Drop D Tuning on 4-string bass guitar
Drop D tuning is D1 A1 D2 G2, written DADG. Lower the 4th string a whole step, from E1 to D1. The other three do not move.
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Why guitarists use Drop D tuning
It matches a guitarist playing in Drop D, and it puts D1 under the open string so a root note in D needs no fretting hand at all. D1 is low enough that many small speakers reproduce only its harmonics rather than the fundamental.
Where you will hear it: rock, metal, punk. That list is deliberately limited to genres and playing traditions. Attributing a tuning to specific songs or players is the kind of claim that needs a source, and this page does not make claims it cannot back up.
Drop D compared with standard EADG tuning
This is the table that tells you how far to turn each peg, in semitones and in hertz. A negative semitone value means the string goes down.
| String | Standard | Standard (Hz) | Drop D | Drop D (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th (lowest) | E1 | 41.20 | D1 | 36.71 | -2 semitones (-4.50 Hz) |
| 3rd | A1 | 55.00 | A1 | 55.00 | unchanged |
| 2nd | D2 | 73.42 | D2 | 73.42 | unchanged |
| 1st (highest) | G2 | 98.00 | G2 | 98.00 | unchanged |
Notice that equal semitone steps are not equal hertz steps: the same whole step is worth about 9 Hz down at the bottom string and far more at the top. That is why tuners report cents, which are proportional, rather than hertz.
How to tune to Drop D, string by string
- Play the 4th (lowest) open and adjust until the tuner reads D1 at 36.71 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads A1 at 55.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads D2 at 73.42 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st (highest) open and adjust until the tuner reads G2 at 98.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
Retune in two passes. Changing the tension on one string changes the pull on the neck, so the strings you set first will have drifted slightly by the time you finish the last one. That effect is larger the further the tuning sits from standard, so a tuning that moves four or more strings almost always needs a third pass.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is Drop D tuning on a 4-string bass guitar?
Drop D is D1, A1, D2, G2, written DADG. Lower the 4th string a whole step, from E1 to D1. The other three do not move.
What are the frequencies of Drop D tuning?
D1 is 36.71 Hz, A1 is 55.00 Hz, D2 is 73.42 Hz, G2 is 98.00 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
1 of 4. the 4th (lowest) goes from E1 to D1 (down 2 semitones).
What is the lowest note in Drop D tuning?
D1 at 36.71 Hz, MIDI note 26. Low notes take longer for a pitch detector to lock onto, so play the string firmly and let it ring before trusting the cents reading.
Other 4-string bass guitar tunings
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .