Drop D Tuner. Tune to D A D G B E in Your Browser.
Like the Meter? The Mac app uses the same YIN engine — but reads your USB interface at full sample rate, runs sub-50 ms via Core Audio, lives in your menu bar, and adds 15 instrument presets, 8 historical temperaments, and capo.On Your iPhone Right Now? ChromTuner: Guitar Tuner runs this same YIN engine natively on iOS — with haptic in-tune feedback and the free tier covers chromatic, Standard E, and Drop D.
String Reference
Drop D, String by String.
One string moves. The 6th drops a whole step from E to D; the other five stay in standard tuning. Tap a note to hear it.
| String | Note | Frequency | From Standard | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | D2Whole step down (E → D) | 73.42 Hz | Whole step down (E → D) | |
| 5 | A2Unchanged | 110.00 Hz | Unchanged | |
| 4 | D3Unchanged | 146.83 Hz | Unchanged | |
| 3 | G3Unchanged | 196.00 Hz | Unchanged | |
| 2 | B3Unchanged | 246.94 Hz | Unchanged | |
| 1 | E4Unchanged | 329.63 Hz | Unchanged |
Equal temperament, A4 = 440 Hz. Strings are listed in the same order as the tuner's string row.
Retuning
From Standard to Drop D in One String.
Only the low E changes, which makes this the quickest alternate tuning there is. Tune down past the D and come back up to it, so the string holds its pitch.
- 01
Loosen the 6th String
Turn the low E peg until the string sits a little below D2 — slightly further than you need.
- 02
Bring It Up to D2
Tighten slowly until the tuner settles on D2 (73.42 Hz). Coming up from below keeps the string from slipping flat as you play.
- 03
Check It by Ear
Play the open 6th and 4th strings together. They're the same note an octave apart and should ring without any wobble.
- 04
Recheck the Other Five
A whole step less tension on the thickest string eases the neck slightly. Run through strings 5 to 1 once more before you play.
FAQ
Drop D Questions.
Why players use it, how power chords work in it, and how to get back to standard.
Why Do Guitarists Use Drop D?
It adds a low D under the guitar's range and turns power chords into a one-finger shape: barre the lowest three strings at any fret. That's why it's all over rock and metal, from Foo Fighters' "Everlong" to Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name".How Do I Play Power Chords in Drop D?
Lay one finger across the 6th, 5th and 4th strings at the same fret. The note on the 6th string names the chord: open is D5, the 2nd fret E5, the 5th fret G5, the 7th fret A5.How Do I Get Back to Standard Tuning?
Tune the 6th string back up a whole step, from D2 to E2 (82.41 Hz), or pick Standard in the tuner above. Nothing else changed, so the other five strings should still be in tune.
ChromTuner Apps
Drop D, One Tap Away.
ChromTuner for iPhone runs the same detection engine natively, with haptic feedback when a string locks in. Drop D is free in the app, alongside chromatic mode and standard tuning, so you can switch tunings wherever you are.
More Tunings