Drop D techniques?

[Vipergts3191]

Hello,

I've been practicing a lot of Jimmy Eat World songs and it involves having my guitar tuned to drop D. I even have the E string replaced with a custom .056 heavier string. So now that I'm all set up for playing in drop D, what are some cool songs to play or some good chords to use in addition to the barre power chords. Thanks for any help.

- Phil -

[Pezcore]

muse's Dead Star is in drop D tuning, check it out.

-Pez

[The Fury]

I don't know if you know Reef, but a lot of their stuff is dropped D.

[popmusic_sux]

theres a lot of bands that use drop d, but unfortunately, off the top of my head i cant think of any good ones. i didnt get much sleep last nite so im not really thinkin straight. but the bands i could think of:

papa roach
hoobastank
puddle of mudd (uses Db)

even though im not particularly fond of hoobastank or puddle of mudd, i figured id mention them. running away is the only hoobastank song i actually bothered to learn. i will NOT learn any puddle of mudd unless absolutely necessary. personally, i like papa roach's "between angels and insects." anywho, i dont know if you like these bands, but its all i could think of this early in the morning.

[AgeSixRacer]

I think Sum 41's "Fat Lip" is in Drop D. Dunno about the rest of their stuff but they do have a deeper. more ggressive sound so I'd check them out for some Drop D tunes.

[popmusic_sux]

yeah i think all of sum 41s songs are in drop d, and their live stuff is in drop d down a half step (Db)

[Griffin_Page]

System of a Down is in Drop down a step.

But there are some cool chords you can get from Drop D. Try these big ones -


D5 (Super Style) -

E-x
B-15
G-14
D-12
A-0
D-0

or

E5 (this shape is moveable)

E-x
B-5
G-4
D-2
A-2
E-2

[Harefooted]

try this
ex. Bbsus(movable)
e---
B---
G---
D-8-
A-6-
D-6<(root note)

If I remember correctly, its a sus power chord...

[SixeSDMF]

if your wantin songs you could try No More Tears (the ozzy one) 5 minutes alone , New Level, i think Black Label Societys - All for you is too , thats a few to get started on

[FleaBass]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Griffin_Page
[B]System of a Down is in Drop down a step.

But there are some cool chords you can get from Drop D. Try these big ones - ...[QUOTE]

last time i checked system was in drop C at least thats what it says in their music/tab books

if not then let me know cause i can sew for false publiztation...lol
-

[popmusic_sux]

"system is in drop down a step"

i would assume that means "system of a down tunes their guitars into drop d down a whole step;" this tuning is also called "drop c"

peace!

[FleaBass]

na man look drop d is this

steps down...note....you can also go all the step like this(not drop d)
1------------D-------D
0------------A-------G
0------------D-------C
0------------G-------F
0------------B-------A
0------------E-------D

drop c is like this

steps down note
2------------C
1------------G
1------------C
1------------F
1------------A
1------------D

[popmusic_sux]

idk i usually say drop c is just drop d but all the strings are tuned down a whole step. everyone has different opinions on this, and i have no idea what is the true definition

[FleaBass]

i can tell ya for a fact that is the TRUE definition... thats what they are called, Standard Tuning, drop D, D Tuning, Drop C, Drop B

there is C tuning and B tuning but rarely ever see it.

-

[popmusic_sux]

oh ok, i still think im gonna get conflicting opinions whenever i talk to someone about it though, no one out there seems to know.

[Griffin_Page]

Originally posted by FleaBass
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Griffin_Page
[B]System of a Down is in Drop down a step.

But there are some cool chords you can get from Drop D. Try these big ones - ...[QUOTE]

last time i checked system was in drop C at least thats what it says in their music/tab books

if not then let me know cause i can sew for false publiztation...lol
-

Drop D down a step is Drop C.

[distr0ided]

i was messin around with some drop D, and tried out this chord shape i use in open D tuning. here it is:

=============
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
-------------
| | | | | |
| | | o o o <- barre w/ index
| | | | | |
-------------
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
-------------
| | | | | |
o o o | | | <- barre w/ thumb
| | | | | |
-------------

it was a bit of a stretch the first time i did it, especially around the lower frets, but after a while, it gets easier.

[FleaBass]

yea griff i know that i was trying t explain to pop music thnx. anyway though

-

[Element82]

AHHH! no ones mentioned rage! nearly all their songs stick to dropd!
yeah, system aswell, drop c (cacfad)

[popmusic_sux]

element thats not drop c, thats drop d down a whole step!!!! how could u make such an easy mistake!!! duh!

hee im just playin wit u cuz i used to hik the ame thing, cuz no one i knew really knew the answer.

::star flashes across the screen followed by a rainbow:: the more you know...

lol

[chord_book]

http://www.cyberfret.com/first-fret/drop-d-tuning/page3.php

This should clear up the drop c or drop d down a whole step thing lol.

