The "Double Dropped A" tuning is a heavy, extended-range variant, building upon the familiar Drop D concept. It takes the typical DADGBD configuration and pushes the lowest and highest strings even further down to A, creating a powerful sonic landscape.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning immediately evokes a sense of immense weight and depth. With both the lowest and highest strings tuned to A, it's perfectly suited for genres like modern metal, djent, doom, and other forms of heavy music where low-end impact and droning textures are paramount. The doubled 'A' strings allow for massive, resonant open chords and power chords, while the core D-G-B string set from standard tuning (or Drop D's middle section) keeps familiar melodic and harmonic possibilities within reach. Players can exploit the low A for crushing riffs and open-string chugging, while the high A can be used for ringing sympathetic drones, open harmonies, or for playing melodies in unison or octaves with the low A, creating a rich, thick sound.

Technical Analysis

The open string notes are A1-A2-D3-G3-B3-A3. This creates some interesting harmonic relationships:

• The two lowest strings (A1 and A2) are tuned to an octave, providing a huge, resonant fundamental.
• The highest string (A3) forms another octave with the 5th string (A2) and a double octave with the 6th string (A1), allowing for wide voicings and sympathetic resonance.
• The middle four strings (A2-D3-G3-B3) are essentially standard tuning, but with the 5th string (A) as the root instead of E. This means familiar chord shapes and scales from the A string downwards are often transferable.
• The full open tuning (A-A-D-G-B-A) offers a rich, suspended sound. While not a simple major or minor triad, the presence of A, D, G, and B suggests an A minor 11th chord (A-C-E-G-B-D) without the C and E, or an A sus2/sus4 kind of sound depending on how you interpret it. It strongly implies A with a dominant G and a B, leaning towards an A minor tonality if a C or C# were added. More simply, the open A-A-D-G-B-A can be thought of as an A power chord (A-A-D, ignoring fifth string) with added G, B, and A on top.
• Power chords are incredibly easy on the lowest three strings: A-A-D forms a massive A power chord (A5). Moving a single finger across frets 2-2-0 (B-B-E) or 3-3-0 (C-C-F) etc., allows for quick power chord changes. The single-finger barre on the lower two A strings makes for effortless octaves and fifths.
• Chords like A5 (X-0-2-2-X-X or 0-0-2-2-X-X) or even some forms of Am and Aadd9 become readily available, leveraging the open A strings. For example, a shape like 0-0-2-2-1-0 would be A-A-D-G-C-A, which is an Am7add9.

How to Tune to Double Dropped A

To achieve the Double Dropped A tuning, you'll make the following adjustments from standard EADGBe tuning (E2-A2-D3-G3-B3-E4):

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 7 semitones from E2 to A1. Caution: Tuning down 7 semitones is a significant change. If your guitar is not designed for such low tunings or if you experience excessive string looseness, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised to maintain proper tension and intonation.
• 5th String (A): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains A2.
• 4th String (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains D3.
• 3rd String (G): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains G3.
• 2nd String (B): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones). It remains B3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 7 semitones from E4 to A3. Caution: As with the 6th string, a 7-semitone drop can make the string very loose. A heavier gauge string may be beneficial for better playability and sound.

6th String: Tuned to A1 (an octave below standard A2, and two octaves below standard A3, or 7 semitones down from standard E2).

5th String: Tuned to A2 (standard A string pitch).

4th String: Tuned to D3 (standard D string pitch).

3rd String: Tuned to G3 (standard G string pitch).

2nd String: Tuned to B3 (standard B string pitch).

1st String: Tuned to A3 (an octave above standard A2, and 7 semitones down from standard E4).