About D Standard tuning
D standard drops every string a whole step from standard: D G C F A D. Every shape you know still works, but the guitar gains weight and darkness — the reason it's a staple of heavy metal, doom, and stoner rock, and a friend to singers who find E standard keys a touch too high.
Tune each string down two semitones until it centers on its target. Detuning this far on light strings can feel loose, so many players dedicate a guitar with heavier strings to D standard.
D Standard tuning notes & frequencies (A4 = 440 Hz)
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| 4 | C3 | 130.81 Hz |
| 3 | F3 | 174.61 Hz |
| 2 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to tune to D Standard from standard
- String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2.
- String 5 (A2): tune down a whole step to G2.
- String 4 (D3): tune down a whole step to C3.
- String 3 (G3): tune down a whole step to F3.
- String 2 (B3): tune down a whole step to A3.
- String 1 (E4): tune down a whole step to D4.
After changing string tension this much, make a second tuning pass — the neck settles slightly and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
Songs & artists in D Standard
- Sad but True — Metallica
- Pull Me Under — Dream Theater
- Flying Whales — Gojira
Gojira, Dream Theater, and a large share of doom and stoner rock bands make D standard their home base.
String gauge advice
.011–.050 keeps tension close to a .010 set in E standard.
FAQ
What are the notes of D Standard tuning on guitar?
D Standard tuning is D2, G2, C3, F3, A3, D4 from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune my guitar to D Standard?
Starting from standard tuning: String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2. String 5 (A2): tune down a whole step to G2. String 4 (D3): tune down a whole step to C3. String 3 (G3): tune down a whole step to F3. String 2 (B3): tune down a whole step to A3. String 1 (E4): tune down a whole step to D4. 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 D Standard tuner to your own site or blog post with an iframe:
<iframe src="https://tunewell.net/embed/guitar/d-standard" width="420" height="560" style="border:0" title="D Standard Guitar Tuner"></iframe>