As you explore the world of guitar deeper, sooner or later you’ll encounter alternate tunings.
This is when you tune your guitar to something other than the standard tuning of EADGBE.
For example, you might tune the guitar to a chord to make a song easier to play.
It’s the most popular alternate tuning due to its simplicity, just need to down tune your lowest string by 2 semitones and you’re done!
So today, we’ve prepared a list of 35 of the best songs in Drop D to give you an opportunity to try out this very popular alternate tuning.
35 best songs in drop D tuningWatch this video on YouTube
ContentsMoby Dick by Led ZeppelinDear Prudence by The BeatlesEverlong by Foo FightersNever Going Back Again by Fleetwood MacHarvest Moon by Neil YoungBat Country by Avenged SevenfoldHeart Shaped Box by NirvanaKilling in the Name by Rage Against the MachineYou are My Sunshine by Chris StapletonSchism by ToolAll Nightmare Long by MetallicaDecode by ParamoreHome by Dream TheaterI Won’t Give Up by Jason MrazIf Eternity Should Fail by Iron MaidenLast Resort by Papa RoachMonkey Wrench by Foo FightersMeant to Live by SwitchfootPull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr by TriviumOne by Ed SheeranWhat I’ve Done by Linkin ParkRuin by Lamb of GodSugar, We’re Goin Down by Fall Out BoyTen Years Gone by Led ZeppelinNever Too Late by Three Days GraceNew Born by MuseOn A Plain by NirvanaSonne by RammsteinSpoonman by SoundgardenForty Six & 2 by ToolUnholy Confessions by Avenged SevenfoldUnnatural Selection by MuseWake Up by Rage Against The MachineWhatsername by Green DayThe Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson
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Strangely enough, this song started out life on the drums, but after guitarist Jimmy Page overheard John playing it in the studio various parts were cut together to create the final song.
There’s famously a rather lengthy drum solo in this which when the band played live could go on for as long as 30 minutes.
So why include a drum-led song on a list for guitarists?
This song has no shortage of great, classic, groovy rock riffs for you to sink your teeth into.
Because of the drop D tuning, you can play the opening riff much more comfortably and is a great example of how the tuning can make your life easier.
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The Beatles really pushed the envelope of pop at the time and were able to explore a lot of new ground for the genre.
So while we might associate drop tunings with power chords or rock guitar, they were able to utilize it in different contexts such as this fingerpicked song.
This song is a wonderful example of how drop D can make your life easier in a finger picked scenario.
With your first string now matching your 3rd and 6th strings, it’s now much easier to have access to your root note as they are all on the same fret.
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Another great example of how effective drop D can be.
This song was written by guitarist and singer Dave Grohl, who stumbled upon the song by accident while in the studio recording Foo Fighters’ second album ‘The Colour and the Shape’.
In between recording sessions for the song Monkey Wrench (which is also in drop D) he wrote the main riff which he described as a ‘Sonic Youth rip-off riff’.
The main chords to the song make great use of the low D, allowing you to play some of the chord voicings such as the sus2 comfortably and without any stretching because of the convenient string arrangement.
Likewise, for the chorus there are some large 4 string chords which sound fantastic, and drop D makes them far easier to hold.
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Released as a promotional single for Fleetwood Mac’s 11th studio album and written by lead singer/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham about his breakup with fellow Fleetwood Mac member Stevie Nicks.
In contrast to the somewhat serious topic the song discusses, it has a great upbeat and hopeful tone.
This is another example of how drop D can work well in a finger picked context.
With a bassline that jumps between the first two strings, this would have been considerably more difficult to play in standard tuning.
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This is the first single released from the 1992 album of the same name and was written by Neil as a tribute to his wife Pegi Young.
It has a wonderful melancholic feel with some unique chord voicings, where the dropped D really adds a lot of weight and thickness to the sound.
The song charted at number 36 on the UK Singles selling over 200,000 copies.
The main motif of the song will have you playing some chords quite high up the fretboard.
The low strings are used as accents, acting as a drone underneath making the part feel fuller.
This is another way in which D makes your life easier as these can be power chords without you actually needing to hold any frets down.
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Originally starting as a more niche metal band during the rise of the metalcore genre with albums like ‘Waking The Fallen’.
But, as time passed and their popularity was skyrocketing they diversified their sound to embrace more of a classic heavy metal and hard rock style.
Bat Country, from their ‘City of Evil’ album is a perfect song to showcase this.
With groovy rock riffs and catchy melodies, it ended up being one of their most commercially successful songs ever.
The song itself makes heavy use of the flat 5 with a groovy heavy metal riff that uses power chords exclusively.
Particularly on the verse, this would be almost impossible to play were it not for the dropped D making the chords playable with just a single finger.
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One of the highly successful singles from Nirvana’s smash hit third (and final) album ‘In Utero’.
It goes without saying that Nirvana are the kings of grunge, and have some of the coolest and most iconic riffs ever written amongst their catalog.
The song charted in the top 10 on both the US Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock Billboard.
Contrary to some of the other drop d songs on this list, the main draw of this song’s drop D tuning is not for strumming purposes.
The main motif of the song actually has the chords played as arpeggios (that is to say, as single notes) and the drop D tuning makes your life just that little bit easier by lining up some of the notes and making them more convenient to play.
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Rage Against the Machine were a band that achieved great commercial success right from the get-go with their debut album release.
People fell in love with their anti-establishment message along with their catchy and powerful riffs.
Killing in the Name was hilariously made the Christmas number one single in the UK after a fan led campaign wanted to stop the X-Factor winner from claiming it for yet another year.
An overall simple song to play, you will be relying a lot on that open D power chord which is made incredibly easy to play thanks to the tuning.
The riffs are hard-hitting and powerful so make sure to use a bit of gain and pick hard.
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You are My Sunshine is a song you’ve probably already heard in one or more of its various incarnations and covers by many artists.
But the Chris Stapleton version recorded in 2016 has been a favorite for guitarists to play.
Its iconic and catchy vocal melody in tandem with some of Chris’s exquisite guitar work is a treat to listen to, and a lot of fun to learn.
The guitar part has a lot of blues and country flair to it which will have you playing a lot of cool minor pentatonic licks.
In addition to that, there’s also a ton of sliding power chords where the drop D tuning will help the two notes stay together as you slide around.
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Tool are one of the few highly progressive bands to somehow breakthrough to a mainstream audience.
They married elements such as odd time signatures, unique rhythmic groupings and coupled them with dark and unsettling imagery.
If you haven’t yet dabbled into the deeper world of progressive music, Schism is a great place to start.
With almost every measure being non 4/4 and the chorus also makes great use of the dropped D with some cool percussive mutes and barred power chords.
How to play All Nightmare Long Riffs w/Tabs!
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Metallica are one of the biggest metal bands of all time, from humble thrash roots they have risen to worldwide fame, releasing some of the most popular metal albums in the world.
They were revolutionary in how they evolved the genre, striking that all important balance between heavy metal riffs and catchy vocals.
This song is a great representation of what a traditional Metallica song should be.
With a little clean guitar on the intro before leading into the crushingly heavy power chords.
You’ll also be challenged during the verse as there’s heavy use of the ‘galloping’ technique which is sure to give your right hand and forearm a good workout!
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Paramore are at the top of their game when it comes to all things pop-punk, having achieved massive commercial success and even a Grammy Award during their 17 year career and they show no signs of stopping.
Decode was a song written for the hit movie ‘Twilight’ and sold over 2 million copies in the US alone.
It also had a music video to accompany it which is currently sitting at 385 million views on YouTube.
The majority of this song can be played with a single finger, you just need to bar the first 2 strings and move that shape around the fretboard.
They also add the minor third on the higher octave during some spots on the chorus which would be quite an extreme stretch were it not for the tuning.
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Dream Theater are one of the most beloved and popular progressive rock/metal bands ever.
They are largely credited with helping to popularize the genre as they always sat on the cutting edge, constantly updating their image and utilizing modern equipment and production techniques to develop their sound.
This made them the band other musicians would look to for inspiration.
Heading over to their 1999 concept album ‘Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes from a Memory’, the song home makes great use of the dropped D tuning and is going to really test you on all facets of your playing.
Learn this song if you’re after a good challenge!
I Won’t Give Up Guitar Tutorial – Jason Mraz Guitar Lesson 🎸 |Chords + Tabs + Guitar Cover|Watch this video on YouTube
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This is a straightforward ballad from Jason’s fourth studio album, it was the first promotional single released and achieved a good amount of commercial success, charting in the top 10 in multiple countries.
It’s a song about not giving up, whether it’s about your dreams, loving someone else, or yourself, and is a great all-round finger-picked song that anyone can learn.
The song is, of course, in D and your thumb is going to be riding that low string for a lot of the time.
Your other fingers will be picking the main melody of the song.
Then for the chorus, it breaks out into large chords which make use of the open strings.
Try to be careful about not accidentally hitting that top E string when it’s not required.
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One of the classic, all time great heaven metal titans from the UK.
Known as pioneers of ‘the new wave of British heavy metal’ which includes bands such as Motorhead, Saxon, and Def Leppard.
The song is from their sixteenth studio release titled ‘The Book of Souls’ which ranked at the number 1 spot on the UK Rock and Metal Albums chart.
After a fairly lengthy orchestral intro, you’ll be treated to the quintessential Iron Maiden sound.
Making good use of power chords and the drop D tuning as well as plenty of great twin guitar melodies and harmonies to sink your teeth into.
A signature of Iron Maiden’s sound is the use of dual guitars, so if you have a friend who is also learning this is the perfect song to learn together!
Papa Roach Last Resort Guitar Lesson + TutorialWatch this video on YouTube
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In the early 2000s when nu-metal rose to prominence, it was often ridiculed and there were low hopes of any longevity in the careers of nu-metal bands.
No one could have predicted just how successful the careers of these bands would be.
With Papa Roach in particular achieving huge commercial success and is still going strong with a new album currently scheduled for release in 2022.
Last Resort is from their second album ‘Infest’ which is really when they exploded in popularity.
It’s an iconic song with equally iconic riffs.
There’s nothing too challenging and if you are familiar with any kind of metal playing this will be all quite straightforward.
Foo Fighters Monkey Wrench Guitar Lesson + TutorialWatch this video on YouTube
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We previously mentioned Everlong, which was written mostly by accident as the riff was stumbled upon in between takes as the band was tracking this particular song.
This is the lead single from their second album ‘The Colour and the Shape’, it did incredibly well and played a huge part in Foo Fighters’ early success as a band.
It’s a fast paced, intense, and heavy rock song that is played primarily using down picking.
It uses a lot of power chords but doesn’t overly rely on the low D until the pre-chorus, which is made considerably easier thanks to the alternate tuning.
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Switchfoot are a band that didn’t gain a massive amount of commercial recognition from the get-go, it wouldn’t be until one of their songs was included in the 2002 movie’ A Walk to Remember’ that they’d enjoy their first bit of mainstream exposure.
