Intro To Riff Writing in Dropped D Tuning (Part 1)

Utilizing the advantages of Dropped D tuning is a great way to get into writing hard rock/metal riffs.

If you're not already aware, dropped D tuning is achieved by dropping the 6th string of a guitar in standard tuning down a whole step to D.  Here are some ways you can achieve this:

• Method #1 (Easiest):  Use an electronic tuner to tune the 6th string to D.
• Method #2:  With the guitar tuned to standard pitch, play the 7th fret on the 6th string followed by the open 5th string (A).  Tune the 6th string down until the note on the 7th fret sounds identical to the open 5th string.
• Method #3:  With the guitar tuned to standard pitch, play the 12th fret harmonic on the 6th string followed by the open 4th string (D).  Tune the 6th string down until the harmonic on the 12th fret sounds identical to the open 4th string.

Power Chords
One of the main benefits of Dropped D tuning is that it allows you to play power chords with a single finger barred across the bottom 2 or 3 strings.  Barring across the bottom 2 strings gives us a root and a 5th.  If we extend this to the 4th string (D), we get an additional root up 1 octave (as a result of the 6th and the 4th string both being tuned to D).  Below is a visual demonstrating why our power chords change shape as a result of this tuning.

Applications of Dropped D Power Chords
The Minor Scale
First, we are going to take a look at the minor scale.  This scale is very commonly used in this style because of its dark, melancholic sound.  The formula for building a minor scale is as follows:

Let's apply the formula from above to create a D Minor scale along the 6th string (D).

This alone is enough to write some great single note riffs.  I encourage you to spend some time playing with this scale and seeing what ideas come out.  Be sure to include the stylistic elements from music you might have worked on up to this point such as syncopated rhythms, palm muting, pinch harmonics, etc.

Harmonizing The Minor Scale with Power Chords
Our next step will be to find out where we can play power chords within the context of the minor scale.  Here are two methods for figuring this out:

• Method #1:  Play the D Minor scale we laid out previously as power chords.  Then check to make sure that each note of the power chord fits into the key.
• Method #2:  If you have some experience with music theory, look at the notes of the D minor scale and place a perfect 5th above each of them.  Then look for any notes that are not in the key.

Whichever method you choose, you'll find that technically, a power chord on the 2nd degree of a minor scale (E in this case) does not fit in the key.  That being said, stylistically in hard rock/metal, we can often get away with playing a power chord here.  However, I think it's important to know that technically it isn't in the key.  You'll need to use your own discretion to decide if it sounds appropriate for the part/song you're writing.  Here is what the available power chords in the key of D minor look like:

​​Here are a couple of examples of some Dropped D power chord riffs:

Notice how these riffs start or end with the D power chord on the first degree of the scale.  This is to ensure that we hear D as the root as it will cause our ears to hear the sound of the D minor scale.  You don't HAVE to do this as there are many different tonalities to explore, but for our purposes and for the purpose of getting you writing some great sounding riffs quickly, let's make this a rule for our practice for now.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson.  In the next parts, we will explore Major/Minor Triads in Dropped D tuning as well as Sus2 chords.

If you’re interested in going into topics like this more, please contact me to schedule a free 30-min Zoom lesson!
​Interested in learning or writing guitar tablature like the ones in this lesson?  Check out Guitar Pro 8: www.guitar-pro.com/#ae898