My Chord Finder
Guitar · D G C F A D
D standard tuning
D standard tuning lowers all six strings by one whole step: D G C F A D from low to high. It is also called whole step down tuning, full step down or D tuning. Tap a string to hear its target note, tune with your microphone, then check what your chord shapes now sound like. A4 = 440 Hz.
Tap a string to hear it · Hz
ListeningString 6 to string 1, low to high
- From standard: every string down 2 semitones, one whole step (E→D, A→G, D→C, G→F, B→A, E→D).
- Also written: D G C F A D, also called whole step down, full step down or D tuning.
- Drop D is different: it is D A D G B E, and only string 6 matches.
Mic stays on your device. On only after you press the button; nothing is recorded or uploaded.
Chord shapes
What your chord shapes sound like
Keep your usual fingering. With every string two semitones lower, each shape sounds a whole step below its name: an E shape sounds D, an A shape sounds G, a D shape sounds C.
D standard chord shapes
E shape → D 0 2 2 1 0 0
D standard · D2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4
| String | Fret | Standard | D standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | E2 | D2 |
| 5 | 2 | B2 | A2 |
| 4 | 2 | E3 | D3 |
| 3 | 1 | Ab3 | Gb3 |
| 2 | 0 | B3 | A3 |
| 1 | 0 | E4 | D4 |
What is checked: each fret is applied to D2–G2–C3–F3–A3–D4 and the pitches must match the sounding chord. Notes are written with flats, so Gb is the same pitch as F# and Ab is the same as G#. The shape is the first voicing the main chord finder suggests in standard tuning.
Common open shapes, renamed
| Shape you play | Fret code (6→1) | Chord you hear | Notes now |
|---|---|---|---|
| X 3 2 0 1 0 | Bb | Bb2 D3 F3 Bb3 D4 | |
| X X 0 2 3 2 | C | C3 G3 C4 E4 | |
| 0 2 2 1 0 0 | D | D2 A2 D3 Gb3 A3 D4 | |
| 1 3 3 2 1 1 | Eb | Eb2 Bb2 Eb3 G3 Bb3 Eb4 | |
| 3 2 0 0 0 3 | F | F2 A2 C3 F3 A3 F4 | |
| X 0 2 2 2 0 | G | G2 D3 G3 B3 D4 | |
| X 0 2 2 1 0 | Gm | G2 D3 G3 Bb3 D4 | |
| X X 0 2 3 1 | Cm | C3 G3 C4 Eb4 | |
| 0 2 2 0 0 0 | Dm | D2 A2 D3 F3 A3 D4 | |
| X 3 2 3 1 0 | Bb7 | Bb2 D3 Ab3 Bb3 D4 | |
| X X 0 2 1 2 | C7 | C3 G3 Bb3 E4 | |
| 0 2 0 1 0 0 | D7 | D2 A2 C3 Gb3 A3 D4 | |
| 3 2 0 0 0 1 | F7 | F2 A2 C3 F3 A3 Eb4 | |
| X 0 2 0 2 0 | G7 | G2 D3 F3 B3 D4 |
All twelve names
| Name on the chart | Sounds as | Name on the chart | Sounds as |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Bb | F# | E |
| Db | B | G | F |
| D | C | Ab | Gb |
| Eb | Db | A | G |
| E | D | Bb | Ab |
| F | Eb | B | A |
Tuning
Tune a guitar to D standard (whole step down)
Lower each string by two semitones, one whole step, until the tuner shows the target note. Check the whole set again after a few minutes: the new tension makes the strings settle.
| String | Standard | D standard | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | E2 | D2 | down 2 |
| 5 | A2 | G2 | down 2 |
| 4 | D3 | C3 | down 2 |
| 3 | G3 | F3 | down 2 |
| 2 | B3 | A3 | down 2 |
| 1 | E4 | D4 | down 2 |
Don't mix them up
D standard vs Drop D vs Drop C vs C standard
D standard, whole step down tuning and D G C F A D are one tuning. It keeps the interval pattern of standard tuning, so every shape you know moves with it. Drop D, Drop C and C standard are different tunings with similar names.
| Tuning | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | In short |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | E2 | A2 | D3 | G3 | B3 | E4 | the starting point |
| D standard | D2 | G2 | C3 | F3 | A3 | D4 | this page: every string down 2 from standard |
| Drop D | D2 | A2 | D3 | G3 | B3 | E4 | string 6 down 2 from standard, strings 5 to 1 match standard |
| Drop C | C2 | G2 | C3 | F3 | A3 | D4 | D standard with string 6 down 2 more |
| C standard | C2 | F2 | Bb2 | Eb3 | G3 | C4 | every string down 4 from standard |
D standard tuning questions
Is whole step down tuning the same as D standard?
Yes. Whole step down, full step down, D tuning and D standard are one tuning: D2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4 from string 6 to string 1.
Do I need new chord shapes?
No. Keep your usual fingering; every chord sounds two semitones lower than its name, so an E shape sounds D and an A shape sounds G. If a chart names the chords you should hear, such as D, play the E shape.
Is D standard the same as Drop D?
No. Drop D (D A D G B E) lowers only string 6 by a whole step; the other five strings stay as in standard tuning. Only string 6 matches D standard. See Drop D chords.
What is the difference between D standard and Drop C?
Drop C (C G C F A D) is D standard with string 6 lowered one more whole step. Strings 5 to 1 are the same notes. See Drop C tuning.
How do I play along with a song in standard tuning?
Put a capo on fret 2. Every string then sounds its standard pitch, E A D G B E, so standard chord names and shapes line up again. The capo transpose chart shows the same idea for other frets.
Why do guitarists tune to D standard?
A lower, heavier sound, and a melody can sit lower in a singer's range. The strings are looser than in standard tuning, so many players use slightly heavier strings and have the guitar set up again.
More tunings: Drop D chords, Drop C tuning, C standard tuning and half step down tuning.
Also read DADGAD chords.