Guitar Scales — Double Drop D

About Double Drop D Tuning on Guitar

Double Drop D tuning (D-A-D-G-B-D) lowers both the 6th and 1st strings from E to D, creating a symmetrical frame of D notes around the standard middle four strings. This gives a distinctly resonant, jangly character that has been beloved in folk-rock and acoustic music since the late 1960s.

Neil Young used Double Drop D extensively — 'Cinnamon Girl' features its distinctive droning riff, and 'The Needle and the Damage Done' showcases its intimate fingerpicking potential. Jimmy Page used it on Led Zeppelin's 'Going to California'. Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' also employs this tuning. Because only two strings change (both by just one whole step), Double Drop D is one of the easiest alternate tunings to learn — most standard chord shapes on the inner four strings remain unchanged.

Notable artists: Neil Young, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Best for: Folk-rock songwriting, D-centric acoustic arrangements, droning fingerpicking patterns, and any song that benefits from rich D-string resonance on both outer strings

Browse 1104 guitar scales in Double Drop D tuning. Click any scale below to view the interactive fretboard diagram.

Explore Guitar Scales in Other Tunings

• Guitar Scales in Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E)
• Guitar Scales in DADGAD (D-A-D-G-A-D)
• Guitar Scales in Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D)
• Guitar Scales in Baritone (B Standard) (B-E-A-D-F#-B)
• Guitar Scales in 7-string (B-E-A-D-G-B-E)
• Guitar Scales in 8-string (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E)
• Guitar Scales in Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D)
• Guitar Scales in Drop B (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#)
• Guitar Scales in Open D (D-A-D-F#-A-D)
• Guitar Scales in Half Step Down (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb)
• Guitar Scales in Open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E)
• Guitar Scales in Open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
• Guitar Scales in Open C (C-G-C-G-C-E)

← All Guitar tuning options

More in Double Drop D

• Arpeggios in Double Drop D
• Chords in Double Drop D
• Tune to Double Drop D

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• Chord Progressions
• Scale Harmonizer
• Tune to Double Drop D
• Complete Alternate Tunings Guide