Guitar tuning · Drop tuning
Drop D tuning
Lower just the 6th string a whole step, from E to D. Everything else stays in standard tuning, so your usual chord shapes still work — but you gain a deep low D and one-finger power chords on the bottom three strings.
6thD↓ 1 step
5thAsame
4thDsame
3rdGsame
2ndBsame
1stEsame
Chords in Drop D tuning
Tap a chord to hear it. Numbers on the dots are finger numbers; the notes under each diagram are what each string plays.
Drop D tuning (D A D G B E) · chordwiki.com/guitar/tunings/drop-d/
How to tune to Drop D
- Play the open 4th string (D).
- Lower the 6th string until it matches, an octave below. Check it: the 6th string at the 12th fret should sound exactly the same as the open 4th string.
Easiest of all: use the guitar tuner set to Drop D.
What it’s used for
Heavy rock, metal and grunge riffs, where one finger across the bottom three strings plays a power chord. Also great for songs in D, with the low D ringing under your chords.
Tips
- Any chord with a D in the bass — D, Dm, D7 — can now ring on all six strings.
- Power chords: barre the bottom three strings with one finger. Open is D5, fret 2 is E5, fret 3 is F5, fret 5 is G5.
- Chords on the top five strings (C, A, Am) are played exactly as in standard tuning.