Editing Drop D tuning (section)

== In rock and metal ==


Although the drop D tuning was introduced and developed by [[Classical music|classical]] guitarists and lutists such as English [[renaissance]] composer [[John Dowland]], drop D tuning is mostly known from its usage in contemporary [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and [[hard rock]] bands. One of the earliest uses of drop D tuning was by English composer [[John Dowland]] during the [[renaissance]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is Drop D tuning for acoustic guitar? – Guitar Reviewed |url=https://guitarreviewed.com/posts/fd8f319c6316b34700346aacce1829c6/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=guitarreviewed.com}}</ref> Early hard rock songs tuned in drop D include [[The Beatles]]' "[[I Want You (She's So Heavy)]]" and [[Led Zeppelin]]'s "[[Moby Dick (instrumental)|Moby Dick]]", both first released in 1969.<ref name="BenLong">{{cite web|url=http://www.123guitartuner.com/DropDTuning.php|author=Ben Long|title =Drop D Tuning |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110203418/http://www.123guitartuner.com/DropDTuning.php |archive-date=10 November 2017}}</ref> Tuning the lowest string one [[Musical tone|tone]] down, from E to D, allowed these musicians to acquire a heavier and darker sound than in [[standard tuning]]. Without needing to tune all strings (standard D tuning), they could tune just one, in order to lower the key. Drop D is also a convenient tuning, because it expands the [[Scale (music)|scale]] of an instrument by two semitones: D and D{{music|sharp}}.

In the mid 1980s, three [[alternative rock]] bands, [[King's X]], [[Soundgarden]], and [[Melvins]], influenced by [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Black Sabbath]], made extensive use of drop D tuning.<ref name="terazrock">{{cite web|url=http://www.terazrock.pl/|author=Teraz Rock|title=Soundgarden Na 12 Stronach!|date=November 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=2013-06-23|archive-date=2013-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621192543/http://www.terazrock.pl/}}</ref> While playing [[Power Chord|power chords]] (a chord that includes the prime, fifth and octave) in standard tuning requires a player to use two or three fingers, drop D tuning needs just one, similar in technique to playing [[barre chord]]s.<ref name="Ldesson">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmpGYSwN3Kk|author=MrHardguitar|title=What Is Drop D Tuning Guitar Lesson (how to Tune Guitar to Drop D Tutorial).|website=[[YouTube]] |date=13 April 2012 }}</ref> It allowed them to use different methods of articulating power chords ([[legato]] for example) and more importantly, it allowed guitarists to change chords faster. This new technique of playing power chords introduced by these early [[grunge]] bands was a great influence on many artists, such as [[Rage Against the Machine]] and [[Tool (band)|Tool]]. The same drop D tuning then became common practice among [[alternative metal]] acts such as the band [[Helmet (band)|Helmet]], who used the tuning a great deal throughout their career and would later influence many alternative metal and [[nu metal]] bands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluecricket.com/helmet/interviews/gw994.html |title=Heavy Mental - Interview |website=Blue Cricket Media |first=Brad |last=Tolinski |date=September 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguitardojo.com.au |title=Guitar Teacher guide |date=6 August 2019 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 December 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420112145/https://www.theguitardojo.com.au/ }}</ref>

Nu metal bands including [[Deftones]] and [[Slipknot (band)|Slipknot]] went one step further and decided to tune "drop" tuning even lower. By lowering the 6th string one whole step in lowered tunings they created a heavier and grittier sound. Lower tunings such as Drop D{{music|flat}}, used prior by groups such as [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] and [[Alice In Chains]], [[Drop C tuning|Drop C]], [[Drop B tuning|Drop B]], Drop B{{music|flat}}, and [[Dropped A tuning|Drop A]] were utilized. These tunings are very popular among [[Alternative metal]], [[metalcore]] and [[deathcore]] acts like [[Trivium (band)|Trivium]], [[Emmure]], [[Breaking Benjamin]], [[August Burns Red]], and [[Suicide Silence]], where fast chord changes are an essential part of the sound. [[Progressive metal]] acts such as [[Pain of Salvation]], [[Opeth]], [[Fates Warning]], and [[Dream Theater]] use these tunings in some of their E-tuned songs.