start in standard tuning and move only the strings that change, lowest first.

  1. Tune the 6th string down a whole step, from E to D. It should match the open 4th string, an octave lower.

To lower a string, go a little below its new note and come back up to it: a string tuned up to its note holds its pitch better.

To tune with your mic instead, in this tuning or another, use the guitar tuner.

Playing in drop D

The three lowest strings, D A D, are a root, a fifth and an octave: a power chord. Lay one finger across them at any fret and it plays one: open is D5, the 2nd fret E5, the 5th fret G5.

The other five strings are untouched, so every chord shape that leaves out the 6th string plays as it does in standard.

The fretboard in drop D

The note on every fret in this tuning. Tap one to hear it, or light up one note or a scale on the neck.

Frets

Tap any fret to hear its note.

Six steps to learning every note on the neck are on the guitar fretboard page.

Questions about drop D

What are the notes of drop D tuning?

D A D G B E, from the 6th string, the lowest, to the 1st: D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4.

How do I tune my guitar to drop D tuning?

Start in standard tuning. Tune the 6th string down a whole step, from E to D. It should match the open 4th string, an octave lower. A tuner showing each note in the table makes it exact.

More guitar tunings

Drop C tuning

C G C F A D

6th string down two whole steps; the other 5 down a whole step.

Drop B tuning

B F♯ B E G♯ C♯

6th string down two and a half steps; the other 5 down a step and a half.

Drop A tuning

A E A D F♯ B

6th string down three and a half steps; the other 5 down two and a half steps.

Standard tuning

E A D G B E

The tuning every other one is measured from.

All 14, side by side with how far each string moves, are on the guitar tunings page.

Play along in D minor

Open the free editor with a beat in D minor playing, then add your guitar part, a bass line or your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Start a beatAll guitar tunings

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