About Drop D tuning
Drop D on bass mirrors the guitar version: the lowest string drops a whole step to D while the rest stay put. If the guitarists are in Drop D, this keeps you locked to their low root — and it adds a useful low D for walking lines and heavier grooves.
Tune the E string down until the needle centers on D1 (36.7 Hz). The 12th-fret harmonic reads faster than the open string at these depths.
Drop D tuning notes & frequencies (A4 = 440 Hz)
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | D1 | 36.71 Hz |
| 3 | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 1 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
How to tune to Drop D from standard
- String 4 (E1): tune down a whole step to D1.
After changing string tension this much, make a second tuning pass — the neck settles slightly and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
String gauge advice
Standard sets cope; a .110 low string tightens the dropped D.
FAQ
What are the notes of Drop D tuning on bass guitar?
Drop D tuning is D1, A1, D2, G2 from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune my bass guitar to Drop D?
Starting from standard tuning: String 4 (E1): tune down a whole step to D1. Use the tuner above — it highlights the string it hears and shows exactly how many cents you are from the target.
Is this tuner free and private?
Yes — no ads, no signup, and all audio is processed locally in your browser. Nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Embed this tuner
Add the Drop D tuner to your own site or blog post with an iframe:
<iframe src="https://tunewell.net/embed/bass/drop-d" width="420" height="560" style="border:0" title="Drop D Bass Tuner"></iframe>