TuneHaven Whole step down tuning (D standard, DGCFAD)
Every string down two semitones, D G C F A D. The exact pitches, how it differs from drop D and drop C, and the string gauge and setup questions it raises.
Whole step down lowers every string by two semitones, the distance of two frets. Like half step down, it keeps the shape of standard tuning intact: the strings are the same distance apart, so chords, scales and tabs all transfer unchanged.
The pitches
| String | Standard | Whole step down | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (thickest) | E2 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 5th | A2 | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| 4th | D3 | C3 | 130.81 Hz |
| 3rd | G3 | F3 | 174.61 Hz |
| 2nd | B3 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| 1st (thinnest) | E4 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz. Read down the middle column and you get the tuning’s other name, DGCFAD.
Not the same as drop D or drop C
The names overlap, and the tunings get confused.
- Drop D moves one string: the sixth goes from E to D. Everything else is standard.
- D standard (this page) moves all six strings down a whole step. The sixth string is the same D2 as drop D, but so is every other string lowered.
- Drop C is D standard with the sixth string dropped one more whole step, to C2. Its top five strings are identical to D standard.
So going from D standard to drop C is one string, and so is going from standard to drop D.
How to get there
With a tuner, lower the strings one at a time from the sixth to the first, each to the note in the table, approaching each target from below. Two semitones is a big drop in tension, so the neck will relax as you go; expect the first strings to read sharp after the last one is done. Two or three passes is normal.
By ear, find the low D first. Your open fourth string in standard tuning is D3, an octave above where the sixth string needs to be, so lower the sixth until it sounds like that note an octave down. Then tune the rest from it with the fifth-fret method (fourth fret for the second string).
What to expect
- Floppy strings. A light set loses a lot of tension two semitones down. Buzzing and fretted notes that go sharp are the signs. Heavier strings fix both, which is why players who live in D standard often run a .011 or heavier set.
- A setup change. Less tension lets the neck straighten. If the action drops or the low strings buzz in the first few frets, a small truss rod adjustment brings back the relief. A floating tremolo will tilt back and may need its springs rebalanced.
- A lower, heavier sound that stays playable with standard shapes, which is why it is common in heavier rock and metal and for singers with a lower range.
To get back to standard, raise each string two semitones, low to high, and do a second pass.