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Double drop D tuning: DADGBD, also known simply as double drop D, is an alternative guitar tuning: both E strings are tuned down ("dropped") one whole step (2 frets) to D rather than E as in standard tuning (EADGBE).

Uses of double dropped D tuning

The main use for double dropped D is so that guitarists can play intervals of a fifth with one finger on the bass strings, and play the treble side of a barre chord. Some recordings that make effective use of this tuning are "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers, "The Loner," "Cortez the Killer," "Don't Let It Bring You Down," "Ohio" and "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young, "Choctaw Bingo" and "We Can't Make It Here" by James McMurtry, "Find the Cost of Freedom" by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, "Going to California" by Led Zeppelin, "The End" by The Doors, "Devils & Dust" by Bruce Springsteen, "Satellite" by Elliott Smith, "Overkill" by Men At Work, "Bryter Layter" by Nick Drake, and "Nobody's Fault but My Own" by Beck.

America used a variation for "A Horse with No Name", in which the fifth string, normally an A, is also dropped. The string order for this variation, from low to high, is DEDGBD.

English folk singer Kate Rusby primarily uses this tuning for playing in the key of G, capoing in order to play in other keys.

Examples of chords in dropped D tuning

Chords in double dropped D tuning are formed as they are in standard tuning, with the exception of the first and sixth strings, which are either omitted or fretted one whole step higher:

Note that these chords are not the power chords commonly played in double drop D tuning. Power chords generally mute the higher notes rather than the lower notes:

For purposes of making the table easier to read, spaces are provided between each number when the fret number becomes a double digit.

Some examples of the simplified barre chords are shown below. Chords involving the minor third may be more difficult to fret.

References

1. Hay, Collin. "Colin Hay: How To Play Overkill Tutorial". Youtube. Collin Hay. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
2. "Horse With No Name Guitar Lesson | Strumming Pattern & Chords". Guitarcoachmag.com. September 16, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2020.

• Guitar tunings