Drop D is one of the first alternate tuning configurations that beginner guitarists learn. This tuning is straightforward to access and understand and opens up a healthy handful of playing and composition options that other tunings don’t offer.
There is a large list of amazing bands and songwriters who have all used drop D tuning to create some timeless classics. I have compiled a list of some of the best drop D songs for guitarists of all skill levels to learn and enjoy. Read on to see which songs are some of my top picks.
Drop D tuning was first used by fingerstyle guitarists that played genres like bluegrass, folk, and country. However, in modern music, drop D tuning is most commonly used in rock, heavy metal, and alternative music. The tuning configuration of drop D is very similar to standard tuning, with the only variation being the lowest E string is tuned down a full step to D. Here is the tuning configuration of drop D:
Drop D Tuning: How To Tune Your Guitar To Drop D
There are millions of songs to choose from in drop D tuning, but I have narrowed down 21 of the best ones out there.
Linkin Park was largely responsible for bringing the Nu-metal movement to pop mainstream success, and their single “Given Up” is one of their most exciting and fun songs to play on guitar.
The majority of the song rides off a fairly simple three-power chord riff that you play off the lowest three strings. There is a heavy half-time breakdown in the middle that makes it hard to believe this song charted in the top 10 Billboard 100. Overall, this is a great song to learn the basics of drop D tuning.
New Song: Heart Shaped Box
Another Nu-metal anthem that took the world by storm, “Chop Suey” carries an unconventional arrangement with both light and heavy parts to learn. The song opens with a strumming riff played with two note shapes on the second and third strings, and this progresses to an intense droning power chord riff drilled in over the open D strings. “Chop Suey” also features some beautiful-sounding picking parts over the operatic choruses and middle thirds.
Fun fact: the lyrics in the bridge of this song were randomly picked out of a book in producer Rick Rubin’s studio library during the recording process.
Californian rockers Switchfoot are known for their mix of squeaky clean pop hits and edgy electro-rock production. The band’s songs are generally a lot more harmonically complex than most listeners realize, and this is very evident when you unpack songs like “Dare You To Move”.
Chords For Double Drop D Tuning
Written by frontman Jon Foreman during the band’s college years, this song is a wonderful case study for the dynamic range that open or dropped tuning can offer a single guitar player. The entire arrangement comprises a sequence of beautiful chord shapes. So try learning the song on an acoustic guitar first to make sure you play every chord without dead notes before switching over to an electric guitar.
The Foo Fighters are one of the most successful alternative rock bands of all time, and “Everlong” is their most popular anthem.
This is one of the first songs I personally learned in drop D, and it is a perfect introduction to alternate tunings. Dave Grohl’s droning low string is present throughout much of the song, which gives “Everlong” a deep and ambient effect.
The 8 Best Alternate Guitar Tunings
Some songs on this might fool long-time guitar players into thinking they’re played in standard tuning. “Run Through The Jungle” was one of those songs for me. I’ve known about this smokey Creedence Clearwater Revival track for years and had always resigned to a grouping of cool blues licks and riffs in regular guitar tuning. However, once you pick up a guitar and try to play the song, you’ll quickly realize the necessity of the open D string. You can also use this song to learn some hybrid picking, which uses a combination of fingerstyle and plectrum (guitar pick) techniques to give your chord playing a more rhythmic feel.
One of the most fun aspects of playing in drop D is the amount of intensity you can generate using distortion. Muse’s incredible blend of politically driven math-rock anthems is a perfect example of this notion. New Born starts with a tense arpeggiated progression played on the piano that slowly lifts singer Matt Bellamy’s delicate voice. Around the 1-minute mark, the song explodes into a searing picked riff that is doubled on the bass guitar to create a massive wall of sound. The somber introduction is quickly left behind, and the guitar parts are pretty rapid and high-energy through to the end but should be easy enough for most intermediate guitarists to understand.
When guitarists ask me how they could expand their guitar playing, I often recommend that they learn an Incubus album. Incubus, one of the best 90s punk bands, has some seriously cool guitar parts. One of the best-kept secrets of this band is the surprisingly dense and versatile arrangements that guitarist Mike Einziger comes up with. “Nowhere Fast” is a very unique and interesting blend of fusion and modern American rock that can be pretty challenging to play perfectly from start to finish. The song kicks off with a relatively simple series of power chord shapes that are pretty easy to navigate. However, from the verse onwards, Einziger’s jazz influences shine through, with each part acting as a call-and-response for the lead vocal arrangements.
Best Songs In Drop D
A lot of classic songs are memorable because they portray relatable stories simply and definitively. “Diary Of Jane” from Breaking Benjamin tells the story of a troubled woman about to fall victim to her self-sabotage and her lover’s efforts to help her find solace.
As sweet as the song sounds, there are a lot of raw and heavy power chord parts in this song to reflect the singer’s angst and pain. The opening picked riff is also a great part for absolute beginners to learn, as it’s quite easy to play along to. The chorus also has a magnificent melodic climax that uses drop D chord shapes to accent them.
A lazy, unassuming demo song about self-deprecation from American producer Beck would send him straight to the top of international charts in the early 90s. To play this song properly, you will need a steel guitar slide, but a bottle or smooth cigarette lighter could also do the trick. “Loser” is exceptionally easy to play along with if you know how to play the slide guitar well. The song mainly uses the slide guitar motif, complemented by another picking hook played on a secondary guitar. You repeat the sliding part throughout most of the song, and while this may feel repetitive, it’s a great way to train and develop your slide playing.
Intermediate Guitar Songs
“Song 2” was such a neglected and overlooked arrangement from British legends Blur that they didn’t even give it a name. But it’s the runt-of-the-litter mood and energy of the song that rocketed the band to instant stardom in the 90s and continues to set football stadiums and pub dance floors alight to this day. The entire song consists of a one-chord progression and an ABAB arrangement. The progression is played slightly differently in the verses and choruses, with the latter having fewer strums and way more distortion. The chorus also uses a two-chord turnaround to give it some added tension and resolve.
Radiohead is renowned for pushing the boundaries of what commercially accepted pop music should be. “Lotus Flower” is a sparse, light, and synth-driven song heavily driven by the band’s electronica influences. However, many guitarists may be surprised to find out that the live versions incorporate a guitar part that uses drop D tuning. There are even videos of Thom Yorke testing out the song at solo shows and using the guitar exclusively. The arrangement switches between a very cool feeling bluesy motif and stunning modal chord progression that pairs effortlessly with Yorke’s glassy falsetto.
Jack White is often considered to be one of the people responsible for reviving the electric guitar for the next generation. White is an absolute workhorse that balances running a record label with playing in several bands, one of which is The Dead Weather. White thinks like a drummer, and it’s very evident when you run through this song’s tablature. A lot of the notes in the riffs that make up this song match up with the drum parts (which are played and recorded by White himself). Also, make sure you have some thick distortion, overdrive, or fuzz effects on hand to learn this song.
Ways To Tune A Guitar To Drop D
Many guitarists associate drop D tuning with heavy, aggressive, and often dark songs. But certain musical geniuses know how to think outside the box, and one such genius is Brian May of Queen. Drop D tuning was not a popular choice or trend amongst any players in May’s circles when he chose to use it for this tongue-in-cheek ode to heavy women. There is nothing overly complex about this song, which primarily uses a single power rock progression from open to close. There are a few bluesy licks that May throw
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