Tuning Analysis: Open Am + Drop D

This unique tuning, aptly named Open Am + Drop D, transforms your guitar into a resonant soundscape, combining the rich, melancholic qualities of an A minor open tuning with the powerful, deep bass of a dropped D. It departs from standard major brightness, venturing into more introspective and dramatic musical territories. As the tuning description suggests, it's a minor variant akin to other open tunings like DAEAC#E or CGDGBD, offering new sonic possibilities for expressive play.

Verbal Analysis

Imagine striking all strings open: the result is a deep, full, and distinctly melancholic sound. The lowest D string provides a solid, rumbling foundation, perfect for powerful riffs, drone-like accompaniment, or walking bass lines. The subsequent A-E-A-C-E pattern across the remaining strings forms a strong A minor chord. This allows for immediate minor harmonies without complex fingerings, making it incredibly expressive for songwriting, fingerstyle, or slide guitar. The combination of the dropped D and the open A minor creates a versatile platform for blues, folk, alternative rock, and metal, where its inherent moodiness and powerful low end can truly shine.

The repetition of A and E across different octaves provides a shimmering resonance, adding depth and sustain to chords and melodies. The open A minor character gives a sense of longing or introspection, beautifully contrasted by the authoritative presence of the low D.

Technical Analysis

The tuning from low to high is D2 A2 E3 A3 C4 E4. Let's break down the intervals relative to the root of the minor chord, A (on the 5th string):

• 6th String (D2): A perfect 4th below the A root.
• 5th String (A2): The fundamental root note.
• 4th String (E3): A perfect 5th above the A root.
• 3rd String (A3): An octave above the A root.
• 2nd String (C4): A minor 3rd above the A root.
• 1st String (E4): A perfect 5th above the A root.

This configuration primarily establishes an A minor triad (A-C-E) across strings 5, 2, and 1, reinforced by an octave A on the 3rd string and a perfect 5th (E) on the 4th string. The 6th string, tuned to D, acts as a powerful bass extension, adding a D note to the overall harmony. When all strings are strummed open, the resulting sound is a rich A minor chord with a prominent D bass, creating an A minor 11th harmony (A-C-E-A-D-E) or a Dsus2/A voicing, depending on harmonic context.

Open Chords & Reachable Harmonies

This tuning simplifies playing specific chord voicings and opens up new possibilities:

• Open Strum: Produces a full A minor 11th chord or an A minor chord with a powerful D bass, giving it a distinctive, sometimes melancholic, character.
• Minor Barre Chords: By barring across strings 5 through 1 at any fret, you can effortlessly create minor chords. For example, barring at the 2nd fret yields a B minor chord (B-F#-B-D-F#). If you include the 6th string, the barred fret (e.g., F# on 6th string at 2nd fret) will create a more complex chord voicing, often with a powerful lower interval.
• Power Chords: The dropped D string (6th string) makes it very simple to play two- or three-string power chords on the bottom strings. For instance, fretting the 6th and 5th strings at the 3rd fret yields an F5 power chord (F-C).
• Movable Shapes: Many standard chord shapes will be recontextualized, encouraging players to explore and discover unique voicings, particularly minor and suspended sounds, across the fretboard.

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve the Open Am + Drop D tuning from standard EADGBe, follow these steps. Please be advised: generally, for string movements exceeding -4 or +4 semitones, a different gauge string is recommended to ensure optimal playability and string longevity. All movements for this specific tuning are within a safe range, but always tune carefully and gradually.

• 6th String (Low E2): Tune down from E2 to D2. Tune down 2 semitones.
• 5th String (A2): Keep as A2. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• 4th String (D3): Tune up from D3 to E3. Tune up 2 semitones.
• 3rd String (G3): Tune up from G3 to A3. Tune up 2 semitones.
• 2nd String (B3): Tune up from B3 to C4. Tune up 1 semitones.
• 1st String (High E4): Keep as E4. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).