In rock and metal Drop D tuning

tabulature of main riff of “flower” soundgarden. played in drop d tuning. impossible play in d tuning.

although drop d tuning introduced , developed blues , classical guitarists, known usage in contemporary heavy metal , hard rock bands. hard rock songs tuned in drop d include beatles want (she s heavy) , led zeppelin s moby dick, both first released in 1969. tuning lowest string 1 tone down, e d allowed these musicians acquire heavier , darker sound in standard tuning. without needing tune strings (standard d tuning), tune one, in order lower key. drop d convenient tuning, because expands scale of instrument 2 semitones: d , d♯.

in mid 1980s, 3 alternative rock bands, king s x, soundgarden , melvins, influenced led zeppelin , black sabbath, made extensive use of drop d tuning. while playing power chords (a chord includes prime, fifth , octave) in standard tuning requires player use 2 or 3 fingers, drop d tuning needs one, similar in technique playing barre chords. allowed them use different methods of articulating power chords (legato example) , more importantly, allowed guitarist change chords faster. new technique of playing power chords introduced these grunge bands great influence on many artists, such rage against machine , tool, making same drop d tuning common practice among alternative metal acts such band helmet, used tuning great deal throughout career , later influence many alternative metal , nu metal bands.

nu metal bands including deftones , slipknot went 1 step further , decided tune “drop” tuning lower. lowering 6th string 1 whole step in e♭ tuning c♯, created heavier , grittier sound. lower tunings such drop c♯, drop c, drop b, drop a♯, , drop utilized. these tunings popular among metalcore , deathcore acts trivium, emmure, august burns red, , suicide silence, fast chord changes essential part of sound.

progressive metal acts such pain of salvation, opeth, fates warning , dream theater use these tunings in of e-tuned songs.