What is Double Drop D tuning?

Double Drop D lowers both the 6th (low E) and 1st (high E) strings to D: D-A-D-G-B-D (low to high). The middle four strings stay in standard tuning.

What scales work in Double Drop D?

D major, D minor, and D Mixolydian are the most natural fits. The three D strings (6th, 4th, and 1st) create powerful drones for D-centric scales. The D Dorian mode gives a beautiful folk character.

Is Double Drop D hard to learn?

It's one of the easiest alternate tunings. Only two strings change, both by the same interval (one whole step down). Most chord shapes on the B, G, D, and A strings work exactly the same as standard tuning.

B Mixolydian Pentatonic Guitar Scale

Guitar scale in Double Drop D tuning — fretboard diagram

Tuning

Frets

B Mixolydian Pentatonic in Double Drop D — Notes and Intervals

The B Mixolydian Pentatonic scale is a dominant-flavored five-note scale that emphasizes the relaxed, bluesy side of the Mixolydian mode. On Guitar, the notes are B, D#, E, F#, A. It is an excellent choice for soloing over dominant chords when you want to maintain the simplicity and flow of a pentatonic structure. Commonly used in Blues, Rock, Country, Funk. Notable players include Jimi Hendrix, Dickey Betts, Derek Trucks. Use over dominant 7th chords (7, 9, 13). Simpler than full Mixolydian but captures the essential dominant color.

Notes: B, D#, E, F#, A

Intervals: 1P, 3M, 4P, 5P, 7m

Degrees: 1 2 3 4 b5

Formula: 4-H-W-WH-W

Number of notes: 5

Tuning: Double Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-D)

Also known as: indian

About Double Drop D Tuning

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.

Folk-RockAcoustic RockClassic RockSinger-Songwriter

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

Musical Character

BluesyRelaxedDominantEarthy

Emphasizes the b7 characteristic of the Mixolydian mode within a pentatonic framework, ideal for quick dominant-flavored runs.

Chord Progressions Using This Scale

I – ♭VII – IV (Classic Rock Loop)Pop / Rock — Energy & Drive
I – VI7 – II7 – V (Ragtime Cycle)Jazz / Soul — Playful & Vintage

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Double Drop D tuning