Drop D Tuning
Drop D tuning has fast become one of the more popular alternate tunings (by alternate, I mean anything other than standard tuning). It is used in plenty of rock/metal songs today and can even be found in classical guitar music written hundreds of years ago.
Drop D tuning was used in classical guitar music primarily when playing in the key of D. In today's music of electric guitars and huge amplifiers, drop D tuning is used to get a deep edgy sound.
So how exactly do we tune the guitar to drop D? Well its actually really easy if you already know how to tune your guitar to standard tuning. If you dont know how to tune to standard tuning or don't even know what standard tuning is, please visit our lesson on standard tuning. Its advised your learn how to tune standard tuning before moving on to drop d.
To tune to drop d, first tune your guitar to standard tuning (E, A, D, G, B, e). From here the only adjustment is to tune your low E string down to the note D.
Luckily the guitar already has a string tuned to the note D (the 4th string). Play both the 6th string and the 4th string at the same time. Tune the 6th string down until it matches the D string one octave lower. There is a second method as well. Instead of playing the open 6th string, play a harmonic on the 12th fret. Then tune down the 6th string until the harmonic matches the exact pitch of the 4th string.
The result is whats called drop d tuning. Why? Because we 'drop' the low E string down to D. This gives us a new tuning similar to standard but with one small alteration. The notes of drop d tuning are as follows, D, A, D, G, B E. Compare that with standard tuning.
Pitch Of The 4th String One Octave Lower ***
Part II - How To Play In Drop D Tuning