How to tune a guitar to drop D, by ear or with a tuner

To tune a guitar to drop D, lower only the sixth string, the thickest one, by one whole step from E to D, and leave the other five strings in standard tuning. The result is D A D G B E. Use a tuner and turn the peg until the low string reads D, or tune by ear until the low string matches the open fourth string an octave lower. It takes under a minute, and getting back to standard is the same move in reverse.

What is drop D tuning?

Drop D is an alternate tuning in which the lowest string is tuned down from the usual E by one whole step to D. Standard tuning is E A D G B E from the thickest string to the thinnest, so drop D becomes D A D G B E.

The appeal is simple. The three lowest open strings now form a D power chord, so you can play a power chord with one finger across three strings. You also get two extra low notes at the bottom of the neck. Drop D is common in heavy metal, and it is also used in blues, country, folk and classical guitar.

How far down do you tune the low E for drop D?

One whole step, which is two frets or two semitones. In tuner terms that is 200 cents, since a semitone is 100 cents. In frequencies, the low E in standard tuning is 82.41 Hz, and the D a whole step below it is 73.42 Hz. Those numbers assume A at 440 Hz, the usual reference.

How do you tune to drop D with a tuner?

Any tuner works, whether it is a clip-on, a pedal or an app. The steps:

1. Tune to standard first. Make sure all six strings are in standard tuning, E A D G B E, so the other five strings are a reliable reference.
2. Set the tuner. Choose a drop D preset if your tuner has one, or use chromatic mode so it shows any note.
3. Pluck the sixth string. Play the thickest string open and let it ring. The tuner shows E.
4. Loosen it past D. Turn the tuning peg to lower the pitch until the reading drops a little below D.
5. Bring it up to D. Tighten slowly until the tuner shows D in tune. Tuning up to the note helps the string hold its pitch.
6. Check it against the fourth string. Play the open fourth string, which is also D, then the sixth string. They should sound like the same note an octave apart.

If you have an iPhone and nothing else, Apple's GarageBand has a tuner built into its Amp. Open the Amp, tap the Tuner button in the upper-left corner and play the string. According to Apple's guide to playing the Amp in GarageBand for iPhone, red lines show whether the string is flat or sharp, and the note name turns blue when it is in tune.

How do you tune to drop D without a tuner?

You do not need a tuner at all, because drop D gives you a perfect reference: the fourth string is already a D, exactly one octave above the note you want. Two ways to use it:

Match the octave

1. Play the open fourth string and listen to the note.
2. Play the open sixth string and lower it slowly while you listen.
3. Stop when the two notes sound like the same note, one high and one low. Play them together: when they are close, you will hear a slow wobble in the volume, called beating. The wobble slows down as you get closer and disappears when the strings are in tune.

Use the seventh fret

In drop D, the sixth string held at the seventh fret plays A, the same note as the open fifth string. Hold the seventh fret, play both strings, and adjust the sixth string until they match. Because the two notes are in the same octave, this can be easier to judge than the octave method.

Both methods assume your other strings are already in tune. If they are not, tune to standard first, by ear or with a tuner. Our longer guide to tuning a guitar by ear and with a tuner covers standard tuning step by step.

How do you get back to standard tuning?

Raise the sixth string one whole step, from D back to E. With a tuner, tighten until it reads E. By ear, hold the sixth string at the fifth fret and match it to the open fifth string: in standard tuning both are A. As before, approach the note from below so the string settles.

Retuning one string is quick, so switching back and forth between songs is practical. Check the sixth string again after a few minutes of playing, since a string that has just changed tension may drift a little as it settles.

Where our tuner fits

We are making Guitar, Ukulele & Bass Tuner, coming soon to the App Store. Drop D is one of its free presets, alongside standard, half step down, full step down, open G, open D, DADGAD and drop C for guitar, plus presets for ukulele and bass, including drop D on bass. Pick the preset and the tuner knows the low string should be D.

Two things set it apart when you are dropping a string. The needle settles instead of flapping, because the readings are smoothed before the needle moves, and a plain line under it says which way to turn the peg. And when you tap a string, the tuner stays on that string until you tap it again, so it will not jump to a different string while your low D is still a long way off. There is also a reference tone for every string of the current tuning, if you would rather tune by ear.

The tuner listens through the iPhone microphone. Sound is analyzed on your iPhone and never recorded, stored or sent. Tuning, every preset and the reference tones are free, with no limits, no account and no ads. Pro adds a strobe view for fine tuning, chromatic mode with violin, banjo and mandolin, tunings you build yourself, and themes, for $4.99 a month or $14.99 once. It needs iOS 26 or later.

Frequently asked questions

Is drop D bad for my guitar?

No. Drop D lowers the tension on one string, it does not raise it. Switching between drop D and standard is an everyday thing for many guitarists.

Can I use drop D on an acoustic guitar?

Yes. The tuning is the same on acoustic, electric and classical guitars: only the sixth string changes, from E to D.

What is the difference between drop D and D standard?

Drop D lowers only the sixth string. D tuning, sometimes called D standard, lowers every string by a whole step, giving D G C F A D. Wikipedia's drop D article describes both, along with other tunings players explore next, such as DADGAD and open D.

Why does my tuner jump around when I tune the low string?

A plucked low string is full of harmonics, and its sound changes as it fades, so a tuner that shows every raw reading moves with each one. Pluck firmly, let the string ring, and read the tuner in the first second or two. A tuner that lets you pick the string, and smooths its readings, makes this much easier.

Why can my iPhone tuner not hear my guitar?

Most often the app does not have microphone access. Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Microphone, and turn the app on. Apple's guide to controlling access to hardware features shows where these switches live.