Full step down tuning

Standard tuning lowered by two semitones. Chord shapes are unchanged relative to standard tuning, but the whole instrument sounds a tone lower and the strings are noticeably slacker.

1st D
2nd A
3rd F
4th C
5th G
6th D

Notes, highest to lowest: D G C F A D
Notes, lowest to highest: D A F C G D
Strings: 6
Interval pattern: 6th to 5th: 5 semitones; 5th to 4th: 5 semitones; 4th to 3rd: 5 semitones; 3rd to 2nd: 4 semitones; 2nd to 1st: 5 semitones
Family: standard
Typical scale length: 24.75–25.5 in
Open strings contain: D7sus4, Dm7, F6, Fadd9, G7sus4, Csus2, Csus4, Dm, Dsus4, F
Written use: Used for low vocal keys and for heavier rhythm playing at the same string gauge.
Key of this tuning: D

Strings

Each string of this tuning, with its scientific pitch, its MIDI note number (middle C is 60) and its distance above the lowest string.

String	Note	Octave	MIDI	Semitones above the lowest	Interval
1st (highest)	D	4	62	24	Perfect unison plus two octaves above the lowest string
2nd	A	3	57	19	Perfect twelfth above the lowest string
3rd	F	3	53	15	Augmented ninth above the lowest string
4th	C	3	48	10	Minor seventh above the lowest string
5th	G	2	43	5	Perfect fourth above the lowest string
6th (lowest)	D	2	38	0	the reference string

Common chord shapes

The shapes below were found by searching this tuning's fretboard. The search prefers the lowest playable position, requires every chord tone, spans no more than four frets and allows no muted string between two sounding ones. Shapes in an altered tuning are not the standard ones: they are the shapes this tuning actually produces.

Chord	Shape (lowest string first)	Notes	Degrees	Span	Sounding	Quality
D	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	D A D F# A D	1 5 1 3 5 1	2	6	Major
G	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	D G D G B D	5 1 5 1 3 5	2	6	Major
C	2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)	E G C G x x	3 5 1 5 x x	2	4	Major
A	2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)	E A C# A A E	5 1 3 1 1 5	4	6	Major
Dm	0-2-2-0-0-0 (6→1)	D A D F A D	1 5 1 b3 5 1	2	6	Minor
Em	2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)	E G E G B E	1 b3 1 b3 5 1	4	6	Minor
D7	x-x-0-1-0-0 (6→1)	x x C F# A D	x x b7 3 5 1	1	4	Dominant seventh
G7	0-0-2-0-2-0 (6→1)	D G D F B D	5 1 5 b7 3 5	2	6	Dominant seventh

Chord

Shape (lowest string first)

Notes

Degrees

Span

Sounding

Quality

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

D A D F# A D

1 5 1 3 5 1

Major

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

D G D G B D

5 1 5 1 3 5

Major

2-0-0-2-x-x (6→1)

E G C G x x

3 5 1 5 x x

Major

2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)

E A C# A A E

5 1 3 1 1 5

Major

0-2-2-0-0-0 (6→1)

D A D F A D

1 5 1 b3 5 1

Minor

2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)

E G E G B E

1 b3 1 b3 5 1

Minor

x-x-0-1-0-0 (6→1)

x x C F# A D

x x b7 3 5 1

Dominant seventh

0-0-2-0-2-0 (6→1)

D G D F B D

5 1 5 b7 3 5

Dominant seventh

Diatonic chords in D

The seven triads built on the major scale of this tuning's home key, each as a playable shape in this tuning.

Numeral	Chord	Notes	Shape (lowest string first)	Sounding	Quality
I	D	D F# A	0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)	6	Major
ii	Em	E G B	2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)	6	Minor
iii	F#m	F# A C#	x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)	4	Minor
IV	G	G B D	0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)	6	Major
V	A	A C# E	2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)	6	Major
vi	Bm	B D F#	x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)	4	Minor
vii°	C#dim	C# E G	2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)	4	Diminished

Numeral

Chord

Notes

Shape (lowest string first)

Sounding

Quality

D F# A

0-2-2-1-0-0 (6→1)

Major

E G B

2-0-4-2-2-2 (6→1)

Minor

iii

F#m

F# A C#

x-2-1-1-0-x (6→1)

Minor

G B D

0-0-2-2-2-0 (6→1)

Major

A C# E

2-2-1-4-0-2 (6→1)

Major

B D F#

x-x-2-1-2-0 (6→1)

Minor

vii°

C#dim

C# E G

2-0-1-2-x-x (6→1)

Diminished

What this tuning is used for

Used for low vocal keys and for heavier rhythm playing at the same string gauge.

GenreHeavy rock and metalFrequently used with heavier gauges to keep tension while sounding lower.
GenreBluesLets a standard shape sit in a lower key without a capo.
GenreStoner rockOften combined with down-tuned drop shapes.

Related tunings

TuningHalf step downone semitone below standard
TuningDrop Cthis tuning with the sixth string dropped a tone
TuningStandardtwo semitones higher

Everything in D · All tunings

TuningHalf step down tuning — Eb Ab Db Gb Bb EbEb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb · 6 strings
TuningDrop C tuning — C G C F A DC G C F A D · 6 strings
TuningStandard tuning — E A D G B EE A D G B E · 6 strings
TuningDADGAD tuning — D A D G A DD A D G A D · 6 strings
TuningDrop D tuning — D A D G B ED A D G B E · 6 strings
TuningOpen D tuning — D A D F# A DD A D F# A D · 6 strings
ChordD11 — Dominant eleventh1 9 3 11 5 b7 · D E F# G A C
ChordD13 — Dominant thirteenth1 9 3 5 13 b7 · D E F# A B C

Everything in this key: D · Tunings · Theory Atlas