Drop D Guitar Tuner
Tune a 6-string guitar to Drop D (DADGBE) with a free mic tuner showing note, Hz and cents for every string.
Values use equal temperament with A4 fixed at 440 Hz. Play one open string at a time and match it against the tuner below.
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Drop D tuning lowers only the thickest string a whole step, from E2 down to D2, while the other five strings stay in standard tuning. That single change lets you play power chords with one finger across the bottom three strings, which is why it shows up constantly in rock and metal.
How to drop your low string to D
Start from standard tuning, then tune the low E string down until it matches D2 at 73.42 Hz, a whole step below its usual 82.41 Hz. The other five strings, A2, D3, G3, B3 and E4, are unchanged from standard tuning. Because the low string is now the same letter name as the fourth string, D2 and D3 an octave apart, barring or fretting a single finger straight across the bottom three strings gives you a full power chord anywhere on the neck.
Dropping a string a whole step reduces its tension, so expect a slightly looser feel and check tuning again after a few minutes of playing. Going back to standard afterwards just means tuning that same string back up to E2.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are Drop D tuning?
Drop D is D2, A2, D3, G3, B3, E4 from the low string to the high string. Only the low E string changes, tuned down a whole step from E2 to D2, everything else matches standard tuning.
What is the frequency of the dropped string?
The low string in Drop D is D2 at 73.42 Hz, compared to 82.41 Hz for E2 in standard tuning. Every other string keeps its standard-tuning frequency.
Why do guitarists use Drop D?
It lets you play a power chord across the bottom three strings with a single finger, which speeds up fast riffing and makes low, heavy chord shapes easier. It is common in rock, metal and grunge.