This trend continued over the next few years with some additional movie licensing agreements and the album ended up selling over 2.6 million copies.
While there’s nothing too unusual going on in this drop d tuning song, it does have some interesting rock techniques such as a double stop bend where you will bend the 4th fret of the 3rd string as your 4th string is left to ring, which will require some careful hand movement so you don’t choke that 4th string.
How To Play “Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr” By Trivium (Full Song Tutorial With TAB!)Watch this video on YouTube
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Beginning life in 1999, it would be with the release of their second album ‘Ascendancy’ that led Trivium to sign with legendary record label Roadrunner Records.
This album has a huge number of fan-loved singles and afforded the band many new opportunities including playing with Killswitch Engage and Fear Factory.
Pull Harder On The String Of Your Martyr is one of their biggest singles with the official music video sitting at a mighty 7.8 million views on YouTube.
This song is sure to test your metal chops, with heavy alternate picked riffs, palm muting, and plenty of guitar harmonies and solos to sink your teeth into.
This is the perfect song to rock out to in drop D.
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After Ed had already started to gain quite a bit of recognition for the release of his first album ‘+’, he immediately went on to writing material for the second album titled ‘x’.
This song was the first material he began to put together for that album and was written in collaboration with Jake Gosling.
It would later be a primary promotional single for the record which sold over a million copies in the US.
The song is primarily finger picked so you’ll be playing most of the bass notes with your thumb while your fingers pick the melody.
It rides a lot on the low D during the verse and the chorus also makes use of the dropped tuning to make some of the open chords easier to play.
What I’ve Done Guitar Lesson – Linkin ParkWatch this video on YouTube
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Linkin Park shook up the world of alternative metal with their debut album ‘Hybrid Theory’ which had a boatload of successful singles.
However, for their third effort ‘Minutes to Midnight’ they began to explore more of their rock side, with the single ‘What I’ve Done’ still achieving a great deal of success selling over 5 million copies in the US.
The song uses the typical Linkin Park drop D tuning, however, it is an overall more laid back effort where you will just be strumming straight chords along with simple, single-note leads.
The rhythm section makes great use of the dropped tuning to play some large 4 string chords that span multiple octaves.
How to play EVERY guitar riff + solo in Ruin by Lamb of God!
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One of the all time great metal bands who have a signature riffing style that plays heavily with blues, chromatics, and even country influence to create a great mash between heavy, chuggy riffs and interesting note choice.
The band has released 10 albums to date and are some of the most well respected musicians on the scene.
Ruin is the first track from their second studio album ‘As The Palaces Burn’.
It serves as a perfect showcase of how effective the dropped tuning can be when it comes to manipulating power chords at speed.
The majority of the song is spent ‘chugging’ on the lowest two strings and the main riffs become a breeze to play thanks to the tuning.
Fall Out Boy Sugar We’re Going Down Guitar Lesson + TutorialWatch this video on YouTube
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Sugar, We’re Going Down is one of the most popular singles from the American rock band Fall Out Boy. It was released as the second single from their second album ‘From Under the Cork Tree’ and (at the time) was the band’s biggest selling single and shifted over 4 million copies.
The song has also made various appearances in movies such as ‘The Fog’ and TV shows such as American Idol.
The song is exceptionally easy to play with just some simple 3 string barred power chords with a couple of octave shapes thrown in.
Ideal for a beginner to learn as you can just rock out and have fun with it, use a medium gain for best results!
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Another classic from Led Zeppelin from the album Physical Graffiti.
The song was originally planned to be an instrumental piece until Robert Plant added lyrics at a later date.
The song lyrically recollects Plant’s experience with a previous girlfriend who made him choose between music or their relationship.
This is a song that works great both on electric or acoustic, you will be able to find renditions of both online.
The song doesn’t make heavy use of the dropped D, but there are some key moments where it’s used in transitions and makes your life just a little bit easier as it places the notes you need in a more convenient spot.
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Three Days Grace are a Canadian band that’s skirted all kinds of alternative genres from nu-metal and rock to grunge.
Never Too Late is essentially a heavy ballad and one of their most commercially successful singles, which went 2x platinum in the US.
It’s also a favorite amongst fans with the official YouTube video sitting at 233 million views.
The verse has some acoustic arpeggios which all generally revolve around the 8th fret, they are all simple to play to and should be no problem even for beginners.
Then we go even simpler for the chorus which is all just strummed power chords, again with that drop D tuning making everything that much more comfortable to play.
New Born Guitar Lesson by Muse – How To Play New Born On Guitar By MuseWatch this video on YouTube
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One of the UKs’ biggest and best alternative rock acts, having gone from strength to strength over the years, selling out arenas and winning Grammy Awards.
New Born is a fan favorite from their second (and some argue best) album ‘Origin of Symmetry’.
Although the song does have a lengthy vocal introducing it, once the song really kicks in with its main heavy rock riff you’ll be glad you committed to it.
This one doesn’t rely too much on the drop D, but it is a good example of how it’s not a limiting factor either, you can still write a normal song without needing to revolve around the tuning.
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On A Plain is another promotional single from Nirvana’s legendary album Nevermind.
The song also features some great vocal backing from drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.
While it’s true, this song definitely has a slightly more upbeat and pop vibe to it.
It’s still a very fun and easy song to learn and is almost entirely played with just some simple power chords.
Rammstein Sonne Guitar Lesson – How To Play Sonne (Easy Tutorial For Drop D Tuning)Watch this video on YouTube
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When it comes to the appeal of Rammstein, it’s really the huge production and massive sounding guitars that make their simple yet well written riffs resonate with so many people.Sonne is another single from the album Mutter and has a fantastic music video to accompany the song which depicts an alternate version of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs story.
As is typical for Rammstein’s style, the song just uses heavy barred power chords throughout the entirety of the song.
Which, thanks to the dropped tuning, makes it completely playable with just a single finger!
So it’s an ideal song if you are a beginner or just need an easy to play song you can rock out to.
Spoonman Guitar Lesson – SoundgardenWatch this video on YouTube
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Spoonman is said to be the song that first exposed Soundgarden to a wider audience and was the turning point at which they started to gain mass appeal.
Written by the absolutely incredible vocalist Chris Cornell who has unfortunately passed away, the song made it to number 3 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts and is a favorite amongst Soundgarden fans.
The song is primarily played using 3 string barred power chords, but does a good job of mixing things up by including some slides and rhythmic mutes.
Forty Six & 2 Guitar Lesson – ToolWatch this video on YouTube
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Another popular single from Tool’s extremely popular album Ænima.
While not quite as commercially successful as songs such as Schism or Vicarious, it is nevertheless a ton of fun to play.
It also uses some great musical rhythmic ideas that, if you haven’t been exposed to yet, will really expand your musical repertoire.
Most of the guitar parts sit quite nicely in 4/4.
However, you will feel the drums drift off slightly as certain pieces of the kit play alternate rhythmic divisions for a few bars until everything eventually lines up on the 1 count.
Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy Confessions Guitar Tutorial w/TABSWatch this video on YouTube
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Although we previously mentioned that as Avenged Sevenfold’s career progressed they started to lean towards catchier songs with more commercial viability.
But this song is proof that even before that change, the band still was able to achieve a degree of mainstream exposure with Unholy Confessions, the first single from their second album.
This really is a quintessential metalcore song that will require you to employ all of your most common guitar techniques including down picking, palm muting, and hammer ons/pull offs.
Once you have this song mastered you will already be able to play a huge number of metal songs in drop d, it’s a really great primer on this style of music.
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Lyrically singer Matthew Bellamy has mentioned this song discusses the topic of luck and how much of a factor that plays in our lives, people who are born into privilege stand a far better chance of doing well.
It’s also said that Matt tried to use the vocal style of System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian who is known to have been a big influence on his style.
Guitar wise this has some great alternative rock riffs for you to sink your teeth into.
It’s a mid-tempo song that has a good energy but is also manageable if you are a beginner.
Contrary to many of the songs in drop d on this list this is mostly played using single note riffs which you can alternate pick if the down picking is too strenuous.
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Another wonderful song from Rage’s self-titled album.
Although the song was never actually released as a promotional single, it was very famously used as part of ‘The Matrix’ movies original soundtrack which starred Keanu Reeves.
Making it one of their most recognized songs in drop d.
It has some really impactful hard rock riffs, you’ll want a medium gain tone with a good amount of spank to it.
Make sure you pick quite hard as it’s only going to enhance the energy of the song.
In addition, there’s some percussive mutes on the verse and some strummed octaves, so this song is sure to keep you busy!
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Whatsername is the final track from Green Day’s smash hit album ‘American Idiot’ which won the 2005 Grammy Award for best rock album.
In addition to that, it’s estimated that the album’s total worldwide sales are in the region of 16 million copies which is a truly remarkable feat for a pop-punk group!
This song will have you playing palm-muted 8th notes at a steady and consistent pace for the duration of the song.
Do ensure the higher strings aren’t ringing out as they are not required at all for this song!
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But that has not stopped him from achieving great commercial success and he has been rated as one of the best heavy metal vocalists of all time by Hit Parader.
The Beautiful People is from Manson’s second album titled ‘Antichrist Superstar’.
Guitar wise it has a very catchy main riff that plays entirely off of the drop D tuning by essentially turning a single note riff into chords.
There’s a lot of quick stops that need to happen as well as percussive mutes so be sure to not saturate the gain too much so you can cut the guitar’s sound quickly and tightly.
The Drop D tuning is one of the most popular alternate tunings around, and it’s also the easiest to learn!
A staple alternate tuning for some of the most iconic rock and metal songs, Drop D is a great tool for both beginners and experienced musicians.
From opening up simple ways to play power chords to easily lowering the pitch of the song, there are many benefits to learning how to play in Drop D.
Another reason drop D tuning is popular is it makes it super easy for beginners to nail power chords.
Instead of the normal power cord finger shape for standard tuning, the player can play across the 3 low strings on any fret for each power chord.
So it’s only natural that we decided to put together this easy Drop D tuning guide for you!
Scroll down to find out how exactly to tune your guitar in Drop D, and 30 of the most popular songs that can be played on this tuning.
Table of ContentsHere is a List of Famous Songs in Drop D Tuning1.
Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) by DeftonesDrop D Tuning Guide
Here is a List of Famous Songs in Drop D Tuning
Post-grunge, alt-rock
View tabs for Everlong
Dave Grohl fronted alt-rock biggies Foo Fighters are often heard tapping into drop tunings to create their signature deeper, heavier sound.
Their 1997 hit single “Everlong” is a four-minute-long emotionally charged ballad that makes brilliant use of the Drop D tuning.
It’s more or less a power chord-fueled song, so not very hard from a learning point of view.
The only thing you’ll have to pay close attention to is the timing because it’s a speedy one.
Grohl wrote the song when he was stepping into a new relationship.
It’s sonically heavy but deals with the tender theme of love and longingness.
Following the raging success of the original, the band released an acoustic rendition that’s also in drop D.
We suggest you learn both versions just to get an idea of how great the tuning sounds, even on an acoustic.
View tabs for What I’ve Done
It’s rawer with more straightforward lyrics that call out to move past one’s mistakes and become a better person.
Surprisingly, it is the band’s most commercially successful single purely from a sales point of view.
“What I’ve Done” kicks off with a short guitar riff and piano-driven intro, which can easily be emulated on a guitar tuned down to drop D.
There’s a terrific solo by guitarist Brad Delson that makes excellent use of a pedal point lick to create a more melodic, flowing sound.
View tabs for Heart-Shaped Box
Originally titled “Heart-Shaped Coffin,” this grunge rocker gave Nirvana a real hard time in wrapping it up.
The band struggled session after session in giving Kurt Cobain’s cryptic, graphic lyrics a melody.
Though, many say the song was Cobain’s rather weird way of telling his partner Courtney Love about his feelings for her.
The unconventional composition was the first to be released from the band’s 1993 album, In Utero.
It features a terrific riff true to Cobain’s signature style on a guitar down-tuned to drop D.
You’ll need to have a fair idea of arpeggio picking, alternate picking, eighth note strumming, bends, and slides before attempting this song.
View tabs for Harvest Moon
The very first single from Neil Young’s album by the same name, Harvest Moon is a gorgeous song that you’ll love playing.
Young wrote the track for his wife Pegi Young, who also features in the video dancing with Young.
This track is a masterclass in how Drop D tuning allows you to play the sixth string along with the usual chord patterns.
The result is a lush, fuller sound that soars and adds an almost ethereal quality to the entire song.
It’s a lovely song to add to your repertoire – perfect for playing at intimate gigs or maybe just to yourself.
View tabs for You Are My Sunshine
Originally popularized by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell back in the 1930s, You Are My Sunshine has been covered by all kinds of artists over the years – from Johnny Cash, The Phantoms, and more recently, by the sibling duo Morgane and Chris Stapleton.
Widely considered the rising stars of the Nashville scene, this cover was released in 2016 by Elektra Records.
Personally, I think this cover version of the track is one of the most impressive I’ve heard in a while.
It is a goosebump-worthy trip with rich vocal harmonies sung at a meandering pace, complete with tasty blues guitar licks galore.
This version of the song is in Drop D and is the perfect way to learn how to incorporate the tuning while playing licks and the blues scale.
View tabs for I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Tune your guitar to drop D to play Creedence Clearwater Revival’s eleven-minute-long rock rendition of Marvin Gaye’s soul classic “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” The evergreen melody kicks off with the strikingly familiar intro riff that CCR’s John Fogerty plays on a down-tuned guitar to take the heaviness factor up a notch.
Originally written by Norman Whitfield for Motown Records, the song had many takers, but Gaye’s version became the most popular, spending seven solid weeks ruling the Billboard Pop Charts.
But we’d like you to try CCR’s cover first as it makes excellent use of the alternate tuning of drop D.
Alternative Rock
Alternative Rock
View tabs for Monkey Wrench
The lead single from Foo Fighters’ second album, The Colour and the Shape, “Monkey Wrench,” is aptly titled, especially if you listen closely to the lyrics.
Not just the intriguing title, but pretty much everything in the song mirrors the frustrating breakdown of a relationship.
Angry, layered vocals, blood-pumping drum work, and power-punk guitar action fuel this masterpiece.
Sonically, it’s all about melody lines and aggressive rhythms backed by big power chords played on distorted guitars.
It’s not a very hard song to learn, but you’ll have to retune your guitar in dropped D before getting started.
If you’re looking for easy songs in drop D tuning Monkey Wrench by Foo Fighters is a great option
View tabs for Led Zeppelin
Whenever Led Zeppelin fans hear Jimmy Page’s widely-recognizable intro riff from 1969 classic “Moby Dick,” they know they’re in for a real sonic treat, drum-wise!
Named after Herman Melville’s classic, “Moby Dick” features a phenomenal drum solo that’s brilliantly backed by Jimmy Page’s mindblowing guitar riffs.
Now, we are well aware of just how much Page loved alternate tunings.
In “Moby Dick,” you’ll hear him kick-off and end the song in unison with Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones.
The trio plays a stunning twelve-bar blues riff in drop D tuning before bowing out and leaving the rest of the track for Bonhan to conclude with his killer solo.
View tabs for Killing In The Name
I can honestly say that my world was turned upside down the time I heard the first guitar riff of this song.
Rage Against the Machine is not just a band, but a voice that rises against the injustices happening in the world.
Zach De La Rocha’s revolutionary lyrics and powerful vocal style, together with Tom Morello’s expressive and whacky guitar playing are honestly a force of nature.
And if you really want to experience the band’s sound and what they stand for, then listening to (or playing) Killing In The Name Of is the best way to do that.
A true-blue Drop D song, you will see that this song uses many of the Drop D power chords we’ve mentioned earlier in our articles like the D, A, and G power chords.
That’s why learning power chords in this tuning will serve you in good stead.
A must-learn song for every guitarist looking to channelize their angst and expressing it the best they can.
View tabs for Dear Prudence
Riffs, breakdowns, and power chords sound heavier and aggressive when played on down-tuned guitars.
Drop D, in particular, is one of the most versatile drop tunings.
Bands of practically every genre have used this alternate tuning, including wildly popular, The Beatles.
“Dear Prudence” is a fingerpicked guitar gem played by Lennon in drop D tuning to render a stunning arpeggio effect.
Interestingly, the song took shape while the band was on a meditation trip at an ashram in Rishikesh, India.
You’ll love learning and playing this drop D classic!
View tabs for Never Going Back Again
A song with a melody that is as lively and vibrant as the lyrics are profound, Never Going Back Again was written by Fleetwood Mac’s guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.
While the song was about his break-up and how he dealt with it, the song’s lyrics can be interpreted in many ways.
Lindsey has both played and sung on this song and has used the Travis picking style – a cool fingerstyle technique – for the rhythm.
With its cheerful melody, an interesting picking pattern, and lyrical depth, this is one drop d song that you should definitely learn.
View tabs for Schism
It’s no secret that Adam Jones of Progressive rock band Tool has a particular affinity for drop D tuning.
Practically, their entire discography features him playing a dropped-D tuned guitar.
The one we shall be talking about is the song that fetched the band a Grammy for Best Metal Performance.
“Schism” from Tool’s third album, Lateralus, is the perfect pick for guitar players looking to push the envelope.
It’s fairly complex, packed with challenging rhythm, intricacies, and unusual time signatures.
So, once you’ve got the main riff and some nuances down, you’ll breezily float through the rest.
Before learning this track, tune the guitar to drop D, which goes from low to high- D A D G B E.
There are plenty of exciting techniques to practice in this one, including muted hammer-ons during the riff, timed delays while playing the bridge, and power chord shapes that drive this gem.
View tabs for Meant To Live
Meant to Live was the song that catapulted Switchfoot to mainstream fame, one that peaked at several Billboard charts.
The song’s poetic lyrics about self-exploration is juxtaposed quite nicely against its gritty, heavy guitar tone – making for a refreshing and interesting effect that makes you sit up and take notice.
So full disclosure – only the intro guitar riffs of this song are in Drop D, while the rest of the song is in standard tuning.
So you’ll have to figure out a way to play the intro and then quickly tune up your 6th string by a whole step to E to play the rest of the song.
View tabs for Newborn
I was introduced to acclaimed alt-rockers Muse when I heard their phenomenal and heavy cover of Nina Simone’s feeling good, and down I went the rabbithole to devour their entire discography!
Pretty soon I found that their discography is full of drop D tuned rockers.
It’s a great band for anyone who wants to learn solid down-tuned riffs, which are awe-worthy yet easy to learn.
It has a melodic piano-driven opening and happens to feature one of the most recognizable guitar riffs of recent times.
This distinctive, fast, and crunchy riff kicks in a minute into the song and pops up a few times.
To play it, Matt Bellamy employs a whammy pedal and sets it one octave down to harmony mode.
View tabs for Ruin
We did say drop tunings are largely favored by metal bands to get a grittier, darker tone that goes brilliantly well with their intense lyrics, screaming vocals, and pounding riffage.
“Ruin” by metal heavyweights Lamb of God is an excellent example of how down-tuned guitars, which in this case is drop D, amps up the ominous, heaviness quotient of a metal track.
It’s a solid opener and pretty much sets the tone for the entire album As the Palaces Burn.
Fierce solo, lightning-fast breakdown, and phenomenally catchy chorus of “Ruin” will keep you hooked from start to finish.
“Omerta” from the band’s 2004 album Ashes of the Wake is another fantastic Drop D tuning song of theirs to check out.
View tabs for Spoonman
Grunge giants Soundgarden have a penchant for alternate tunings, and their down-tuned guitar-oriented catalog is a testament to that love.
There’s one tuning, though, that became a part of Soundgarden’s trademark sound- Drop D.
According to the band’s frontman and grunge’s most well-known voice Chris Cornell, the tuning pretty much helped shape their musical identity.
Soundgarden’s body of work has numerous drop D marvels, but their 1994 breakthrough hit “Spoonman” is perhaps the best of the lot.
It stood out for its phenomenal spoon solo, use of drop-tuned guitars, and odd time signatures.
Though the tuning was intentional, the bizarre time signatures were totally accidental!
“Spoonman” was written for a movie soundtrack as an acoustic piece, but the band didn’t want to leave it at just that.
View tabs for Du Hast
Fans and critics often vote “Du Hast” as industrial metal band Rammstein’s greatest creation.
The song put Rammstein on the map for the mainstream audience, possibly because of its appearance in the famed sci-fi Matrix Trilogy.
Owing to its foreboding quality and hard-hitting riffs, “Du Hast” enjoyed an incredible run on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
In fact, better than any other German-language song.
In short, an extremely headbang-worthy song, especially after the thrusting riffage kicks in.
Many players choose standard tuning to play its simplified version.
However, if you want to play like the original, tune your electric down to drop D.
A quick refresher- from low to high, tune to D A D G B E.
View tabs for Your Body Is A Wonderland
“Your Body Is A Wonderland” was John Mayer’s second single from his album ‘Room For Squares”, and it won him the Grammy for the Best Male Vocal Pop Performance.
A chilled-out, smooth love song with a groovy rhythm and cool chords, this song is one of his most popular and widely listened-to tracks.
Like most of Mayer’s songs, the track’s easygoing sound masks the tricky fingerings and chord patterns being used.
You’ll be playing this song in Drop D with a capo at the 3rd fret.
View tabs for Demon of the Fall
Progressive metal giants Opeth have been a phenomenon ever since their inception in 1989, and Demon of the Fall is another amazing track by the band.
With guttural vocals, and heavier-than-lead guitars and drums, this track gets more and more wonderfully insane with every passing second (that eery drum solo in the middle?
If you love playing metal or want to start playing mental, this is one song that you’re going to want to add to your arsenal.
Not surprisingly, you’ll find yourself playing plenty of power chords all through this song.
Country Rock
View tabs for Midnight Rider
The band’s second single off their second album, Midnight Rider is a good old southern rock track but wasn’t a chart-topping success when it was first released.
It wasn’t until Gregg Allman, Willie Nelson and Paul Davidson released their respective solo cover versions of the song over the year that it began to gain traction and began hitting the charts.
Played on Drop D, this song uses a simple chord progression – D, Gm7, C, and Bb. It sticks to the chords as they’re played on standard tuning, and has instead used Drop D for the lower range it offers to the song.
Rock, Groove Metal
View tabs for Coming Undone
If you’re looking for another track that’s a masterclass in how to play power chords in Drop D, then Coming Undone is for you!
The second single from the band’s seventh album ‘See You On The Other Side’, the track made it to the top 10 of rock and alternative music charts across the US, UK, and several other countries.
Do give this one a go if you plan to play more metal with time and want a good lowdown of the Drop D power chords.
View tabs for Ten Years Gone
Here’s another musical masterpiece by rock royalty Led Zeppelin that is perhaps their most intense and sonically layered composition.
“Ten years Gone” was accurately described by Record producer Rick Rubin as “ A deep, reflective piece with hypnotic, interweaving riffs.
It sounds like nature coming through the speakers.”
It was initially meant to be an instrumental for which Jimmy Page recorded close to 14 guitar tracks.
Robert Plant later added the lyrics, but the song remained Page’s and Page’s alone.
Plant’s evocative lyrics and passionate vocals, John Paul Jones’ bassline, and John Bonham’s drum work beautifully backed Page’s fluid ebbs and flows.
If you want to learn this drop D tuned song, we’ve got tabs right here to guide you through.
View tabs for Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr
Pick any song out of Trivium’s acclaimed album Ascendancy, and you’ve got yourself classic thrash meets metalcore gems, all in drop D tuning.
Let’s talk about the album’s most popular song, which also happens to be Trivium’s signature track- “Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr.”
The song is arguably one of the greatest metal anthems of the ‘00s.
Savage guitar riffs, explosive vocals, and epic level drumming makes this song nothing short of an exhilarating ride.
The two axemen- Corey and Matt, rip out phenomenal solos and riffs one after another on their down-tuned guitars.
If Trivium’s sound goes with your style, do check out other fantastic tracks from this album, such as “Rain,” “Like Light To The Flies,” and “Dying In Your Arms.” You can thank us later!
Heavy metal
View tabs for If Eternity Should Fail
You won’t find many drop D tuned songs in Iron Maiden’s repertoire.
In fact, their 2015 release “If Eternity Should Fail” is the first time they opted for this tuning, to pretty impressive results, we must say!
Interestingly, this Bruce Dickison penned song was meant for his solo career but somehow ended up in the band’s The Book of Souls album.
With a duration of close to eight and a half minutes, it’s a long, immersive ride that keeps listeners captivated.
The song begins slowly and transcends into an ominous-sounding intro before exploding with powerful drop-tuned riffs.
View tabs for Home
Progressive metal giants Dream Theater mostly went with standard tuning, but boy!
were we thrilled to find that guitar legend John Petrucci tuned his six-string in drop-D while playing their 1999 composition, “Home.”
begins slowly but after being fueled by chugging riffs, an insane keyboard solo, and Petrucci’s shred power ends up becoming the heaviest song on the album.
If you are a Dream Theater fan, you’ll notice some similarities, including a few musical themes and riffs in “Home” with their 1992 album opener “Metropolis-Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper.” Both singles are absolute killer cuts by the band, though, the latter is in standard tuning.
View tabs for All Nightmare Long
Big thrash riffs, crushing solos, and a killer chorus propel this B-side wonder by the highly influential Metallica.
“All Nightmare Long” quickly grabs attention in an album that’s brimming with some of Metallica’s biggest hits.
And here’s why- this drop D tuned track happens to be one of Metallica’s most brutally heavy works.
The hard-hitting riffs resulted from a collaborative effort involving the prominent guitarist duo of James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett and the band’s bassist Robert Trujillo.
The song peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and is often voted by the band’s fans as the best song on the entire album, Death Magnetic.
View tabs for With Arms Wide Open
When you listen closely to this Grammy-winning chart-topper by Creed, it’s not hard to make out that the lyrics are heartfelt and deeply personal.
It was written by lead vocalist Scott Stapp welcoming his soon-to-be-born child into the world, well, with arms wide open!
This 2000-released Creed staple became their greatest hit and their first and only single ever to grab the top spot on the US Billboard charts.
This beautiful rock ballad is a drop D marvel that will make a superb addition to your setlist.
Incidentally, Creed’s other big hit, “Higher,” also features all guitars in dropped-D tuning, so you should check that one out as well.
View tabs for Radioactive
Pop-rock sensations Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive” is an infectious blend of dubstep, quirky lyrics, and a thumping chorus you simply cannot help singing along to.
This sleeper hit had a pretty exciting run on the charts, climbing up slowly but eventually sticking around on the Billboard Hot 100 for a whopping 87 weeks!
To play this adrenaline-pumping anthem the way Imagine Dragons do, you’ll need three guitars.
The electric lead and backing guitars are both tuned to dop D, whereas the acoustic rhythm uses standard tuning.
We’ve got tabs right here to help you out get this fantastic song under your belt!
View tabs for Unnatural Selection
If you’re up for a challenge, give the pounding, stamina-pushing Drop D riff in Muse’s “Unnatural Selection” a shot.
With a riff tempo of 159 bpm, notes all over the fretboard, and plenty of string skipping, it’s a masterclass in endurance!
From the band’s 2009 album The Resistance, “Unnatural Selection” is an uptempo, energetic ride that’s through and through a guitar-driven fare.
Matthew Bellamy’s great guitaring and vocals breathe life into the song’s thought-provoking lyrics that circle around society’s haves and have-nots.
View tabs for Slither
The new band produced some fantastic tracks through their short but commercially successful run.
Velvet Revolver’s 2005 Grammy-winning track “Slither” is arguably their finest work and a fan favorite for its catchy rhythm and the epic riff which Slash unleashed on a down-tuned guitar.
We would love to talk a bit more about this riff, for it is a masterclass on how to jump around with power chords in drop D.
It wouldn’t have sounded nearly as awesome in standard tuning.
Give the song a listen, and tell us if you agree!
View tabs for Sugar We’re Going Down
At the echelon of Fall Out Boy’s repertoire, Sugar We’re Going Down is the band’s biggest-selling single, with over 4 million copies sold to this day and still going pretty strong.
This tune has become a pop symbol for the 2000s, making it yet another one of the hymns that marked an era.
Penned by Pete Wentz, and peaking on the Billboard Top 100 Chart as #8, this is the song that launched Fall Out Boy into the mainstream and is now credited as one of the best Pop Punk songs of all time!
Composed around 3 string barred chords with octave shapes complementing each voicing in its structure.
It is a wonderful tune to master as it will guide you all throughout the fretboard with ease as you learn it.
Adam’s Song by Blink 182
Adam’s Song by Blink 182
View tabs for Adam’s Song
Simple, emotional, and an all-around hymn ever since its controversial release and success in the year 2000.
The song came to be when guitarist Tom Delonge and Mark Hoppus recalled the internal plight and loneliness that entails a touring lifestyle and having no one to come home to.
This tune is an ode to simplicity for all those pop and skate punk rockers out there, it taps into the evocative and emotional exploits of Drop D, and not everything is about the heaviness of it.
Between rhythmical shifts and a melodic and melancholic starting riff, Adam’s Song has a lot more to offer other than its initial and simplistic first glance.
Adam’s song is one of the defining tunes at the turn of the century, as it harnessed commercial and underground success since its release.
It became one of the hottest hits of the summer of 2000 as it topped the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks as #2 and it remained in constant airplay on MTV for over a year.
View tabs for Decode
From the alternative and then emo darlings Paramore, this single has become a classic ever since its release back in 2008 for the original soundtrack of Twilight.
Its popularity escalated, becoming the band’s second top 40 Billboard hit for the band, before eventually going platinum in 2010.
Decode is composed around an ambiance melodic lead that builds tension in its dynamic simplistic shifts before unfolding in a dramatic power chord chorus progression.
Josh Faro’s simplistic approach to guitar composition may come as intricate when you look at all the arrangements that buildup the tense atmosphere of the tune, but it’s nothing you can’t get around with proper practice.
Overall learning “Decode” is a brilliant study on how to approach the different layers a simple melodic arrangement can offer.
View tabs for Black Hole Sun
Presumably recorded to inspire fear and an overwhelming sense of eariness, Soundgarden’s staple hit single in D# tuning was pitch-shifted sharp 2/3rds of a semitone through an analog process with 432hZ instead of 440hz.
The only technical specification you need to know is its extra sharp tuning which leads yet to another masterclass in what a catchy melodic line can achieve with mild arrangements and a punchy chorus.
The song is built around an arpeggio of Gsus4, Gm chord progression followed by an F5 and E5 leaving an air of suspense and an “open door” feeling given its inflicted dissonance.
You can approach this 90s hit as an arpeggio and composition challenge, albeit these were the key traits that led to its success during the grunge height of the grunge era.
Cornell originally started writing the song as he was driving home at 4 am, reportedly he came up with almost every detail in his head and whistled it into a recording.
He conceived the tune thinking the band wouldn’t like it, however, it became the biggest hit of the summer of 94 debuting in Billboard’s Top 30 chart list.
View tabs for On a Plain
The one Nirvana song that features superb backing vocals from Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl, “On a Plain” much like most of Nirvana’s repertoire has managed to become iconic and representative of the 90s nowadays.
The song is also known for inspiring a sense of discontent in Kurt Cobain given the lack of raw sound in the mix, nevertheless, we’re sure that many people would digress given the commercial success and fan favorite staple it remained throughout the years.
Heavy, ragged, and above all fun to play, On a Plain offers a very simplistic approach to guitar composition.
It’s one of those tunes you can jam to as loud and dirty as you want whenever you feel like venting.
On another hand, playing it in real-time with a metronome or trying to follow Grohl’s drumming may prove daunting, yet rewarding as it will certainly turn you into an oriented guitarist.
View tabs for I Won’t Give Up
The ballad that put Jason Mraz back on the map from his fourth studio installment happened to also be his first promotional single to be released, needless to say, it managed to debut in the Top 10 charts of over 5 countries and as number 8 in the US Billboard charts.
Straightforward as it may seem, Mraz claimed that the song was written selfishly more as an application to his life than about a relationship.
Written with a folk approach, I Won’t Give Up is a rhythmic challenge given its finger-picked always low-string riding thumb.
With lots of simplicity surrounding it, the structure of the song is great for beginners and anyone who is trying to add precision to the craft.
Industrial, Punk Rock
View tabs for Hey Man, Nice Shot
Arguably one of the songs that make the best out of Drop D’s heavy nature, Hey Man, Nice Shot is a standout track from the industrial scene of the 90s, straight out of Filter’s debut in 1995, Short Bus. It is a straightforward track that really defined the post-grunge American scene, sadly, they didn’t get the attention they deserved as commercial success or acclaim wasn’t really a defining trait for the band.
Hey Man, Nice Shot comes in as a flurry of power chords that helps tether precision and rhythm in a rather challenging fashion.
It’s really fun to play when you get a hang of its simplistic raging structure and finger placement, it is guaranteed to fuel motivation and a desire to crank it up.
View tabs for The Beautiful People
Yet another tune that takes advantage of the low riff tasty nature Drop D has to offer, Marylin Manson’s The Beautiful People is an industrial rock/metal staple that made its way to the mainstream in 1996.
Thanks to its bouncing nature and catchy riffed melodic lines this tune have remained classic throughout the decades.
The Beautiful People is a rhythmic dominant piece to master, its bouncing nature makes it an undeniable jam and its Drop D tuning make it a heavy jingle that’s hard to not enjoy.
If you’re looking to improve in rhythmical structures this is your go-to tune, all the more if you’re into the industrial feel.
Straight out of his 2014 album release “X” One became a pivotal track for Sheeran’s further capitalization of his already established success as a pop figure.
It became the last song Sheeran has written about a former lover in his discography, making it an immediate standout in his career as a singer-songwriter.
One explores the soulful balladry that drop D tuning has to offer, with melodic and simplistic yet intricate seeming arpeggios, this song guarantees you’ll learn how to interact with the loose and ethereal characteristics of your guitar offers but you somehow tend to overlook.
One peaked in the UK singles chart as #18 while it only reached the bottom tier of the Top 100 in the US Billboard charts, nevertheless, this is an intimate song that can become yours if you manage to tap into its emotionality.
If you’re looking for something niche, Radiohead’s Lotus Flower’s guitar part from the live versions is a prime example of massive adaptability from a techno/drum and bass hyped tune.
Thom Yorke’s arrangement is set on Drop D and it carries throughout the entire track with simplicity as the main theme, it’s based around a fingerpicking arpeggio execution, however, these have a crucial rhythmic feature that will keep you practicing precision as you dive into the sweet melodies.
Lotus Flower was released in 2011 as the pivotal single from King of Limbs, and it earned Radiohead recognition by winning Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance at the Grammys that year.
View tabs for Whatsername
Probably overshadowed in time by more popular singles of the band, Whatsername is the smash hit single that brought a conclusion to the now legendary album American Idiot.
While the song itself may be more acquainted with die-hard fans instead of a popular audience this song is as compelling as the concept of the album itself.
Whatsername offers a great fundamental exercise, considering you’ll be playing with palm-muting throughout almost the entirety of the song at a consistent pace with 8th notes shining through bits of the track.
It’s also a great tune to learn how to sing and play simultaneously, something that almost every beginner and many intermediates crave to learn!
View tabs for Mr. Tambourine Man
Widely regarded as one of the best songs Bob Dylan has ever written, it is also considered to be one of the best songs ever recorded mainly due to its lyrical prowess and congruent fingerpicking style.
Mr. Tambourine Man is a milestone in Dylan’s career, as its lyrics have been interpreted in thousands of ways and covered countless times, truly a masterpiece in composition.
Written in Drop D, the seemingly loose melody arrangements certainly give a casual and bright impression, but once you get to master it, this song is guaranteed to sharpen your instincts both rhythmically and melodically.
Alternative, Post-grunge
View tabs for Down
View tabs for Down
Straight out of the last days of the post-grunge era and the rise of the alternative scene in America.
Down was the first single to come out from Stone Temple Pilots’ fourth studio installment No.4, and it quickly became one of their most significant hits, peaking on the Modern Rock charts as #9.
Down explores the heavy tasty nature of Drop D with a rather rhythmical orientation that later on evolves into a unison block with infused licks that will certainly amp up your hand coordination and fluency.
View tabs for Try Honesty
Post-hardcore Canadian band Billy Talent really made a statement on their prowess when they released this now cult classic back in 2003.
Try Honesty is arguably one of the hardest tunes you can learn on this list, not because of its hard-hitting sound, but because of the seemingly intricate melodic and strumming combination, it features throughout the structure of the song.
If there is a song that explores the rich high, mids, and lows Drop D has to offer, it’s got to be Try Honesty.
Alternative, Nu Metal
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View tabs for Be Quiet and Drive
Perhaps the centerpiece of the Deftones’ career from their ever iconic 1997 studio album Around The Fur. This was the band’s first ever single to land a spot on the Mainstream Rock US charts peaking at #29, some of its virtues are its brilliantly condensed influences of shoegaze, nu metal, and alternative.
Learning this tune is certain to provide a deep study of how to merge styles and feelings, all boiled down in a single tune and that’s why it makes our pick.
Drop D Tuning Guide
Out of all the alternate tunings, Drop D is perhaps the easiest to get the hang of.
That’s because it only involves lowering the pitch of your 6th string (low E string) from E to a whole step down to D.
This makes it the perfect way for a guitarist to get started exploring the wonderful world of alternate tunings.
In drop D tuning, the guitarist takes his standard tuning of EADGBE, and only the low E string is tuned down a full step lower to a D resulting in a DADGBE tuning pattern, aka “Drop D”.
As you can see in the diagram above, the standard E tuning requires your guitar strings to be tuned to the following notes:
However, in the case of Drop D, your 6th string gets tuned down by a full step from E to D.
This is what your guitar’s tuning will look like for Drop D:
How Do I Tune My Guitar To Drop D Tuning?
Now let’s learn how to go about tuning your guitar to a Drop D tuning.
Make sure you have a tuner handy for it (use an online tuning app or a physical tuner – any would do):
Step 1: Pluck your low E string and start slowly turning its respective tuning peg towards you.
You will start hearing the pitch of the string go lower.
Step 2: Tune the low E string down by one whole step, so its pitch changes from E to D.
Keep playing the string and cross-check with your tuner to make sure that the string is accurately tuned to D.
As for the rest of the 5 strings, they stay on the standard E tuning, and your guitar is now tuned to Drop D.
Pro Tip: You can also easily tune your guitar to Drop D by ear without needing a tuner.
Why Should I Learn Drop D Tuning?
By tuning your guitar to drop D, you increase your instrument’s range by one whole step lower.
This can make it easier for you to play with vocalists who prefer singing on a lower pitch – but that’s not it.
Drop D tuning makes it easier for you to play certain types of power chords and enriches your open chords.
Easy To Play Power Chords:
The most popular reason why guitarists love the Drop D tuning is that it lets them play power chords with a single finger, instead of having to use 2-3 fingers like in standard tuning!
You can play the D power chord in Drop D tuning by simply strumming the 3 lowest strings in their open positions.
When in Drop D tuning, your 6th string is already tuned to D, so you can freely strum your 6th string along with the rest of the chord as it is, which will give you a richer and fuller sound.
Chord Charts for Power Chords in Drop D
We’ve already shared the tabs of some power chords in Drop D, but if you’re looking for chord charts, scroll down.
Check out these easy to read chord charts on playing the most popular power chords in Drop D tuning:
5. A Power Chord in Drop D Tuning
5. A Power Chord in Drop D Tuning
5. A Power Chord in Drop D Tuning
5. A Power Chord in Drop D Tuning
5. A Power Chord in Drop D Tuning
Who Uses Drop D Tuning?
Drop D is widely used across several genres, with rock and metal being the most prominent ones.
That’s because the lower range of the Drop D tuning allows bands to explore a heavier, grittier sound that lends itself beautifully to the hard rock and metal genre.
From Van Halen, Foo Fighters to Judas Priest and more, several legendary bands over the years have liberally used Drop D while composing their songs.
You’ll find this tuning being used less often in pop, country, and blues, but that doesn’t mean they’re never featured (as you’ll see in our article).
Think of drop D tuning as another way for you to widen your guitar playing skills.
Learning drop D is the perfect way to start exploring the limitless world of alternate tunings for guitarists of any skill level.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned musician, this popular and simple alternate tuning will open up a world of new sonic possibilities.
It not only lets you play some of your favorite songs that are composed in Drop D, but it is also a lot of fo fun to use this tuning in your own songwriting as well.
We hope this article gave you all the information you needed to get started with playing on Drop D tuning.
If you had fun playing around with this alternate tuning, then we highly recommend exploring other alternate tunings as well to up your guitar game.
Check out our articles on alternate tunings such as DADGAD, Open C, Open D, Open E, Open G.
If you’re looking for more Drop tunings, then explore our tuning guides on Drop A, Drop B, and Drop C.
Happy playing!
SchiebelMy name is Chris and I’ve had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember.
I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content.
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A true passion of mine, I’ve designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics.
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Drop D tuning is one of the most popular alternative tuning methods for guitar.
It’s fairly simple as all you need to do is tune the sixth E string a whole step down to D.
Why drop D tuning?
Well, it can change the whole mood of your guitar.
It helps to give it a heavier and more textured feel than regular tuning.
I think it sounds great, which is why I’ve found the 20 best drop D songs ever made.
Let’s get started!List of the best drop D songs1.
Hinder – Lips Of An AngelSome bands can wait a long time for their breakout single but for Hinder, it came quickly from their second single from their debut album, Extreme Behavior.
The brilliant song remains their most popular to date.The song is about longing for an ex-partner that you’ve not gotten over yet.
It’s a classic rock song with drop D tuning.
It makes it sound deep and powerful with the song being bookended by beautiful acoustic guitar.Click for Tab2.
Foo Fighters – EverlongThe Foo Fighters’ self-titled debut album was very good but it didn’t have that one huge single to make it a humongous success.
That was soon to change on their second album, The Colour and the Shape, which came out in 1997.The lead single was “Monkey Wrench” and then they backed that up with “Everlong”.
The driving drop D riff and huge chorus helped to make it such an iconic song.Click for Tab3.
Three Days Grace – Never Too Late“Never Too Late” comes from Three Days Grace’s critically acclaimed second album One-X.
It’s a powerful song and one about it never being too late to change your life and avoid any thoughts of suicide.Due to the suicidal references, the song was censored from some radio stations, and some lyrics were changed.
It’s a shame as the song has a positive message.
It’s also brilliant and deserves as much radio play as possible.Click for Tab4.
Papa Roach – Last ResortLast Resort is simply one of the biggest metal songs ever made.
It makes it easy to sing along without even thinking what it’s about.
