Drop D lowers the lowest string from E to D, giving you D A D G B E. It's the most common drop tuning, and because the other five strings stay at standard pitch, you usually don't need to change your strings to use it.
If the low D feels a little loose, a set with a heavier bottom end can help. Sets that often work well for Drop D include:
- .010–.052
- .011–.049
- .011–.050
Most guitars handle Drop D without major adjustments. If you move to noticeably heavier strings, your guitar may need small setup tweaks.
Drop D works on acoustic guitar too. It's one of the most common acoustic alternate tunings because it adds a deeper bass note while keeping familiar chord shapes.