Drop D Tuning: How to Tune, Play Chords and Write Heavy Riffs

Drop D is the simplest and most popular alternate tuning on guitar. You change just one string, and suddenly your guitar sounds deeper and heavier, power chords can be played with a single finger, and D chords ring out with a huge low bass note.

It's used everywhere: in rock, grunge, metal, alternative, folk and acoustic fingerstyle. This guide shows you how to tune to drop D, how to play chords and riffs in it, and how to switch back easily.

What is drop D tuning?

In standard tuning, the strings from low to high are E A D G B E. In drop D, you lower the low E string by one whole step (two frets) to D. The other five strings stay exactly the same:

String	6	5	4	3	2	1
Standard	E	A	D	G	B	E
Drop D	D	A	D	G	B	E

The new low D is exactly one octave below the open D string (the 4th string).

How to tune to drop D

With a tuner

Turn the low E string's tuning peg to loosen it, and watch the tuner until it reads D. Our online tuner works well. Go slowly and tune slightly below D, then bring it back up to D. Tuning up to a note helps strings hold their pitch.

By ear: the octave method

1. Play the open D string (4th string) and let it ring.
2. Play the low E string and slowly lower it.
3. Listen for the point where the two notes blend smoothly, with no "wobbling" or beating sound. That's D.

By ear: the 7th fret method

Once lowered, the 7th fret of the low D string should match the open A string. Fret the 7th fret on the 6th string and compare it to the open 5th string. Adjust until they match.

By ear: harmonics

Lightly touch the low string directly above the 12th fret and pick it to get a harmonic. Compare it to the open D string. They should be the same note.

One-finger power chords

The biggest reason rock players love drop D is power chords. In standard tuning, a power chord needs two or three fingers. In drop D, the bottom three strings form a power chord when you lay one finger flat across them at the same fret.

   D5   E5   F5   G5   A5
G|--------------------------|
D|-0----2----3----5----7----|
A|-0----2----3----5----7----|
D|-0----2----3----5----7----|

Use the pad of your index finger (or ring finger) to press all three strings at once. This makes fast, heavy riffs much easier, because you can move between chords with a single finger. If power chords are new, our guide to power chords explains them in standard tuning.

Beginner drop D riffs

Riff 1: The chug and climb

D|-0-0-0-0-3-5-0-0-0-0-5-3-|
A|-0-0-0-0-3-5-0-0-0-0-5-3-|
D|-0-0-0-0-3-5-0-0-0-0-5-3-|

Chug the open D5 with palm muting, then slide up to F5 and G5. See our guide to palm muting.

Riff 2: Low string riff with power chord accents

D|---------------5---------3-|
A|---------------5---------3-|
D|-0-0-3-0-5-0---5---0-0---3-|

Single notes on the low D string, then power chord stabs. Single-note riffs on the low string are a classic drop D sound.

Riff 3: Moving power chords

D|-5-5-3-3-0-0-3-3-|
A|-5-5-3-3-0-0-3-3-|
D|-5-5-3-3-0-0-3-3-|
   G5  F5  D5  F5

A simple, driving progression that sounds huge with distortion.

Open chords in drop D

Chords that don't use the low E string are completely unchanged. Some chords sound even better with the new low D:

• D major: play your usual D chord and strum all six strings. The low D adds a big, rich bass note. This is one of the best reasons to use drop D on acoustic.
• Dm: same idea; strum from the low D.
• A, Am, C, Dm, D7: unchanged; avoid the low string or let it ring if it sounds good.

Chords that use the low E string need a small adjustment:

• G: move the note on the low string up two frets, from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret. Or simply skip the low string and play G from the A string.
• Em and E: the open low string is now D, which doesn't fit. Either fret the low string at the 2nd fret (which gives E again) or don't play it.
• F and other barre chords rooted on the 6th string: move the low-string note up two frets, or use a power chord shape instead.

A simple rule: anything you played on the low E string at fret X is now at fret X + 2.

Drop D on acoustic guitar

Drop D isn't only for heavy music. On an acoustic, it creates a deep, resonant sound that's perfect for songs in D. Fingerstyle players love it because the low D can ring as a drone under melodies played higher up. Try a D, G/D, A/D progression where the low D rings throughout:

   D      G/D    A/D    D
e|-2------3------0------2------|
B|-3------3------2------3------|
G|-2------0------2------2------|
D|-0------0------2------0------|
A|-----------------------------|
D|-0------0------0------0------|

The constant low D creates a rich, droning foundation, a sound you'll hear in many folk and singer-songwriter songs.

Switching back to standard

To return to standard tuning, raise the low string back to E. Tune slightly below E, then bring it up to pitch. Check it against the open A string: the 5th fret of the low E string should match the open A. Many players switch between standard and drop D during a single set, and with practice it takes just a few seconds.

Strings and drop D

Lowering one string by a whole step slightly reduces its tension, which can make it feel a little loose. With normal strings, this is usually fine. If you play in drop D a lot, or go even lower (like drop C), a slightly heavier low string or a "heavy bottom" string set keeps it tight. Our guide on how to choose guitar strings explains the options.

Beyond drop D

Once you're comfortable in drop D, you can explore related tunings:

• Drop C♯ and drop C: drop D with every string lowered further, for even heavier rock and metal.
• Double drop D: both E strings lowered to D (D A D G B D), for a fuller, folkier sound.
• DADGAD: a modal, droning tuning loved in Celtic and acoustic music.

See our guide to alternate guitar tunings for more.

Common drop D mistakes

• Tuning too low or not low enough. Double-check with a tuner or the octave method.
• Forgetting you're in drop D. Strumming a G or Em with the open low string sounds wrong. Adjust or avoid that string.
• Pressing too hard on one-finger power chords. Use the flat pad of your finger with just enough pressure.
• Letting the low string ring when it shouldn't. Mute it with your thumb or the side of your fretting finger when playing chords that don't use it.
• Not retuning other strings. Lowering one string can slightly change the tension on the others. Give all six a quick check.

Why drop D is a great first alternate tuning

Drop D gives you a taste of what alternate tunings offer, with almost no learning curve. You keep almost everything you know from standard tuning, add a few new sounds, and learn to switch tunings quickly. It also introduces you to thinking about how tuning affects chord shapes, which makes more adventurous tunings easier later.

Practicing switching tunings quickly

If you play songs in both standard and drop D, practice the switch itself. Tune down to D by ear using the octave method, check with a tuner, play a riff, then tune back up to E and check again. Time yourself. Within a week, most players can switch accurately in under ten seconds. Some players even learn to drop the string mid-song, which is handy at gigs and jams. A clip-on tuner left on the headstock makes this fast and reliable.

A clip-on tuner left on the headstock is the most convenient way to check drop D quickly between songs.

Quick recap

• Drop D lowers only the low E string to D: D A D G B E.
• Tune with a tuner, by matching the open D string an octave lower, or by matching the 7th fret to the open A.
• Power chords on the bottom three strings take one finger.
• Chords on the low string move up two frets; others are unchanged.

Next steps

Tune to drop D now and play the one-finger power chords at frets 0, 3, 5 and 7. Then try Riff 1 with some palm muting. When you're done, tune back to standard and notice how quickly you can switch. Drop D will quickly become one of your favorite tools.

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