It’s simply a perfect song in many respects and it’s no surprise it became a crossover hit.
It was the lead single from Papa Roach’s second album and catapulted them to stardom.
For many millennials, it’s a joyous reminder of a time when they fell in love with music.
This song was also featured on our list of the top drop D metal songs.Click for Tab5.
Frank Zappa – Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow“Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” is one of the most unique songs of all time and written by the brilliant Frank Zappa.
The song is part of a series of four songs that open up his album Apostrophe.
The suite of songs follows the story of an Eskimo in a dream-like world.
The song has a wonderful bassline, quirky lyrical delivery, and drop D tuning.
It’s a crazy song but one that many love.Click for Tab6.
Rob Zombie – The Great American Nightmare“The Great American Nightmare” was included on Rob Zombie’s album “Past, Present & Future” in 2003 which was a collection of previously released music.
The song was originally released back in 1997 on the soundtrack for the film Private Parts.
It’s a relentlessly brilliant track and one that doesn’t let up in its intensity.
From the wild screaming and the breathless panting at the star, it’s a song that takes you on a wild ride using drop D tuning.Click for Tab7.
Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give UpDrop D tuning has become synonymous with metal music but Jason Mraz shows that it sounds fantastic in other genres too.
This is a laid-back acoustic love song with the tuning helping to add some extra weight to it.
The lead single from his fourth album was an instant hit and has since gone on to have over half a billion listens on Spotify.
It’s worth all the attention as it’s one of the best tracks ever with drop D tuning.Click for Tab8.
Fleetwood Mac – Never Going Back Again“Never Going Back Again” instantly grabs your attention with the exquisitely finger-picked intro which carries on throughout the songs.
The song is notable for its minimal lyrics but they allow the majesty of the guitar to shine through.It’s a song that probably deserves more attention but when it’s on an album as ridiculously good as Rumours, then it will struggle to stand out.
It’s still a favorite of many Fleetwood Mac fans and helped to make the album one of the best of all time.Click for Tab9.
Paramore – DecodeWhile “Never Going Back Again” is on one of the best ever albums, “Decode” isn’t on one at all.
The song was written and released for the soundtrack of the 2008 film Twilight.
Despite the lack of album release, it’s proved to be one of their biggest hits.Drop D tuning helped to give the song a moody and deep feel, which was perfect for the movie.
When you combine that with brilliant drumming, an excellent solo, and the singing of Hayley Williams then you get a brilliant track.Click for Tab10.
Ed Sheeran – OneAs with Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran also shows us just how good drop D tuning can sound on acoustic guitar.
“One” is a beautiful love song with that textured tuned sound giving it a more emotional feel.It was the opening track from his humongous second album X and the last song he wrote about his ex-girlfriend, who has provided plenty of inspiration for his first album.
The minimal instrumentation and Sheeran’s falsetto singing produce spine-tingling results.Click for Tab11.
Avenged Sevenfold – Bat CountryAvenged Sevenfold are masters of using drop D tuning.
Never is that more apparent than on Bat Country, which came from their third album.
It’s an incredible track with two brilliant solos and a tempo that never drops off.It achieved plenty of commercial success and has also been included in many video games.
It’s a perfect example of how to use drop D tuning as it helps to give the song a humongous feel, which is aided by the incredible singing of M.
Shadows.Click for Tab12.
It exemplified the genre and was huge when it was released back in 2005.
It helped to take both the band and the genre into the mainstream and was a huge success.
It’s become an iconic song and helped by its delightfully quirky music video.
It was the lead single from their second album and Fall Out Boy would never look back.
The song uses drop D tuning and it helps to give it a great sound.
The chorus was infectious and it has been passionately sung by fans ever since.Click for Tab13.
Avenged Sevenfold – Unholy ConfessionsHere we see another song from A7X and another that uses the unique drop D tuning.
The song probably holds a special place in the band’s heart as it was the first that received mainstream exposure and showcased their talent to a wider audience.
It remains extremely popular with both band and fans, this is shown by it being their most played live song.
It’s a brilliant track and one that is notable for M.
Shadows’ use of screaming vocals and those thrilling driving riffs.Click for Tab14.
All Time Low – TherapyFor many, the perfect closing track to an album should be an emotional ballad.
That’s essentially what we get with “Therapy” as it’s the closing song on the band’s third album “Nothing Personal,” and is a beautiful way to end it.
The song is painfully about how the narrator would prefer to simply be loved and cared for rather than just being told to go to therapy.
The album may have more famous songs but this one is an absolute gem.Click for Tab15.
Bob Dylan – Mr. Tambourine ManIt’s a song that has been covered many times, most famously by The Byrds but, for me, the original has never been beaten.
It was released all the way back in 1965 but has stood the test of time as one of the best songs ever made.The brilliant melody along with the surrealistic Dylan lyrics helped to make it such a brilliant song.
As with many of Dylan’s songs, those lyrics have been interpreted countless ways but only the great man will ever know for sure.Click for Tab16.
Pantera – WalkPantera is a band full of great musicians and that’s very clear when you hear “Walk”.
Along with the unique drop D tuning, the riff is also played in a time signature of 12/8.
The result is their most played song.Coming from their iconic album Vulgar Display of Power, the song is a perfect example of the brilliant songs they have produced over the years.
It’s a legendary song and one that inspired many bands that followed them.Click for Tab17.
Tool – SchismWhile Pantera’s “Walk” may have a riff with a unique time signature, it doesn’t come close to the phenomenal achievement of “Schism”.
That’s because it changes its time signature a mind-bending 47 times throughout the song.The whole song is brilliantly played and extremely complex in parts.
The most iconic part of the song is the bassline which sounds as if it’s being played by two people at the same time.
When you add in the drop D tuning to all these elements, it makes an astoundingly good song.Click for Tab18.
Rage Against the Machine – Killing In The NameWe’ve used the word ‘iconic’ for the last two songs and it can equally be applied here.
The song has more or less been the theme tune to protests around the globe such as its aggressiveness and lyrical impact.It is one of the best songs ever and was impressively the first single ever released by RATM in 1992.
Its societal impact is going to continue for many years to come.Click for Tab19.
Creed – My SacrificeCreed has produced some phenomenal songs over the years but “My Sacrifice” is up there as one of the best.
It was the lead single from their excellent third album and it was an instant hit with their fans.It’s a stunning song that connects with a lot of people with lyrical content about battling addiction.
It also features an excellent music video that is well worth the watch.
It’s around 20 years old now but has stood the test of time.Click for Tab20.
Three Days Grace – I Hate Everything About YouThere is something special about the first song that a band ever releases to the world.
For Three Days Grace, that song was “I Hate Everything About You” which was the lead single from their self-titled debut album.The lyrical content is self-explanatory from the title and it’s a brilliantly aggressive song.
It’s another that has a great video and for many, it helped to kick start an obsession with the band.
It may have been the first great song they released but far from their last.
Click for Tab
Alexandra SmithAlexandra loves playing the piano and guitar.
She has always been a music lover, but it wasn’t until she was in high school that she realized how much she loved to play.
Every once in a while, it is great to get out of the standard tuning to explore the possibilities of other tunings on the guitar.
The Drop D tuning is one of the most used and popular alternative tunings, which is often used in rock and metal songs.
Drop D is an easy-to-learn and master, which opens simple ways to play power chords in lower pitches.
There are many advantages of Drop D tuning, such as sounding heavier with a more low-frequency rumble, accessing lower notes, and playing power chords with only one finger.
You only need to change the low E string to a D to achieve drop D tuning.
It is a great tuning for grunge, heavy metal, and hard rock.
There are many great songs from different genres which use Drop D tuning.
Mastering these songs will give you familiarity and control over this new tuning and will make you progress as a guitarist as you step out of your comfort zone of standard tuning.
The famous song of Imagine Dragons, Radioactive was a massive hit all around the world when it came out in 2012.
It topped the charts in many lists in different countries, becoming a viral element of pop culture.
The song is pretty easy to play with a basic riff with legatos and simple power chords.
The drop D tuning makes the power chords easier to play, while the single note riffs and licks are quite straightforward and fun to play.
You can try to play the lead guitar partitions as well as the backing guitar partitions.
Radioactive Guitar Tabs
What I’ve Done was the lead single of the 2007 album, Minutes To Midnight by the famous American rock band Linkin Park.
The song speaks about the damage humanity created on the earth.
The song is featured in the movie Transformers as well as the game Guitar Hero, being a viral hit in pop culture.
The song is relatively easy to play with repeated single-note melodies and power chords.
The guitars are tuned to Drop D and have many effects like distortion and chorus.
You can also play the piano riffs on guitar as they are pretty easy to adapt.
What I’ve Done Guitar Tabs
If you are interested in alternate tunings, you need to check my other article
Top 50 Famous Guitar Songs In Drop B Tuning – Tabs Included
Du Hast is one of the most famous songs of the German industrial metal band Rammstein.
The band is still active today and are well-known for their amazing live shows.
This song features an incredible and aggressive riff played by power chords, perfectly suitable for any guitar player.
The main guitar riff is pretty straightforward, with a Drop D tuning and three power chords along with a slide in between them.
Play this song with plenty of distortion and as aggressive and loud as you can to replicate the original sound.
Du Hast Guitar Tabs
Decode by American rock band Paramore is the soundtrack of the vampire movie saga Twilight.
The song was the lead single of the movie’s soundtrack album and was loved by the fans, charting in the top 20 in many countries.
The song is mainly played in the D, G, and B strings with arpeggio patterns in the verses.
The chorus is played with power chords, and the solo is also quite easy and suitable for beginners.
Decode Guitar Tabs
Never Too Late is the hit song of the Canadian rock band Three Days Grace.
It is the third single from the band’s second album One-X in 2007.
The song was a massive hit in Canada, and after the music video release, it became a global hit with more than 250 million views on Youtube.
The song’s riff is played on the lower strings before the power chords come into play in the chorus and bridge section.
In the meantime, the lead guitar plays licks on the higher strings creating a contrast with the main riff.
Never Too Late Guitar Tabs
If you want to learn more songs in different tuning, check out my other list
Top 50 Famous&Easy Guitar Songs In Drop C – Tabs Included
The signature song of the American rock band Foo Fighters, Everlong is one of the greatest rock tunes of the 1990s.
Released in 1997, the song reached the top 3 positions in many countries and gave huge fame to the band.
The music video of the song was also spectacular and was nominated for the best video award in MTV awards.
Everlong is played with Drop D tuned guitars and uses the muted low D string notes to drive the rhythm while the melody is created with the power chords in between.
Most of the song is played with chords and power chords with overdrive, creating a heavy and aggressive sound.
Everlong Guitar Tabs
Heart-Shaped Box is the third track of Nirvana’s album In Utero, released in 1993.
The song is one of the signature tunes of the band and topped the charts in many countries in the Modern Rock lists.
