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  #1  
Old 03-21-2017, 09:49 AM
djh1765 djh1765 is offline
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Default Drop D tuning.

Please explain Drop D tuning for me.
I assume it requires the use of a capo.
Am I correct?
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  #2  
Old 03-21-2017, 09:50 AM
Kerbie Kerbie is offline
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No... standard tuning, then tune the low E down to a D. Great tuning...
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Old 03-21-2017, 09:55 AM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djh1765 View Post
Please explain Drop D tuning for me.
I assume it requires the use of a capo.
Am I correct?
Hi djh

Dropped D means you drop the bass E (6th string) to D. It does NOT require a capo. I probably tune in Dropped D about 90% of the time. Almost anytime I'm playing in key of D, G, Em, Am or Bm I'm also tuned to Dropped D.

It requires the re-configuring of chord fingerings on the bottom/low/6th string. It produces a wonderful foundation when playing a D major (or minor) chord.

There is a capo technique of capoing the first 5 strings at the second fret which is actually technically Dropped E with an extra pair of frets at the bottom (which requires some fancy finger work to play some Em chords. Some people actually sell a cut capo which covers only 5 strings, and persist in calling it a Dropped D capo despite the fact it plays in key of E.

Hope this helps…



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Old 03-21-2017, 10:06 AM
rmp rmp is offline
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Some people actually sell a cut capo which covers only 5 strings, and persist in calling it a Dropped D capo despite the fact it plays in key of E.

that's right, one company is Kyeser,

they have a Drop D, as well as a short cut which covers the A D and G string. They also have a double Drop D, (Both E strings opened)

Using a Drop D capo with a Standard Capo a full step behind the Drop D allows you to use a drop D tunning but in any key. (ex: standard Capo on 2, Drop D on 4.) Pretty handy!
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Old 03-21-2017, 10:14 AM
djh1765 djh1765 is offline
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Thank you. I watched a couple of YouTube Drop D tuning examples.
It sure is not what I thought it was.

I have another question.

I have a very sensitive #1 finger on my fretting hand that stays sore most of the time.
I have a good calluses but that doesn’t help. Still stays sore. The more calluses I build the more sensitive the finger gets.
My question would be in order to lower string tension if I play a song say is in the key of Bb or Eb.
What would be wrong with standard tuning with the capo on the 1st fret in order to lower tension then capo the 2nd fret to get my Bb?
Does this make any sense to you?
It would lower the string tension and relive some pressure on that # 1 finger?

Last edited by djh1765; 03-21-2017 at 10:24 AM.
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Old 03-21-2017, 10:19 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmp View Post
Some people actually sell a cut capo which covers only 5 strings, and persist in calling it a Dropped D capo despite the fact it plays in key of E.

that's right, one company is Kyeser,

they have a Drop D, as well as a short cut which covers the A D and G string. They also have a double Drop D, (Both E strings opened)

Using a Drop D capo with a Standard Cape a full step behind the Drop D allows you to use a drop D tunning but in any key. (ex: standard Capo on 2, Drop D on 4.) Pretty handy!
Hi rmp

Actually several companies sell both the short capo (called Dropped D) and a cut capo which can be configured as Esus or A capo when put on the 2nd fret. There are actually more configurations for this 3 string capo.
  • Put it on strings 3-4-5 at the second fret and play in D relative to the capo.
  • Put it on strings 3-4-5 at the fourth fret and play in C relative to the capo.
  • Put it on strings 3-4-5 at the 7th fret and play in A relative to the capo.

All of these actually sound in Key of Emaj.

And you are right, using an 'anchor' capo two frets behind the cut capo allows playing in any key while playing in key of D relative to the cut capo. I use them in the Esus configuration to port songs which I've written in DADGAD or even CGCGCD over to live play without retuning the guitar to a new alternate tuning. It requires some reworking of fingerings, but it works quite well.


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Old 03-21-2017, 10:21 AM
Paleolith54 Paleolith54 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djh1765 View Post
Thank you. I watched a couple of YouTube Drop D tuning examples.
It sure is not what I thought it was.

I have another question.

I have a very sensitive #1 finger on my fretting hand that stays sore most of the time.
I have a good calluses but that doesn’t help. Still stays sore.
My question would be in order to lower string tension if I play a song say is in the key of Bb.
What would be wrong with standard tuning with the capo on the 1st fret in order to lower tension then capo the 2nd fret to get my Bb?
Does this make any sense to you?
It would lower the string tension and relive some pressure on that # 1 finger?
Nothing wrong with that at all. Plenty of folks tune down 1-2 steps for the same reason. You might have to adjust your action, but no other downside I can think of.

Note that Kirby and ljguitar correctly and clearly explained Drop D.
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Old 03-21-2017, 10:26 AM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djh1765 View Post
Thank you. I watched a couple of YouTube Drop D tuning examples.
It sure is not what I thought it was.

I have another question.

I have a very sensitive #1 finger on my fretting hand that stays sore most of the time.
I have a good calluses but that doesn’t help. Still stays sore.
My question would be in order to lower string tension if I play a song say is in the key of Bb.
What would be wrong with standard tuning with the capo on the 1st fret in order to lower tension then capo the 2nd fret to get my Bb?
Does this make any sense to you?
It would lower the string tension and relive some pressure on that # 1 finger?
Hi djh

Why not tune down a full step and play in key of C?

Way less tension than capoing the guitar…in fact I'm not sure using capos lessens string tension.



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  #9  
Old 03-21-2017, 10:29 AM
djh1765 djh1765 is offline
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Thanks again.
It is amazing how much I can learn on this forum.
I'm almost 80 and got started a bit to late in life trying to play the guitar but I'm having fun anyway.
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Old 03-21-2017, 10:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by djh1765 View Post
Thanks again.
It is amazing how much I can learn on this forum.
I'm almost 80 and got started a bit to late in life trying to play the guitar but I'm having fun anyway.
Hi djh

Go have more fun and keep learning things!!!



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Old 03-21-2017, 12:43 PM
kaos kaos is offline
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My #1 finger will get sore if I play a guitar with a nut that is too high. I assume it is because many open chords use #1 on the first fret.
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Old 03-21-2017, 02:34 PM
Dreadfulnaught Dreadfulnaught is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaos View Post
My #1 finger will get sore if I play a guitar with a nut that is too high. I assume it is because many open chords use #1 on the first fret.
No need to play a guitar with a nut that is too high! Lower the action, use a lighter touch, and you will probably have less soreness.
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