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Double Drop D Tuner Online
Double Drop D tuning notes (DADGBD):
D2A2D3G3B3D4
This Double Drop D tuner is preset to DADGBD tuning. Tune D2-A2-D3-G3-B3-D4 from low D to high D by lowering both E strings one whole step.
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Popular Songs in Double Drop D
Practice these carefully selected songs to get familiar with Double Drop D tuning. Each song showcases different techniques and chord progressions possible with this tuning.
Songs
6
Beginner
0
Genres
4
IntermediateRock1969
Cinnamon Girl
Neil Young
Classic Neil Young double-drop-D riffing with both outside strings tuned down to D.
Great for practicing double drop d techniques
IntermediateFolk Rock1971
Going to California
Led Zeppelin
Fingerpicked double-drop-D arrangement with ringing D drones around the melody.
Great for practicing double drop d techniques
IntermediateRock1977
The Chain
Fleetwood Mac
Lindsey Buckingham-style alternate tuning part that uses the open D strings for tension and movement.
Great for practicing double drop d techniques
IntermediateCountry Rock1974
Black Water
The Doobie Brothers
Acoustic double-drop-D texture with bright open-string color and steady folk-rock rhythm.
Great for practicing double drop d techniques
IntermediateRock1970
Ohio
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Neil Young's urgent double-drop-D rhythm approach with a strong low-D foundation.
Great for practicing double drop d techniques
AdvancedPsychedelic Rock1967
The End
The Doors
A darker, more experimental example of the tuning's droning outside-string sound.
Great for practicing double drop d techniques
Why These Songs Work Well in Double Drop D
These songs were specifically chosen because they take advantage of Double Drop Dtuning's unique characteristics. Whether it's the open chord voicings, easier fingering patterns, or the distinctive sound that this tuning provides, each song demonstrates why many guitarists choose Double Drop D for their music. Practice these songs to develop your ear for this tuning and discover new playing techniques.
Practice Tips for Double Drop D
- Start with the beginner-level songs to get comfortable with the tuning
- Focus on how chord shapes differ from standard tuning
- Listen to the original recordings to understand the intended sound
- Practice transitioning between Double Drop D and standard tuning
- Experiment with the open strings to discover new chord voicings
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Learn Double Drop D After You Tune
Use this page as a short practice route: tune to D2-A2-D3-G3-B3-D4, hear how the open strings behave, then move into songs, related tunings, and chord shapes that make Double Drop D useful.
Difficulty
Beginner
Best approached as a beginner guitar tuning.
Songs
6
Filter the song list by difficulty and genre once you are tuned.
Best for
double drop d tuning online, using a Double Drop D guitar tuner, checking DADGBD tuning notes, lowering both E strings to D
First practice targets
Cinnamon Girl
Neil Young
Going to California
Led Zeppelin
The Chain
Fleetwood Mac
About Double Drop D Tuning
Double Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D) keeps the middle four strings from standard tuning and drops both E strings down to D. The result feels close to standard and Drop D, but the low and high D strings frame every chord with a wide drone.
Use this Double Drop D tuner online to check the full DADGBD note pattern before playing folk-rock, acoustic rhythm, fingerstyle, or songs in D where the top string can ring as a melody note or pedal tone.
Double Drop D is often written as DADGBD tuning. It is not the same as Drop D, which is D-A-D-G-B-E, because the high E also drops to D. It is also different from DADGAD, where the 2nd string moves from B down to A.
Double Drop D Tuning Notes
From lowest to highest: D2-A2-D3-G3-B3-D4
6th string
73.42 Hz
Low D, lowered one whole step from standard low E and used as the bass drone.
5th string
110.00 Hz
A string, unchanged from standard tuning and a perfect fifth above the low D.
4th string
146.83 Hz
D string, unchanged from standard tuning and one octave above the low D.
3rd string
196.00 Hz
G string, unchanged from standard tuning and familiar for standard chord shapes.
2nd string
246.94 Hz
B string, unchanged from standard tuning and the note that separates Double Drop D from DADGAD.
1st string
293.66 Hz
High D, lowered one whole step from standard high E for the bright upper drone.
Recommended String Gauges for Double Drop D
.010-.046 or .011-.050
Most players can use normal electric or acoustic strings for Double Drop D because only two strings move down one whole step. If the low D or high D feels loose, a slightly heavier set such as .011-.050 adds tension and sustain without making the middle strings feel too stiff.
Common Chords in Double Drop D
D Major Drone
Use a normal open D shape and let the 6th and 1st strings ring for a wide D foundation.
D5 Power Chord
Strum the lowest three strings open for the same D-A-D power chord found in Drop D.
G Major Color
Use familiar G shapes while letting the high D ring instead of high E for a folk-rock sound.
Dsus4 and Dsus2 Colors
Small changes around the D shape become more dramatic because both outside strings are D drones.
How to Tune to Double Drop D (D2-A2-D3-G3-B3-D4)
1
Start from standard tuning: E-A-D-G-B-E.
2
Tune the 6th string down from E2 to D2, the same first move you would make for Drop D.
3
Leave the 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings at A2, D3, G3, and B3.
4
Tune the 1st string down from E4 to D4. A quick reference is the 2nd string at the 3rd fret, which is also D4.
5
Check the full target pattern from low to high: D-A-D-G-B-D.
6
Strum a D chord and let the open 6th and 1st strings ring. Retune both D strings after a minute if they settle slightly flat.
Double Drop D Tuning FAQ
Quick answers for choosing strings, learning songs, and practicing this tuning.
What notes are in Double Drop D tuning?
Double Drop D tuning is D-A-D-G-B-D from lowest to highest string. It starts from standard tuning and lowers both E strings down one whole step to D.
Is Double Drop D the same as DADGBD tuning?
Yes. Double Drop D and DADGBD tuning refer to the same open-string notes: D-A-D-G-B-D from the 6th string to the 1st string.
Is Double Drop D the same as Drop D?
No. Drop D is D-A-D-G-B-E and only lowers the 6th string. Double Drop D is D-A-D-G-B-D, so the 1st string is also lowered from E to D.
Is Double Drop D the same as DADGAD?
No. Double Drop D keeps the 2nd string at B, while DADGAD lowers the 2nd string to A. That one note changes the chord colors and melody shapes.
What string gauge works best for Double Drop D?
Most players can use normal .010-.046 strings for Double Drop D. If the low D or high D feels too loose, try .011-.050 or a slightly heavier low string.
What is Double Drop D tuning best for?
Double Drop D is especially useful for double drop d tuning online, using a Double Drop D guitar tuner, checking DADGBD tuning notes. It changes the way open strings and chord shapes feel, so spend a few minutes listening to the open strings before learning full songs.
Is Double Drop D tuning good for beginners?
Double Drop D is a beginner tuning. Beginners can use it, but it helps to learn the target notes first and start with slower songs before trying fast chord changes.
What songs use Double Drop D tuning?
Popular examples in Double Drop D include Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young, Going to California by Led Zeppelin, The Chain by Fleetwood Mac. Use the song list on this page to filter by difficulty and pick a first practice target.