How to Tune to DADAAD
DADAAD strips open D down to just its root and fifth (D and A), producing a stark, powerful open-5 drone with no third. That ambiguity makes it excellent for slide and bottleneck playing where you supply the major or minor colour with the slide.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| String 6 | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| String 5 | A2 | 110.00 Hz |
| String 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| String 3 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| String 2 | A3 | 220.00 Hz |
| String 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
String Tension & Setup Tips
Recommended Gauge:The low E drops to D, the G to A, the B stays/tunes to A and the high E to D. Tension stays near standard; a light-to-medium set with a slightly heavier low string works well for slide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tune to DADAAD?
From standard tuning (EADGBE), retune each string low to high: 6th E→D, 5th A (unchanged), 4th D (unchanged), 3rd G→A, 2nd B→A, 1st E→D. Match each string to its exact Hz using the interactive tuner above.
Why use DADAAD for slide?
Because it contains only D and A (no third), open strings sound a neutral power chord. You can then move a slide to any fret and choose major or minor voicings, which makes it a favourite bottleneck tuning.