[mu1der]

queens of the stone age, nebula and fu manchu use drop c tuning alot.
just to add my opinion to the debate i though drop c was standard e tuning tuned down 2 full steps

[FleaBass]

its all a mess.. aslong as the people you play with know what ur tlaking abotu its all good :D :D

-

[Bago]

no one bothered to mention tool either. Tool uses drop D a lot.

Deftones has some drop D songs. As well as C# and C

[punkrockguy318]

Originally posted by popmusic_sux
yeah i think all of sum 41s songs are in drop d, and their live stuff is in drop d down a half step (Db)

Just a little tidbit of information, a lot of bands just drop down half a step to relieve the tension on their strings when they're playing live.

[ACiDDooMM]

relieve tension of their strings? Elaboration plz?

[Black Star]

"home" by Dream Theater is in Drop D

Tuning your guitar down a whole step is awesome to. Then you can jam out with some Symphony X

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by ACiDDooMM
relieve tension of their strings? Elaboration plz?

well whne you tune your guitar your strings get tight this is called tension... if ya de-tune your guitar a note or tuen the strings become loose and this means less tension on the string and neck.. hence.. relieve tension

-

[Jools]

TOOL - PRISON SEX

The guitar in that song is tuned like this

E
B
G
D
A
B


Drop B?

Anyway it's a really cool tuning. Goes well with power chordy stuff. Anyway when I first saw it I was like "wtf"? But it is good.

[cash'sd28]

Nirvana has a tone of cool drop "D" songs.

[punkrockguy318]

Originally posted by BassTallica
well whne you tune your guitar your strings get tight this is called tension... if ya de-tune your guitar a note or tuen the strings become loose and this means less tension on the string and neck.. hence.. relieve tension

-

Yeah, this way you won't go flat and your strings won't pop!

[unfy]

Alright, I took a survey with local guitar players and most of them say Drop C is merely a step down from standard with the low D dropped to a C. For those who can't Visualize, here is a diagram:
D
A
F
C
G
C

There you go. High on top and low on bottom. I'm not saying this is anything official, but this is the popular opinion.

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by unfy
Alright, I took a survey with local guitar players and most of them say Drop C is merely a step down from standard with the low D dropped to a C. For those who can't Visualize, here is a diagram:
D
A
F
C
G
C

There you go. High on top and low on bottom. I'm not saying this is anything official, but this is the popular opinion.

that is correct sir... it is also possibly the worst cheap ass tuning EVER!!

-

[toast]

Why tune down steps? Just make it easier on yourself and do it normal. The only down-tunings (or up) would be drop D, or odd stuff like bron-y-aur (not sure if its yr-aur or y-aur...lot of mixed messages) or some other weird tuning to get a different sound.

Don't forget Steve Vai's Bad Horsie! Do that one if you want some challenge.
Be sure to have a wah, flange peddal, and a good whammy bar set up on your guitar (or a whammy pedal) if you want the full effect.
You can skip the whammy and just do bends and stuff, but it gets harder.

[unfy]

From a musician's standpoint, the reason why some artists down-tune is to express their darker sides. You just don't get the same effect if you're playing in standard tuning.

Personally speaking, I think drop D and C are one of those trendy tunings that'll probably die out. Though, there will be other artists who'll break that mold and start another neo-standard tuning.

[luka]

Originally posted by toast
Why tune down steps? Just make it easier on yourself and do it normal. The only down-tunings (or up) would be drop D, or odd stuff like bron-y-aur (not sure if its yr-aur or y-aur...lot of mixed messages) or some other weird tuning to get a different sound.



Most of the time my guitar is tuned to B. It has nothing to do with dark side... I just like the fat tones... like the sound has more power... and all the furniture in the house starts shaking...:)

[pinkfloyd87]

Lots of JEW and Thursday.

[StarCraft]

Lamb of God
Shadows Fall
Killswitch Engage
Unearth

all use drop d

for the most part they use it well.

[strat-o-sphere]

:confused:
dont see much bout anything but power chords for shapes, maybe thats why i stay standard

[blank]

tune the whole guitar down two steps if you're interested. some cool stuff happeneds down there. "dream theater - as i am" is a good example

[Oblique]

Originally posted by Vipergts3191
Hello,

I've been practicing a lot of Jimmy Eat World songs and it involves having my guitar tuned to drop D. I even have the E string replaced with a custom .056 heavier string. So now that I'm all set up for playing in drop D, what are some cool songs to play or some good chords to use in addition to the barre power chords. Thanks for any help.

- Phil -

check out:

Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana

and/or any Linkin park songs...

[Mettra]

My favorite Drop D technique is tuning the low D to E.

:cool:

[BassTallica]

Originally posted by Mettra
My favorite Drop D technique is tuning the low D to E.

:cool:

haha i like that

-

[popmusic_sux]

Originally posted by pinkfloyd87
Lots of JEW and Thursday.

Thursday's usually drop D flatted a half step.

[rifferm]

Dosen't Coheed and Cambria use dropped D? Also, Dream Theater "Misunderstood" is in dropped D.

[sweeppicker308]

Just wanted to say jimmy page from led zeppelin used drop D tunings a lot in his songs he had some other weird tungings he messed with too