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Guitar tuning

Full Step Down

Standard shapes, a whole step lower. Heavier air without learning anything new.

Electric · 6 in line
D2G2C3F3A3D4
Acoustic · 3 + 3
D2G2C3D4A3F3
6th
D2
73.4 Hz
5th
G2
98.0 Hz
4th
C3
130.8 Hz
3rd
F3
174.6 Hz
2nd
A3
220.0 Hz
1st
D4
293.7 Hz

Note names won’t tune your guitar.

Knowing the strings should read D G C F A D is the easy half. Landing each frequency — and knowing whether you are nine cents flat or three — is the half that needs an ear or an instrument.

1
Open Dial and play a string
It listens as soon as you play. Nothing to press.
2
Turn each peg until the needle centres
Every string drops a whole step — two frets — from standard.
3
Check the remaining strings
Changing tension on one string shifts the neck slightly. The rest usually need a nudge.
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Dial showing the low E string at 82.4 hertz, needle centred

What Full Step Down is for

Every interval is untouched, so anything you can play in standard works here — it just sounds lower and looser. Common in grunge and doom, and kind to tired voices. A heavier string set keeps the low D from going rubbery.

A few chords to try

D
E shape
Gm
Am shape
F
G shape

Nearby tunings