About Double Drop D tuning
Double Drop D takes standard tuning and lowers both E strings — sixth and first — a whole step to D. You keep familiar chord shapes on the middle strings while gaining a droning low D and a sweet high D that rings over everything, a combination Neil Young built a career on.
Tune the sixth string down until it reads D, then do the same with the first string. Both should sound in octaves with the open fourth string.
Double Drop D tuning notes & frequencies (A4 = 440 Hz)
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to tune to Double Drop D from standard
- String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2.
- 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 Double Drop D
- Cinnamon Girl — Neil Young
- Going to California — Led Zeppelin
- The Loner — Neil Young
String gauge advice
Standard .010–.046 sets work well; tension only drops on the two E strings.
FAQ
What are the notes of Double Drop D tuning on guitar?
Double Drop D tuning is D2, A2, D3, G3, B3, D4 from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune my guitar to Double Drop D?
Starting from standard tuning: String 6 (E2): tune down a whole step to D2. 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?
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