Dropped D Tuning

You can riff with power chords more...let's say..."efficiently" with dropped D tuning. You essentially dropped the Low E string (two half-steps) down to Low D. The note on the 7th fret of the Low E (now Low D) string should match the open A string. Here are some tips in dropped D:

1. Fret the Low D, A, and D strings on the same fret to make a root-fifth-root power chord.

2. You can reach notes previously more difficult to reach when fretting a chord that uses the Low D string. (Listen to the Foo Fighters' song "Everlong" for an example.)

3. You can use the Low D as a drone/pedal note. (Listen to the Smashing Pumpkins' song "Silverf**k" for an example.)

4. You can strum an open D chord using all six strings in dropped D tuning.

5. Remember that the note that used to make the string a Low E string is now on the second fret of the Low D string.

Have fun with this tuning, and may it be a "gateway technique" for more adventurous use of the guitar.