How to Tune to Ostrich Tuning (DDDDDD)

Lou Reed's radical 'ostrich' tuning tunes every string to the same note (here all D, across octaves) so the whole guitar becomes a single droning pitch. Strumming produces a hypnotic, sitar-like unison drone with no chords at all — a one-note wall of sound Reed used in The Velvet Underground to create their trance-inducing, avant-garde texture.

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 5 of 6 strings:

String	Standard	Target	What to do
String 6	E2	D2	Tune down a whole step
String 5	A2	D3	Tune up 5 semitones
String 4	D3	D3	Leave as is
String 3	G3	D3	Tune down 5 semitones
String 2	B3	D4	Tune up 3 semitones
String 1	E4	D4	Tune down a whole step

Printable Ostrich Tuning (DDDDDD) chart (PNG / PDF)

Fun Fact

Lou Reed named it after his pre-Velvets novelty single "The Ostrich" (1964), which he recorded with all strings tuned to one note. He later brought the idea into The Velvet Underground, where the relentless single-note drone underpins songs like "Venus in Furs" and influenced decades of drone and noise rock.

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:Because several strings are tuned to unusual pitches for their position, string choice matters: keep the low D on a heavy string and the high D strings light. Many players tune all strings to D or E across octaves — experiment to avoid breakage on the higher strings.

Gear for Ostrich Tuning (DDDDDD)

Tools that make tuning to D - D - D - D - D - D easier.

D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 5 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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Ostrich Tuning (DDDDDD)Intermediate

Venus in Furs

by The Velvet Underground

D - D - D - D - D - DNo Capo

Song Details

Ostrich Tuning (DDDDDD)Beginner

The Ostrich

by Lou Reed

D - D - D - D - D - DNo Capo

Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ostrich tuning?

Ostrich tuning tunes every string to the same note (in different octaves) so the guitar plays a single droning pitch. Lou Reed popularized it — strumming gives a hypnotic unison drone rather than a chord.

How do I set up ostrich tuning?

Tune all six strings to the same note across octaves — for example all D: D2, D3, D3, D3, D4, D4. Use the tuner above and go slowly, since some strings sit at unusual tensions for their position.

What songs use ostrich tuning?

Lou Reed used it on the 1964 single "The Ostrich" and brought the drone concept into The Velvet Underground on tracks like "Venus in Furs," influencing drone, noise and psych-rock.

What are the frequencies for ostrich D tuning?

One common setup: D2 = 73.42 Hz, D3 = 146.83 Hz, D3 = 146.83 Hz, D3 = 146.83 Hz, D4 = 293.66 Hz, D4 = 293.66 Hz. Any single-note layout works — the point is that every string sounds the same pitch class.

Ostrich Tuning (DDDDDD) Guitar Tuner