It was also the last song Kurt Cobain played live with Nirvana in Munich, Germany, in March 1994.
Heart-Shaped Box is played with a Drop D tuning and starts with straightforward arpeggios in a clean guitar sound.
Later the overdrive comes into the scene while the guitars play power chords in the chorus with that iconic bend in between the chords.
Heart-Shaped Box Guitar Tabs
Walk is the most famous song of the American heavy metal band Pantera.
As with many metal songs, the piece is created by adding a lot of flair to a simple song structure.
It was released in 1992 and is one of the most famous groove metal tunes of the era.
Walk needs the guitars to be added with plenty of distortion and tuned to Drop D.The tune’s riff is played with only 3 notes, but it sounds pretty unique with syncopation and a bit of swing feel.
You can crank up the distortion to play this tune and try to be aggressive on the strings.
Walk Guitar Tabs
Experimenting with alternate tuning is always fun.
Top 40 Famous & Easy Guitar Songs In D Standard – Tabs Included
Another famous Rammstein song, Sonne, is an amazing meta piece with a dark and aggressive sound.
The tune is played with heavily distorted guitars in the Drop D tuning to create the darkest-sounding guitar tones.
Most of the song is played with power chords which are easier to play with the Drop D tuning.
There are also some straightforward single-note melodies that you can easily play but do not forget to add enough distortion to your tone.
Sonne Guitar Tabs
Released in 1994, Black Hole Sun is the signature song of the band Soundgarden.
It was written by the lead singer of the band, Chris Cornell, and topped the charts staying there for seven weeks in the U.S.A. It is a slow tempo yet heavy-sounding tune with amazing lyrics.
The tune features many arpeggios played by drop-D tuned guitars.
There is a nice solo in the middle of the song, which you can also try to learn and play.
It is a great beginner song to practice arpeggios as well as some excellent lead guitar licks.
Black Hole Sun Guitar Tabs
Released in 2012, Jason Mraz’s acoustic folk-blues and folk-pop ballad, I Won’t Give Up, is another excellent Drop D tune to learn and master.
The song was a worldwide success charting in the top 20 in many countries after Mraz’s signature song, I’m Yours.
The song is played with traditional chords and a basic strum pattern.
There are many chords in the track, which is great to practice different chord shapes in the Drop D tuning.
I Won’t Give Up Guitar Tabs
If you are looking for more songs in alternative tunings to learn and play, this list might just be for you
Top 40 Easy&Advanced Guitar Songs In Open G – Tabs Included
Last Resort is the famous song of the American rock band Papa Roach, released in 2002.
It is the soundtrack of the movie Ready To Rumble and is remembered for its great rock riffs and rap partitions.
It is an ultimately beginner-friendly song with power chords and melodies on the lower strings.
There are different power chord shapes to get you familiar with drop d tuning power chords.
Last Resort Guitar Tabs
American rock band Creed’s first, and the only chart-topping tune, With Arms Wide Open, is one of the most famous songs of the year 2001.
It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song that year.
The song is mainly played with arpeggios and power chords with a guitar tuned to Drop D.
The song features many guitar techniques, which is great for beginners to practice and progress with their technique.
It is a great song to learn and play.
With Arms Wide Open Guitar Tabs
One of the most famous tunes of the American pop-punk band Fall Out Boy is Sugar, We’re Goin Down, released in 2005.
The song sold more than 5 million copies which became the highest-selling tune of the band.
The punk tune was loved especially by teenagers.
As with most of the punk songs, you will need lots of power chords and a fast strumming to playing the tune.
There are also little interludes with easy guitar licks with legato techniques.
Sugar, We’re Goin Down Guitar Tabs
Punk is one of the easiest and most fun-to-play genres for beginners, so check out my list
Top 55 Famous&Easy Punk Guitar Songs For Beginners – Tabs Included
Coming Undone” is the hit song of the American band Korn from the See You On The Otherside album released in 2006.
It reached number four in main rock charts, becoming the fourth biggest hit of the nu-metal band.
Korn is one of the bands that use the Drop D tuning quite often.
Coming Undone is no different with aggressive power chord variations.
If you like nu metal, you should definitely master this one.
Coming Undone Guitar Tabs
Du Riechst So Gut is another great hard rock tune by the Neue Deutsche Härte or so called NDH band Rammstein.
As with most of Rammstein’s songs, it is a heavy-sounding tune that talks about the thoughts of a hunter hunting its prey.
The name of the song means you smell so good.
It is one of the most straightforward tunes on the list, with only four double note power chords.
Do not forget to add plenty of distortion to your tone to play this one.
Du Riechst So Gut Guitar Tabs
Released in 2005, Bat Country is the heavy metal tune of the American band Avenged Sevenfold.
It is one of the signature tunes of the band, and it was certified gold by the RIAA.
The song was featured in many video games such as EA Sports’ NHL 06, Madden NFL 06,[3] SSX on Tour, Saints Row 2, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.
The song features many different parts, including power chords, arpeggios, lovely solos, and single note melodies—a great tune to learn and master in the Drop D tuning.
Bat Country Guitar Tabs
If you are looking for new easy song to enrich your repertoire, take a look at my list
Top 50 Popular & Easy Songs In 4/4 Time – Guitar Tabs Included
Released in 2004, Ocean Avenue is the most successful hit of the American punk band Yellowcard.
It is a classic punk piece with power chords, plenty of distortion, and a high tempo.
The song was certified as double platinum by the RIAA.
As a high-tempo punk piece, Ocean Avenue is played with many power chords in drop D tuning.
There are also some lead guitar riffs in the verses, which are pretty easy to play.
Ocean Avenue Guitar Tabs
Released in 2004 with the Contraband album, Slither is the Grammy-winning single of the American hard rock band Velvet Revolver.
The song won the Best Hard Rock Performance award and hit the top 50 charts in many countries.
The song also was featured in shows like Victoria’s Secret and was covered by many different artists like Guns N Roses and Weird Al Jankovic.
Slither is mainly played with power chords in a generously distorted tone.
There are also palm-muted single note parts that drive the rhythm forward.
All the hard rock elements are apparent in the sheet, a great tune to learn for old-school hard rock lovers.
Slither Guitar Tabs
Another great tune to learn in drop d tuning by the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold is The Stage.
It was released in 2016 as the first single of the same-named album.
The song was well-received with being nominated for a Grammy for the Best Rock Song.
The tune has easy rhythm guitar parts with power chords and open chords, while the lead guitar partitions are intermediate-level and utterly entertaining to play with many different techniques like tapping, legatos bends, and great licks.
The Stage Guitar Tabs
If you are liking this list and want to learn more rock licks to play, check out my list
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Monkey Wrench is the lead single from the second Foo Fighters album, The Color, and the Shape.
The uptempo rock song is one of the most famous tunes of Foo Fighters.
The tune is played with drop d tuned and heavily distorted guitars.
There are many variations of power chords with slides in between and muted rhythmic parts.
This one is a great song to get familiar with the Drop D tuned power chords.
Monkey Wrench Guitar Tabs
With its amazing guitar riffs, Newborn is one of the greatest tunes of the English rock band Muse.
The fast-paced riff is constantly apparent during the tune and is played with the low D string.
The song was released in 2001 and is one of the well-known pieces of the band.
The song is played mainly with single-note guitar riffs.
There are many techniques in play like arpeggios, tapping, legatos, whammy bar usage.
It is an easy and very entertaining piece to learn and play.
Especially great for beginners to get familiar with different techniques.
Newborn Guitar Tabs
Thrash metal giants Metallica’s single from their ninth album All Nightmare Long is one of the unique tunes by the band as they do not often compose with drop D tuning.
It was released in 2008, and the lyrics were inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos.
The rhythm guitar parts of the tune, which are played by James Hetfield, mainly consist of two-note power chords.
The lead guitar parts are more challenging with two intermediate-level solos and riffs with tremolo picking.
All Nightmare Long Guitar Tabs
If you like pop-rock tunes, you might want to check out my article
Top 50 Famous&Easy Pop Songs For Guitar – Tabs Included
Initially composed by Gladys Knight & the Pips, I Heard It Through The Grapevine is the famous soul piece that got its fame with the Marvin Gaye version in 1968.
However, the Creedence Clearwater Revival version, released in 1970, is played with drop D tuning and is quite different from the original version.
The chords and the main riff of the tune are quite basic and beginner-friendly.
The power chords are played by one guitar while the other one plays the open chords.
You can play this tune with a friend, too.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine Guitar Tabs
Released in 1992, Them Bones is one of the signature tunes of the American rock band Alice In Chains.
Most of the song is in 7/8 time signature except the chorus giving the song an oriental and unique vibe.
The song was also covered by some European metal bands, giving it a heavier tone.
The rhythm guitar parts of the song are quite straightforward, with power chords and palm muted riffs.
The lead guitar sections are quite hard but are great for experienced players.
You should add distortion and phaser to your tone when you play this one.
Them Bones Guitar Tabs
Composed by Chris Cornell, the famous vocalist and the leader of many bands, including Soundgarden, Spoonman are the song that gave him and the Soundgarden mainstream fame and success.
It was released in 1994, and the song peaked in the top 3 on many charts.
The song’s main riff comprises power chords in different positions on the fretboard from the 12th fret to open power chords.
You will have to use slides and mutes to play the song, which is great to practice these techniques.
Spoonman Guitar Tabs
If you are a metal fan and looking for more metal riffs to learn, this list might just be for you
Top 60 Famous Easy & Intermediate Metal Riffs Ever – Tabs Included
Released in 1006, with the album 10,000 Days, The Pot is the first chart-topping single of the progressive rock band The Tool.
It is an excellent song with amazing guitar riffs and deep lyrics on hypocrisy.
The song has many different partitions, which are mainly played with an open low D string and melody notes on the higher strings.
You should add plenty of overdrive to your tone to play this piece.
The Pot Guitar Tabs
Joker And The Thief is one of the most famous songs of the Australian rock band Wolfmother.
The song got very famous and was used in many different video games and movies.
The name of the song was inspired by the iconic tune All Along The Watchtower.
The song has a nice main riff with legato on the G and high D string.
The rest of the song is played with power chords on higher frets.
It is an easy yet fun-to-play piece, a great one to start for beginners.
Joker And The Thief Guitar Tabs
Ten Years Gone is one of the most amazing tunes of the great rock band Led Zeppelin.
It was released in the 1975 album Physical Graffiti.
The song has a hypnotic main riff with multiple riffs on top of each other.
The song is played mainly with open chord arpeggios and power chords with the guitar tuned to the drop D tuning.
The solo with double stops on higher strings is also great for beginners.
If you want to learn some acoustic guitar songs to add to your repertoire, do not forget to take a look at my article
Top 50 Most Beautiful Acoustic Guitar Songs – Tabs Included
Ten Years Gone Guitar Tabs
Released in 2001, Schism is one of the most commercially successful tunes of the progressive rock band Tool.
