Drop D tunning

[Slasher]

I've been playin the geetar now for 5 n a bit years. N I've come across a few second rate bands using the drop d tunning (where you lower the low e to a d). What the hell is the point in this, the only thing I can see is that it's a lazy ass way of playin power chords. N I've never seen any of the top guitarists use this tunning.

[Tele Master]

I never found the point in it either. I never notice it when I play open chords, so i never use it. I think this tuning is used mainly on Punk and Slide guitar.

[Slow Diver]

Droped D opens many possibilities which are hard to play in standard tunnig. No one is really urging you to play regular power chords, this is the most boring thing you can play with dropped D.

[mc9mm]

It produces a chunky, dark sound.
And its not just all the new angry rap-rock band
that uses this simple tuning.
I know Bruce Springsteen uses it in one of his
acoustic-type songs for example.
Its really amazing what it can do, you can get
a totally different sound by just lowering the E-string one step!

[Tele Master]

I don't know, its weird, I find dropped D one of the hardest tunings to play in because only one string is changed. I find open tunings much easier.

[Kirk_Aimar]

To drop or not to drop the tune to whatever Alphabets ABCDetc. It really counts on what sound you wanted it. Dropped D tuning is fiercer but i always prefered standard tuning.:D

[TheDirt]

Some solo acoustic fingerstyle pieces I have written are in Dropped D for tonal purposes. I have one song in A Major, for example. The bassline is A, F#, D, E for the first part, and D, E, F#, F# for the second. It sounds great to descend from the A down to the E on bottom string, but if I don't play in dropped D, I have to play A down to F# up a minor sixth D, then down nearly a minor seventh to E. Those huge jumps in the bassline don't sound good, and if I opted to go from the A up to FX then descend to the D, it would be so high that it wouldn't even sound like a bassline. This is solo guitar, I don't have a bass player covering me! Catching that low D is crucial for the overall mood of the song. Also, the ascending D, E, F# bassline couldn't be achieved without drop D.

I also play some riffs where the drop D is helpful. For example, try playing this without drop D.

(pretty fast, in B Minor, cut and paste into Notepad)
E|----------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------|
D|-9-99-12p9-9-7-77-11p7-7-5-55-9p5-5-4-44-777--|
A|-9-99-9----9-7-77-7----7-5-55-5---5-4-44-777--|
D|-9-99-9----9-7-77-7----7-5-55-5---5-4-44-777--|

The powerchords themselves are easy to get, but reaching up to the third of each chord and pulling off is impossible in standard position (for me at least) unless you shift positions and stop playing the root for a beat (i.e.-playing the fifth and octave with your index and reaching up to the third with your pinky). In drop D you can play the riff without leaving out any notes or shifting positions mid-chord.

I think Drop D Tuning is kind of like guns... the invention itself is great. It's only bad in the wrong hands.

AND REMEMBER!!! Guns don't kill people... Bullets kill people!!

[bacchus]

hendrix (best guitarist ever lived) used dropped d and alot of alternate tunnings. it gives you a lot more opptions.

[GregoryB]

I know Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine (most deffinately NOT a second rate guitarist) uses Drop-D in some songs.

[aiwass]

Two songs by guitar gods that are in drop d, and that cannot be played in standard tuning.

Dream Theater - Home (Killer song with Eastern influence and awesome solos.

Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society - Speedball (Acoustic shred instrumental)

[Josh Redstone]

I like using Drop D to create a mood. D minor is the saddest of all keys, right? Well, if your in drop D, its cooler to play in that key, because you have more D's to pick from, it creates a mood, because its sadder and darker, its more convenient than dropping the whole guitar for that note range, and it allows for totally awsome chord voicings that you cant reach in standard tuning.
Its like TheDirt said, its only bad in the wrong hands.

[gibsonshredder06]

Drop D is good for a lot of classical songs....so that tuning is good for neo-classical...

[Ian Jerdon]

Jimmy Page uses drop D in Kashmir and Goin to California.

[Azrael]

Originally posted by aiwass
Two songs by guitar gods that are in drop d, and that cannot be played in standard tuning.

Dream Theater - Home (Killer song with Eastern influence and awesome solos.


Wrong - "Home" is played on a sevenstring guitar - i´ve got the scorebook at home.