Drop D tuning
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dropped D tuning: DADGBE, also known as simply as drop D, is a guitar tuning style in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned down a whole tone ("dropped") to D rather than E as in standard tuning (EADGBE).
Contents |
[edit] Uses of dropped D tuning
The difference of drop D from standard tuning allows for the bottom three strings form a D5 power chord, which can be shifted up or down the fretboard with a single finger (usually the index) to produce any power chord quickly and easily. Drop-D also enables the guitarist to play a whole tone lower than in standard tuning, and many artists value this deeper, fuller sound.
Dropped D tuning is perhaps most widely used in heavy metal or rock music as they take full advantage of the easier power chord transitions. However, the tuning has also been used in many other types of music, including blues, country, and folk.
This tuning may be the most prominent tuning in modern rock and metal, but it is not uncommon for these guitarists to play in E-flat tuning/down tuning or dropped C tuning.
Drop D also allows fingerpickers to play chord shapes higher up the neck while maintaining an alternating bass.
[edit] Examples of chords in dropped D tuning
Chords in dropped D tuning are formed as they are in standard tuning, with the exception of the sixth string, which is either omitted or fretted two semitones higher:
Chord Tab A x02220 Am x02210 B x24442 Bm x24432 C x32010 D 000232 Dm 000231 E x22100 Em 222000 F x03211 F# xx4322 F#m xx4222 G 5x0003
Note that these chords are not the power chords commonly played in drop D tuning. Power chords generally mute the higher notes rather than the lower notes:
Chord Tab A5 777xxx or x022xx B5 999xxx or x244xx C5 x355xx or 888xxx D5 000xxx or x577xx E5 222xxx or x799xx F5 333xxx or x81010xx F#5 444xxx G5 555xxx
'
[edit] Capo usage
Some guitarists choose to use a capo on the 2nd fret with this tuning so that they can retain the ease of playing power chords while leaving the lowest note as an E. Examples of this include the bands Fall Out Boy (although Fall Out Boy often use drop D tuning without a capo, for example, on the songs "Sugar, We're Going Down," "Dance, Dance" and "XO") and Angels and Airwaves. This effect can be achieved without a capo by leaving the 6th string at E and tuning all others up one tone.
[edit] External links
- Guitar Tunings - Guitar School Online
- How to Tune a Guitar - Learn to tune in drop D
