D Standard Tuning: A Deeper Sound for Your Guitar

D Standard tuning, also known as DGCFAD, is a popular alternative tuning for the Guitar that lowers every string by a whole step (two semitones) compared to standard EADGBE tuning. This fundamental shift creates a noticeably deeper, darker, and heavier sonic landscape, making it a favorite for genres like hard rock, metal, and stoner rock, but also offering a rich, resonant tone for any style that benefits from a lower register.

Technical Analysis & Musical Implications

The defining characteristic of D Standard is that it meticulously preserves the intervallic relationships between all strings found in standard E tuning. This means that all chord shapes, scale patterns, and arpeggios that you know and love in EADGBE are directly transferable. The only difference is that their absolute pitch is lowered by a whole step. For example, playing an 'E' major chord shape will now sound as a 'D' major chord; an 'A' minor shape will produce a 'G' minor chord, and so on. This makes D Standard incredibly intuitive for players transitioning from standard tuning, as the fingerings remain identical, only the overall pitch is lowered across the board.

The open strings in D Standard are D-G-C-F-A-D. These notes themselves offer a rich harmonic palette and enable various open chords:

• Playing all six open strings together creates a resonant Dsus2add4 or Dsus4add2 chord, contributing to a full, open sound that can be effectively used as a drone or for powerful strumming.
• Specific combinations of open strings can yield fundamental chords. For instance, the 6th (D), 2nd (A), and 1st (D) strings, when played open, form a clear D Major chord.
• The 6th (D), 5th (G), and 4th (C) strings provide a powerful foundation, ideal for creating chunky power chords and riffs with a darker character.
• The open 6th (D), 4th (C), 3rd (F), 2nd (A), and 1st (D) strings, when played selectively, can outline a Dm7 chord, adding a bluesy or jazzy flavor.
• Due to the consistent lowering, many standard open chord shapes, such as a C Major shape, will now yield a B♭ Major, an F Major shape becomes an E♭ Major, and so forth.

The lower string tension, a result of tuning down all strings, can also make string bending easier, while the increased resonance contributes to a fatter, more sustained tone, especially beneficial for heavy riffs and thick lead lines.

How to Tune Your Guitar to D Standard

To achieve D Standard tuning from standard EADGBE, you will need to lower each string by two semitones (a whole step). Carefully adjust each string as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Tune down 2 semitones to D2.
• 5th String (A): Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
• 4th String (D): Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
• 3rd String (G): Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
• 2nd String (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• 1st String (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Since all strings are only being lowered by two semitones, it is generally safe to use your existing string set. However, some players may prefer to use a slightly heavier gauge string set to compensate for the reduced tension and maintain a tighter feel and intonation, especially if aggressive playing or a very taut feel is desired.