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.

C Messiaen's Mode #6 Guitar Scale

Guitar scale in Double Drop D tuning — fretboard diagram

Tuning

Frets

C Messiaen's Mode #6 in Double Drop D — Notes and Intervals

The C Messiaen's Mode #6 scale is a symmetrical scale associated with radiance and light. On Guitar, its notes are C, D, E, F, F#, G#, A#, B. It creates a uniform coloration that transcends traditional keys, making the music sound brilliant and enlightened. Commonly used in Contemporary Classical, Sacred Music, Experimental. Notable players include Olivier Messiaen. Use for creating a sense of radiant, enlightened calm. Best in sustained, atmospheric contexts.

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

Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3M, 4P, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7M

Degrees: 1 2 3 4 #5 #6 #7 8

Formula: W-W-H-H-W-W-H-H

Number of notes: 8

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

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

RadiantBrilliantEnlightenedLuminous

Associated with radiance and light in Messiaen's system — creates a uniform, brilliant coloration that transcends traditional keys.

Explore This Scale in Other Tunings

← All Guitar scales in Double Drop D tuning