How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

[Rich_S]

Does anyone else occasionally retune from standard to dropped D? There are two songs in our set than need dropped D, but I don't have a special guitar set up for it. I just re-tune the 6th string using my Boss tuner.

But I've found that getting those 6-5-4th string power chords to sound in tune is tough. I suspect it's because the slack 6th string is just more suseptible to being knocked sharp by heavy picking, or being stretched sharp by sloppy fingering.

I'm playing a normal 10-46 set.

What suggestions do you have for improved intonation in dropped D?

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

I play with .010-.046 & I have Gotoh Floyd with a Tremol-no.

I use Elixr Nanowebs, & I stretch them well before final tune to pitch.

I lock my tremol-no in either hard-tail or dive-only modes and I detune using just the low E fine tuner. I think doing a good stretch on the string helps, if it's still wonky on you after that, you may consider increasing the guage from let's say .046-.048 or even .050.

This works for me, just try & see if it works for you, if you're Floyded, if not, maybe just increasing the guage of string will be enough for you.

 

[Ninja Monkey]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

You could try a light top heavy bottom set for starters, or you could tune your low d a bit flat so that when you pick it, it'll go sharp to about the right note.

Edit: *Gasp* I've posted 1,000 times too many.

 

[ErikH]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

For just a couple songs? Meh, close enough is good enough. We drop D for 2 songs too and I just make sure a first position D chord is in tune across all six strings. I use 9-42 gauge strings and don't run in to any problems.

Could also be your neck bowing back more than it should with the reduced string tension.

 

[tone4days]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

when you drop the d and tune it, do you check the other two? ... i know i have to touch up the other strings because of the tension changes ... especially on my 2+4 brian moore ... dropping the E to D REALLY wigs out the A string

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

I suspect it's because the slack 6th string is just more suseptible to being knocked sharp by heavy picking, or being stretched sharp by sloppy fingering.

That's what I find, a light touch is the ticket.

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

Never had a problem with this and I use 9-42. Analyze your technique for problems.
If you're picking that hard in the first place, it's just wasted energy, because a string only needs to be picked so hard for it to sound good.

 

[ex-250]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

i have never dropped it to a true D, it sounds terrible. i always put it just a hair lower than D, sounds far more in-tune.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

i have never dropped it to a true D, it sounds terrible. i always put it just a hair lower than D, sounds far more in-tune.

+100

this is how i do it too i also don't like how it sounds when "perfectly" in tune or slightly higher (Other guitarist in my band does this and i absolutely hate it lol) and part of it might be for reasons stated above that when hitting the strings even just a little harder than lightly you can easily knock it out of tune.. i know where to set the D at by ear so it sounds in tune with the rest but you can do the same just by picking the string hard when using your tuner youll notice that depending on how hard you hit the string the strings will vary slightly either sharper or flatter.

Heavier strings might be a good solution too, and Light top heavy bottom strings would work. Higher tension will reduce the effect of done when hitting hard vs light. Of course you could just learn to not hit the strings hard at all but i personally think it removes allot of dynamics and feel of playing.. also affects your tone immensely, on tube amps and also depending on your gear/setup pick dynamics have a huge impact on your overall tone. Would you try asking SRV to not hit his strings so hard? youd get whaped upside the head lol

 

[LuredMaul]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

tuning slightly flat on the D usually is the just what I need.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

I use 9's on Les Pauls and never have a problem being in tune in drop D.

 

[Markk]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

i have never dropped it to a true D, it sounds terrible. i always put it just a hair lower than D, sounds far more in-tune.

I was actually experimenting with dropped D the other day and came to this conclusion as well.

 

[Bludave]

Re: How do you keep Dropped D in tune?

Put a heavier 6 string on and you should be OK. I use a straight set of 11's & occasionally play in drop D with no issues.