The band won a Grammy with their album Lateralus in which Schism was the lead single.
The song is well-known for its rhythm and time signature changes.
The song has many parts and different guitar riffs, including power chord parts, single-note melody parts, and interlude licks.
All of the sectors are straightforward, yet you need to be careful with the rhythm and time signatures.
Schism Guitar Tabs
Ruin is one of the famous songs of the death metal band Lamb Of God. Like most of their songs, Ruin has aggressive and heavy-sounding guitars that are in drop D tuning.
Most of the song is played through power chords and high-tempo riffs on the low D string.
You should crank up the distortion and attack the strings strongly to play this tune.
If you want to experiment with heavier sounding tunes in the drop d tuning, this one is ideal for it.
Ruin Guitar Tabs
Another song by Soundgarden, written by Chris Cornell in the list, is Outshined, which was released in 1991.
It is the first song of the band that appeared on the U.S. charts, which became the beginning of the fame of the band and Chris Cornell.
To play this tune, you will need two-note power chords along with a drop D tuned guitar.
The song also offers great melodic partitions for guitar.
Outshined Guitar Tabs
Another great Led Zeppelin tune that is played with Drop D tuning is Moby Dick from the Led Zeppelin II album, which was released in 1969.
The song is an instrumental song with great guitar riffs and solos as well as drum solos.
The song was inspired by a jam session by Jimmy Page and John Bonham that happened in the studio.
The song is played with easy yet entertaining guitar riffs and basic licks.
From bends to legatos, there are many great techniques in the song to use for beginners.
It is an old-school song with great electric guitar techniques and licks.
Moby Dick Guitar Tabs
Dear Prudence is a great The Beatles tune played with an acoustic guitar with the finger-picking technique.
It was released with the band’s ninth studio album, the White Album.
This song is directed to Prudence Farrow, John and George’s meditation partner, during their time in Rishikesh.
The song has many arpeggios in a slow tempo—a great song to practice acoustic guitar finger-picking technique.
If you struggle with the arpeggios, you can also try to strum them to make things easier.
Dear Prudence Guitar Tabs
Released in 1003, Meant To Live is the most famous song of the American alternative rock band Switchfoot.
The song was loved by alternative rock fans and charted in the 18th position on U.S. lists.
With many power chords, mutes, and single note riffs, it is an entertaining and easy song to play.
There are clean parts as well as overdriven parts in the song, so it is better to play this one with a guitar pedal or a footswitch.
Meant to Live Guitar Tabs
Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr is the heavy metal band Trivium’s song from their 2005 album Ascendancy.
The tune is considered as one of the decade’s biggest metal anthems and is loved by metal fans, thanks to the great guitar riffs and amazing lyrics of the song.
The song is recorded with drop D tuned guitars which are enriched with plenty of distortion.
The main riff features power chord licks that are repeated many times.
The lead guitar follows the power chord riffs but with higher frets creating a great contrast with the rhythm guitar.
Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr Guitar Tabs
Canadian rock band Nickelback has only some songs that rocked the charts and are loved by the fans.
Animals are one of those great songs with its great lyrics and fantastic guitar partitions.
The song topped the U.S. mainstream rock charts and Canadian rock lists.
Animals are played with heavily distorted guitars tuned to drop D.
The riffs of the song are old-school power chords with slides in between.
Whenever you play an open power chord, you should let it ring, releasing the notes to vibrate.
Also, be careful with the muted chords, as they are the main ingredients driving the rhythm forward.
Animals Guitar Tabs
The last song of the American Idiot album, released in 2004, of the American punk-rock band Green Day is Whatsername.
It is a lesser-known tune of the album as American Idiot was a huge hit, leaving the other songs in the album in the shadows.
The song talks about following your beliefs and ethics.
Besides the classic high-tempo power chords of the punk genre, the song also features nice interludes with great guitar riffs.
You should add slight overdrive to your tone to play this one.
It is one of the easiest tunes to play on the list but one of the most entertaining ones as most of the punk tunes.
Whatsername Guitar Tabs
The Best Thing That Never Happened by the punk-rock band We Are The In Crowd is a lovely punk tune from the year 2014.
It is a high-tempo song with great punk characteristics, making it an entertaining tune to play with your band or alone.
As punk songs have been rare in the last decade, this one is an exception.
You will need to tune your guitar to Drop D tuning to play this piece, which is the most challenging part of the process.
The rest is straightforward, with power chords and fun-to-play rhythmic mutes in between.
It is a great song to learn and play for beginner guitarists.
The Best Thing That Never Happened Guitar Tabs
Released in 2009 in The Resistance album, Unnatural Selection is one of the lesser-known gem pieces of the English rock band Muse.
The song starts with a great church organ riff, giving way to a fast, heavy guitar riff backed up by steady drumming later.
There are many tempo changes in the song, making it more interesting.
As in many of the Muse tunes, the main riff is played on the lower strings and the lower D string in this case.
The bridge section features easy-to-play single note melodies for beginners, while the chorus has power chords.
Unnatural Selection Guitar Tabs
Originally composed and released by Lindsey Buckingham in 1977, Never Going Back Again is a great folk-rock song that is covered by many different bands.
The original version by Fleetwood Mac is the most known one, and the song represents Lindsey Buckingham’s feelings after his breakup with the singer of the band Stevie Nicks.
The song is played with arpeggios by drop D tuned acoustic guitars.
The arpeggio pattern might be challenging on the first try, but with time and practice, you can get the hang of it.
Never Going Back Again Guitar Tabs
One of the most known folk songs of the U.S.A. is definitely You Are My Sunshine.
The song was recorded and performed by many different artists, from Johnny Cash to Chris Stapleton.
The Chris Stapleton version features a drop d tuned guitar playing only 3 chords which are great for beginner guitarists to get familiar with drop d tuned chord shapes and sounds.
You can either use the finger-picking technique to arpeggiate the chords, or you can deploy a basic strum pattern.
The chords you will need are D, G, and A, but the shapes get more challenging when the low E is tuned to D.
You are My Sunshine Guitar Tabs
Released in June 1989, Negative Creep is the seventh song of the debut album Bleach of Nirvana.
It is the only song in the album that finishes with an extended fade-out giving it a 1960’s psychedelic vibe.
The song is a perfect example of the Seattle grunge sound, which defined the genre.
To play this song, you’ll need to tune your guitar to Drop D tuning.
For the rest, it is mostly two notes power chords with slides.
The song is a great example of Nirvana-style riffs and solos with overdriven guitars, basic licks, and aggressive power chords.
Negative Creep Guitar Tabs
The progressive metal giant, Dream Theater, loves concept albums, and their Scenes From A Memory album, released in 1999, is no different.
The album tells a story of a man going through hypnotherapy to analyze his dreams.
The sixth scene of the story is told with the song Home, which offers amazing guitar riffs in drop d tuning, both for beginners and experienced guitarists.
From power chords to great single-note riffs, from distorted heavy parts to cleaner smooth partitions, there is everything in this song.
So be prepared for a long but ultimately entertaining journey of mastering this tune.
Try to learn all the parts separately before playing them all together.
Home Guitar Tabs
If Eternity Should Fail is one of the recent tunes of the English heavy metal legends Iron Maiden.
The song was released in 2015 with the The Book Of Soul album and is one of the most-loved tunes of the album.
It is one of the rare songs that Iron Maiden preferred to drop D tuning, but the song’s tone, structure, and progression are pretty similar to the traditional Iron Maiden style.
This means you will play many power chords, mutes, single note riffs, as well as high tempo shredding solos.
Focus on the rhythmic aspect of the tune to play it properly.
If Eternity Should Fail Guitar Tabs
Groove metal band Lamb Of God’s Omerta, is one of the heaviest-sounding tunes on the list.
Metal bands love drop D tuning as it sounds darker and heavier compared to the standard tuning.
The song Omerta was released in 2004 for the movie Killadelphia.
It features great guitar riffs and partitions for metal lovers.
You will need to train your picking hand to play this tune as there is a fast guitar riff that uses an open Drop D string with triplets.
As a metal technique, the string is muted with open notes in between.
The rest of the song is quite straightforward with standard power chords.
Omerta Guitar Tabs
Fat Bottomed Girls is the famous Queen tune featured on their seventh album, Jazz.
Guitarist Brian May composed most of this song, and it is one of the few ones where he used a drop D tuning.
This song was released as a double single, along with Bicycle Race which are both milestones in Queen’s history.
The song begins with an acapella chorus like Bohemian Rhapsody.
The rest shows an easy song to play with basic chords and a basic rhythm.
There are easy guitar riffs played on the low D string between the chords, which are great for beginner guitarists.
Fat Bottomed Girl Guitar Tabs
Released in 1993, On A Plain is one of the hidden gems of the Nevermind album by the grunge founders Nirvana.
The song was composed by Kurt Cobain but evolved further with the help of the drummer Dave Grohl.
Cobain thought the tune would be instrumental and recorded it like that on the first try, but the band changed and re-recorded the tune later with the Nevermind album.
The entire song is played with power chords and a basic rhythm.
The guitars are tuned to drop D with a bit of overdrive added.
In the bridge section, the power chords are arpeggiated, while in the rest of the song, they are strummed.
On A Plain Guitar Tabs
The Great American Nightmare – Rob Zombie
The Great American Nightmare – Rob Zombie
The Great American Nightmare is a song by Rob Zombie, featured on his Private Parts album released in 1997.
It is composed for the movie and is the second soundtrack of the album.
It is a great song that has Howard Stern as the guest artist.
The song has many significant parts for novice guitarists who want to explore the drop d tuning.
There are many different parts in the song, including power chords, single-note scale walks, arpeggios, palm muted chords, open fretboard chord slides.
It is a fun and easy song to learn and play, especially for beginner players.
The Great American Nightmare Guitar Tabs
The 1998 song Demon Of The Fall by the metal band Opeth is yet another great song that offers many excellent drop D tuned guitar partitions.
The song is quite long with a heavy-sounding tone.
It was one of the highlights of the My Arms Your Hearse album and is one of the fan-favorite songs of the band.
Demon of the Fall features 13 different guitar riffs, which are all easy-to-play and educative as well as entertaining.
The song has many different guitar techniques like bends, hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, mutes, and different rhythmic patterns to push the limits of beginner guitarists.
It is an excellent song to master to progress with your technique.
Demon of the Fall Guitar Tabs
Drop D tuning is one of the most used alternative tunings in the music world.
It is easy to achieve as you only need to tune the low E string to a D.
This way, power chords get much easier to play while you have a relatively heavier and darker tone.
It is mainly used in rock and metal tunes, but you can see many songs from many different genres using the Drop D tuning.
In order to be a whole-guitarist, you need to master different tunings, and Drop D is the perfect place to start.
Just grab your guitar, tune your low E string down and start playing these tremendous and famous tunes to get familiar with this new world of sounds.
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