What is Drop D tuning?
Drop D lowers only your sixth string from E down a whole step to D, so the tuning reads D A D G B E. It makes power chords on the bottom three strings playable with one finger and gives you a deeper, heavier low end, which is why it shows up so often in rock and metal.
What is an open tuning?
An open tuning is set so that strumming the open strings sounds a full chord. Open G is D G D G B D, which rings out as a G major chord, and Open D is D A D F sharp A D for a D major chord. Open tunings are a favourite for slide guitar and big, droning acoustic sounds.
What is DADGAD?
DADGAD lowers the sixth, second, and first strings from standard to give you D A D G A D. The open strings form a D suspended chord that sounds neither major nor minor, which makes it endlessly flexible. It is loved in Celtic, folk, and fingerstyle playing.
Will alternate tunings hurt my guitar or strings?
Standard drops and open tunings are safe for almost any guitar. Tuning a string up well beyond pitch adds tension and can risk breakage, so when you tune up, go slowly and stop if a string feels tight. Heavier gauge strings help if you spend a lot of time in low tunings.
