Guitar tuning · D A D G B E

Drop D tuner.

D A D G B E: String 6 dropped to D2. Tune with your mic or by ear, at A4 = 440 or any pitch you need.

Tuner · Any tuning

Tune your guitar.

Pluck a string and the meter shows how far off it is. Tap any string to hear it at its true pitch and tune by ear.

  • Pick any instrument and tuning
  • Shift it down or up by half steps
  • Set A to anything: 440, 432, 442…

D A D G B E

The sound never leaves your device.

Keys: Space start or stop · ← → half step · ↑ ↓ A (Shift: bigger steps) · 1–9 string · M mode · R hear · − + volume · L copy link · Esc done

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Strings · tap to hear

Guitar · Drop tuning

About Drop D

E Standard with String 6 dropped a whole step, to D2: D A D G B E. Drop tunings make a power chord from one finger across the lowest three strings, so heavy riffs get easier to play.

Drop D is the most popular alternate tuning. Only one string changes, so it takes seconds to get there and back, and it adds a low D for riffs and for songs in D.

Also written: DADGBE

How to get there from standard

  • String 6: lower a whole step (E2 → D2)
  • String 5: no change (A2)
  • String 4: no change (D3)
  • String 3: no change (G3)
  • String 2: no change (B3)
  • String 1: no change (E4)

6 strings

Notes and frequencies

Drop D: notes and frequencies in Hz at three common A4 references
StringNoteA = 440A = 432A = 442
6D273.4272.0873.75
5A2110.00108.00110.50
4D3146.83144.16147.50
3G3196.00192.43196.89
2B3246.94242.45248.06
1E4329.63323.63331.13

The tuner on this page works at any A4 from 300 to 600 Hz, and can shift the whole tuning by half steps or fine cents.

Measured

How the tuner hears D2

Drop D goes down to D2 on String 6, 73.42 Hz. A phone mic hears D2 faintly: in our phone-mic model its fundamental arrives 6 dB quieter. Read from its overtones, D2 stayed within 1 ¢.

How the tuner listens →

String tension

Strings and tension

String 6: about 21% less tension (approx., same strings, same scale length).

Most players keep their usual strings for this. If the lowest string feels floppy or buzzes, go one gauge heavier on that string only.

Check string tension → String by string, with your own set and scale length.

Neighboring tunings

Higher tunings first. Each rung moves every string of Drop D by a half step; in the tuner, the ◂ ▸ arrows on the tuning chip do the same.

  1. Drop EDrop D, 2 half steps higher. Notes: E B E A C sharp F sharp
  2. Drop E♭Drop D, 1 half step higher. Notes: E flat B flat E flat A flat C F
  3. Drop DThis pageLow string down to D. Notes: D A D G B E
  4. Drop C♯Drop D, 1 half step lower
  5. Drop CDrop D, 2 half steps lower

Questions

What are the notes of Drop D?

From String 6 to String 1: D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4. At A4 = 440 Hz the lowest string is 73.42 Hz and the highest is 329.63 Hz.

How is Drop D different from D Standard?

D Standard lowers all six strings a whole step (D G C F A D). Drop D takes only String 6 that low; the other strings stay at E Standard (A D G B E).

Can I use Drop D at A = 432 or 442?

Yes. Tap the A 440 chip and choose 432 or 442, or type any value. String 6 is 72.08 Hz at A = 432 and 73.75 Hz at A = 442.