DGCGCFAD Guitar Tuner
DGCGCFAD D - Guitar tuning, chords & scales
Verbal Analysis
The 'D' tuning for an 8-string guitar is a profoundly deep, resonant, and remarkably versatile setup designed to carve out a massive sonic landscape. With the majority of strings tuned significantly lower than a standard 8-string configuration, it instantly conjures possibilities for incredibly heavy, guttural riffs, expansive and dense chord voicings, and articulate lead lines that capitalize on its unique intervallic structure. It’s particularly well-suited for genres like progressive metal, djent, ambient soundscapes, and experimental music, where extended range, powerful low-end, and intricate harmonic textures are paramount. The dominant presence of perfect fourth intervals, interspersed with a strategic perfect fifth and a major third, creates an intriguing balance between familiar melodic patterns and unexpected harmonic twists, inviting creative exploration.
Technical Analysis & Open Chords
Technically, this 8-string tuning presents the open notes D1-G1-C2-G2-C3-F3-A3-D4 from the lowest to the highest string. When all open strings are strummed, these notes form a rich and complex Dm7(add11) chord (comprising D, G, C, F, A), creating a powerful, full, and slightly brooding sound. While many strings are tuned in perfect fourths (D1-G1, G1-C2, G2-C3, C3-F3, A3-D4), the interval between the 6th (C2) and 5th (G2) strings is a Perfect Fifth. This, combined with the major third between the 3rd (F3) and 2nd (A3) strings, creates a unique and non-uniform intervallic structure. This structure facilitates the construction of dense, low-end focused chords while still offering brighter upper register options for lead work or arpeggiated passages, encouraging new chord voicings and melodic patterns beyond typical 'all-fourths' tunings. The open Dm7(add11) provides a strong harmonic foundation for minor keys and modes, offering immediate access to rich, extended chords.
How to Tune Your Guitar to D
- 8th String (Lowest): Tune down 4 semitones to D1. Caution: This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and tone, especially if returning from a much higher tuning, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
- 7th String: Tune down 4 semitones to G1. Caution: This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and tone, especially if returning from a much higher tuning, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
- 6th String: Tune down 4 semitones to C2. Caution: This is a significant drop. For optimal tension and tone, especially if returning from a much higher tuning, a heavier gauge string is strongly advised.
- 5th String: Tune down 2 semitones to G2.
- 4th String: Tune down 2 semitones to C3.
- 3rd String: Tune down 2 semitones to F3.
- 2nd String: Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
- 1st String (Highest): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.
String 8 (Lowest): D1
String 7: G1
String 6: C2
String 5: G2
String 4: C3
String 3: F3
String 2: A3
String 1 (Highest): D4
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Capos for DGCGCFAD
| Capo | Tuning | Name |
|---|---|---|
| -2 | CFA#FA#D#GC | Drop C/F/A# |
| -1 | C#F#BF#BEG#C# | Drop B Low F#C# (8 String) |
| 0 | DGCGCFAD | D |
| 2 | EADADGBE | Drop D 8-String |
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Tuning Map
- Fret
- S8
- S7
- S6
- S5
- S4
- S3
- S2
- S1
- -13
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- -12
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- -11
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- -10
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- -9
- A
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- -8
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- -7
- B
- E
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- -6
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- -5
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -4
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G
- C
- -3
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- G#
- C#
- -2
- E
- A
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A
- D
- -1
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- A#
- D#
- 0
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- D
- G
- B
- E
- 1
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C
- F
- 2
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- C#
- F#
- 3
- A
- D
- G
- C
- F
- A#
- D
- G
- 4
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F#
- B
- D#
- G#
- 5
- B
- E
- A
- D
- G
- C
- E
- A
- 6
- C
- F
- A#
- D#
- G#
- C#
- F
- A#
- 7
- C#
- F#
- B
- E
- A
- D
- F#
- B
- -4
- -4
- -4
- -2
- -2
- -2
- -2
- -2
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