Drop D tuning
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Drop D tuning ("Dropped D" or drop-D) is a guitar tuning style in which the lowest (sixth) string is tuned ("dropped") to D rather than E as in standard tuning. It may thus be represented, lowest string to highest, as DADGBE. As a result of this change, the bottom three strings form a D power chord, which can be shifted up or down the fretboard with a single finger 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. Indeed, it is not uncommon for modern rock and metal guitarists to play in "drop Db" or "drop C," lowering the sixth string a whole tone and then lowering every string one or two semitones. Often this technique requires specially-made guitar strings.
Chords in drop-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.
Drop D (like many open tunings) allows fingerpickers to play chord shapes higher up the neck whilst maintaining an alternating bass.
Examples of chords in Drop D Tuning
A x02220 Am x02210 B x24442 Bm x24432 C x32010 D 000232 Dm 000231 E xx2100 Em 222000 F xx3211 F# xx4322 F#m xx4222 G 5x0003
da:Drop D de:Dropped D-Stimmung
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The top guitar string needs to be tuned to the third from top string to produce the Drop D effect