How to Play a Power Chords in Drop D

Last Updated: June 1, 2021

Are you playing regular power chords on a drop-D tuned guitar? Does it sound wrong? If your guitar is in standard tuning, it should sound wrong because your 6th string is in E instead of D. Here are the steps on how you should play power chords when you're using a drop-D tuned guitar.

Steps

1
Tune your guitar to drop D. Tune the sixth string of your guitar from E to D. You can do this by either using your ears or using a guitar tuner.
2
Play the regular power chord you do in standard tuning. For you to understand their difference, you need to try this first. Lets try it with the G power chord.
- Put your index finger on the 6th string (D, formerly E string) and 3rd fret.
- Then put your ring finger on the 5th string (A string) and 5th fret.
- and then finally, put your pinky finger on the 4th string (D string) and 5th fret.
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3
Move the root of the power chord two frets higher. We will now do the G power chord from the previous step, now in for drop D tuning.
- Move your index finger 2 frets higher. Your finger on the 3rd fret from the 6th string (E string) will now move to the 5th fret.
- You will notice that your fingers will look like they are forming a line. Instead of using your three fingers, use only your index finger. Place your finger flatly hitting the three notes
4
Strum. You now know how to play power chords in drop D tuning!