ALTERNATE TUNINGS / SIX-STRING GUITAR
Drop D guitar tuner
Drop D is D A D G B E (DADGBE), from the thickest string to the thinnest. Select a string, then use your microphone or hear its reference tone.
Ready when you are
Waiting for a note
Audio stays on your device.
No recording. No upload.
Pluck one string. Keep the others muted.
Hold a steady note, then confirm and move to the next string.
FROM E A D G B E
How to tune to Drop D
Lower the sixth string from E2 to D2 by two semitones (one whole step). Leave strings 5–1 at A2, D3, G3, B3 and E4, then check that they have stayed in tune.
Check every string change ↓- 01
Start with the lowest string
Select string 6, D2. Remove any capo and play the open string. Enable microphone, allow access and keep the other strings quiet. The target is 73.42 Hz; the octave number matters.
- 02
Adjust, then let the note settle
From standard tuning, lower the pitch toward the target. Once close, use small adjustments: raise a flat note or lower a sharp one. Pluck gently again and wait for “Stable and in tune” before pressing “Confirm & next string”.
- 03
Finish the six-string check
Check the other five strings even though their targets are unchanged. After all six are confirmed, the tool returns to low D for a final check. Confirm that reading to finish the pass.
STRING 6 → STRING 1
Drop D notes & Hz
DADGBE means D A D G B E, low to high. String 6 is the thickest; string 1 is the thinnest. The numbers in D2 and D3 identify different octaves, not string numbers.
Calculated in twelve-tone equal temperament at A4 = 440 Hz, rounded to two decimals.
| String | Standard → target | Change | Hz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 · low | E2 → D2 | Down 2 semitones | 73.42 |
| 5 | A2 → A2 | Unchanged | 110.00 |
| 4 | D3 → D3 | Unchanged | 146.83 |
| 3 | G3 → G3 | Unchanged | 196.00 |
| 2 | B3 → B3 | Unchanged | 246.94 |
| 1 · high | E4 → E4 | Unchanged | 329.63 |
REFERENCE SOUND
Tune to Drop D without a microphone
Select a string in the tuner, then press Hear reference. It plays a three-second tone for that string. Listen, let it finish, and compare your open string by ear. Repeat for each target in the table. You do not need microphone permission for reference playback.
Reference playback turns microphone detection off. It cannot check your instrument or complete the confirmation steps for you. Enable the microphone again if you want a measured reading; avoid playing the reference into the microphone.
As a relative check, an already-tuned open fourth string is D3. The dropped sixth string should be D2, one octave below it, not the same pitch. This comparison is only as reliable as the fourth string’s tuning.
Choose a string & hear its note ↑SAME LOW NOTE, DIFFERENT TUNING
Drop D vs D standard
D standard is D G C F A D: every string is two semitones below standard. Drop D is D A D G B E: only the lowest string changes. A tuner showing only “D” does not tell you whether all six strings match the tuning you want.
| Tuning | Notes | What changes? |
|---|---|---|
| Drop D | D A D G B E | This page: only string 6 changes from E standard. |
| D standard | D G C F A D | All six strings are two semitones below E standard. |
Drop C lowers every Drop D string by one whole step, giving C G C F A D. Use the Drop C tuner for that separate preset.
WHEN THE READING ISN’T CLEAR
Drop D tuning help
Can I use this for acoustic or electric guitar?
The six target notes are the same for both. The microphone needs a clean, audible single string: mute the other strings and avoid distortion or effects. An unplugged electric guitar may be too quiet for a built-in microphone. Use reference tones if the input cannot hear it reliably. Real-instrument and physical mobile-device validation is still pending.
Why does it show an octave mismatch or strong harmonics?
Low D2 and D3 share a note name but are an octave apart. A plucked string also produces higher harmonics that can dominate the input. Check the selected string, mute the others and pluck again gently. Do not tighten the string by an octave to chase the display. The tool rejects some ambiguous readings, but cannot distinguish every possible harmonic-only signal.
What if the microphone does not work on my phone?
Open the page in your browser, allow microphone access in that site’s permissions and check that your input is not being used by another app. Return to this tab and press Enable microphone again after an interruption. If permission is blocked or the input is too quiet, use the reference-tone method. Physical iPhone and Android testing remains outstanding.
Is this a bass or seven-string tuner?
No. These targets are for six-string guitar. Matching a note letter alone is not enough: a bass may need a different octave, outside the intended range. This tool does not provide bass, seven-string or custom presets.
What does “in tune” mean here?
A stable reading must stay within ±3 cents of the selected target for the confirmation hold. That is a software rule, not a measured accuracy guarantee. Read the detection method, test coverage and limits.
Note layouts and tuning changes checked against Fender’s Drop D guide and Gibson’s Drop D notes. Frequencies are calculated; tuning comparisons use semitone transposition from E standard. Updated October 25, 2026.