What is Drop D Tuning on Guitar?
Mark WilkesThere are many different alternate tunings that have been adapted over the history of the guitar to increase the range of both the instrument and the player. Joni Mitchell famously created new tunings when she felt her vision could not be properly expressed by those that already existed. The most popular and the easiest to learn is Drop D. Today we will be looking at how to tune your guitar to Drop D, what this tuning is used for and how it changes the way you play.
Tuning to Drop D
To play in this tuning, all you need to do is tune your sixth string down to a D note. You can do this by using an electronic tuner or tuner app, or you can match the tone to your fourth string if it is already in standard tune.
Why to Use Drop D
One reason to use this tuning is to enhance the sound of the open D chord. Whilst in standard tuning you don’t strum the sixth string as the E doesn’t belong in the chord, in Drop D the extra low bass note will give the chord a fuller, deeper sound. This helps to give songs a strong finish when playing in the key of D, and is often used in blues and fingerpicking styles to showcase the bass note.
It is also used in songs that are played with power chords. While a power chord in standard tuning is played with first finger on the sixth string (on the fifth fret for example), third and fourth on the fourth and fifth strings seventh fret, in Drop D tuning it is played with all three fingers on the top three strings of the seventh fret.
Things to be aware of
Remember when playing chords that utilise the low E in standard tuning, the lowering of this string will change the sound of the chord and you must therefore change how these chords are played. For some you can avoid playing the sixth string if it is not needed but others must be changed to maintain the correct notes of the chord.
For example, Em must now be played with an extra finger on the sixth string, second fret.
G is a bit trickier as moving the middle finger up two frets to compensate for the drop makes the rest of the chord impossible to reach. It is instead played with your first finger on the first string third fret, and your third and fourth fingers on the fifth and sixth string of the fifth fret.
When learning a new song online, make sure to check the tuning. The top line of the tablature might show a D instead of an E, or an entirely different alternate tuning.
There are many different alternative tunings used for guitar, they can open up a whole new world of possibilities for playing and writing songs. Drop D is a great place to start as it is simple both to retune your guitar and to adapt the standard chords to it. Give it a try today!