This article will explain the purpose or drop d tuning and how you can tune your bass to drop D.

Why?

Lots of metal bands have already proven that drop D tuning just sounds “heavier” than E standard. It’s also easier to play powerchords on the guitar in drop D.

What is It?

Drop D is simply lowering the open note of the thickest string from E to D.

How?

There are two easy ways to do this. First, get out your chromatic tuner and just keep turning until you get a perfect D pitch. The second way is faster but less accurate. Play the second skinniest string that is also tuned to D. As you play the E and D string, start to tune down the pitch of the E string to you can hear that they are both playing D. Most of the time this is how I achieve drop D.

Things To Keep in Mind:

Usually, the lower the tuning of the string, the more you will have to retune it. Also keep in mind that every once in a blue moon you may accidentally snap a string by tuning it too hard. That’s only happened to me 2-3 times in my bass playing career.

Hopefully this article helped out your metal bass playing. Go find a tab that utilizes drop D tuning to practice!