Explain "Double Drop D#" on a 7-String

[ian540s]

Drop tuning has typically always meant you drop the lowest string to equal a fifth interval difference to the next... Double drop is usually in a 7 or 8-string context, and means both lowest strings.
Otherwise, how would you signify the difference between 7-string A+standard V.S. A-D+standard? Double the number of strings get dropped in A-D+Standard.
Any other tuning, the only "dropped strings" refer to the strings "other than standard" in tuning.
Drop C# has the lowest string a fifth interval distance to the next string, which the rest of the set is in Eb standard, starting on the 4th interval (Ab, 5th string).

 

[CTID]

Drop tuning has typically always meant you drop the lowest string to equal a fifth interval difference to the next... Double drop is usually in a 7 or 8-string context, and means both lowest strings.
Otherwise, how would you signify the difference between 7-string A+standard V.S. A-D+standard? Double the number of strings get dropped in A-D+Standard.
Any other tuning, the only "dropped strings" refer to the strings "other than standard" in tuning.
Drop C# has the lowest string a fifth interval distance to the next string, which the rest of the set is in Eb standard, starting on the 4th interval (Ab, 5th string).

The thing is, there are actual tunings referred to as Double Dropped tunings, and it's not the same. For instance if you open up guitar pro and look through tunings:

which @JimboLodisC also pointed out here:

So to get the old definition, "double drop" usually meant dropping the low and the high strings, so previously on 6-strings it was Drop D with the high E also dropped down to D, therefore DADGBD would be Double Drop D.

But the term's just been co-opted by the downtuned guitar community to refer to dropped tunings below an octave under E standard. So Keaton from Invent Animate (afaik) plays a 7-string tuned to Drop D#, below a Bass E. I don't think there's anything unusual about that specific tuning for them, I think the terminology is the part confusing people. IA has played with some more unusual tunings, like a 7-string tuned to Drop A# for the top 6 strings with a low F and an open F tuning I think for a song or two? I could be wrong about that.

 

[Deadpool_25]

Exactly. The Guitar Master App also has "Double Dropped" tunings where it's basically just dropping the 1st string along with the 6th.



Those are all 6 string tunings but the terminology shouldn't change. It seems the metal community has co-opted the term but with a different definition. That would be fine if there was a single accepted definition within that community but it seems there may be two or three.

 

[Hollowway]

But the term's just been co-opted by the downtuned guitar community to refer to dropped tunings below an octave under E standard. So Keaton from Invent Animate (afaik) plays a 7-string tuned to Drop D#, below a Bass E. I don't think there's anything unusual about that specific tuning for them, I think the terminology is the part confusing people. IA has played with some more unusual tunings, like a 7-string tuned to Drop A# for the top 6 strings with a low F and an open F tuning I think for a song or two? I could be wrong about that.

So what is the tuning then? Eb1 Bb1 Eb2 Ab2 Db3 F3 Bb3? That would be taking a traditional 7 string in B standard, transposing it down to F1 standard, and then dropping the 7th string down to Eb (D#). That would be an octave below the D# below the E2 of a regular sixxer, so I'm assuming that's what you mean.

 

[CTID]

So what is the tuning then? Eb1 Bb1 Eb2 Ab2 Db3 F3 Bb3? That would be taking a traditional 7 string in B standard, transposing it down to F1 standard, and then dropping the 7th string down to Eb (D#). That would be an octave below the D# below the E2 of a regular sixxer, so I'm assuming that's what you mean.

that'd be my understanding, yeah. i'm open to being corrected on that, though. i just feel like i saw him mention his tuning in a reddit AMA relatively recently. i'll see if i can dig it up

eta: here's what i could find:


D#. Thanks buddy

Here's the link to the AMA for anyone interested

 

[StevenC]

So you're saying he tunes to 7 string drop D#?

Seems like this is the exact tuning Drop Z refers to, and that was unambiguous.

 

[Hollowway]

So you're saying he tunes to 7 string drop D#?

Seems like this is the exact tuning Drop Z refers to, and that was unambiguous.

It is low, but it’s a full step higher than a 9 string in standard. It’s really only the lowest string that is dicey at 27”. That said, I cannot imagine that D# intimates beyond the first few frets.

 

[CTID]

So you're saying he tunes to 7 string drop D#?

Seems like this is the exact tuning Drop Z refers to, and that was unambiguous.

yeah, and it seems like they also use a pitch shifter from time to time. on greyview iirc they just played in Drop A and would pitch shift down for the low E whenever necessary. it sounds like the end of Emberglow on Heavener he pitches down another octave to E0? but i could be mishearing that. they're kind of all over the place lol

 

[Deadpool_25]

I reached out to Keyan from the video I posted (dude is a awesome; check out his channel/content). He got back to me and said:

"Hey dude! It’s basically normal 6 string drop D but 11 semitones lower. If you were to be in Drop A on a 7 string, yes it would be 6 semitones lower."

So at least that seems to be answered for Invent Animate's setup.

 

[StevenC]

I reached out to Keyan from the video I posted (dude is a awesome; check out his channel/content). He got back to me and said:

"Hey dude! It’s basically normal 6 string drop D but 11 semitones lower. If you were to be in Drop A on a 7 string, yes it would be 6 semitones lower."

So at least that seems to be answered for Invent Animate's setup.

The best part of all of this is that those are two different tunings he's described.

 

[Deadpool_25]

The best part of all of this is that those are two different tunings he's described.

Don't be so pedantic lol. He's just saying it's "Drop D#." D# is 11 semitones below D and 6 semitones below A. You damn literalists

 

[jaxadam]

The only thing I know about double D’s is… well… I don’t know…

 

[Hollowway]

So for clarity, we guitarists SHOULD start calling this Drop D#1.

But we won't, cuz we don't wanna!

 

[StevenC]

So for clarity, we guitarists SHOULD start calling this Drop D#1.

But we won't, cuz we don't wanna!

No no no, because that only tells us the tuning of the lowest string and it's relation to the next string. We need to know where the major 3rd is, so this is 7 string Drop D#1.

 

[Hollowway]

No no no, because that only tells us the tuning of the lowest string and it's relation to the next string. We need to know where the major 3rd is, so this is 7 string Drop D#1.

Oh, shoot, good point!

But we're prolly not gonna all do that, either.

But good point about that major third.

 

[StevenC]

Oh, shoot, good point!

But we're prolly not gonna all do that, either.

But good point about that major third.

As long as we can all agree "double drop" is the stupidest possible name for this.

 

[Deadpool_25]

As long as we can all agree "double drop" is the stupidest possible name for this.

Agreed

 

[Doc Plus]

I think we all agree that Drop E is EBEADGBE.
The tech from Sleep Token (just as an example) used "Double Drop E" For EAEADGBE.
B is dropped to A, F# is dropped to E ... 2 drops = double drop. I like that because it makes sense.
I would not call drop E, double Drop E. So why it's so complicated from D# and below ?

 

[StevenC]

I think we all agree that Drop E is EBEADGBE.
The tech from Sleep Token (just as an example) used "Double Drop E" For EAEADGBE.
B is dropped to A, F# is dropped to E ... 2 drops = double drop. I like that because it makes sense.
I would not call drop E, double Drop E. So why it's so complicated from D# and below ?

That's also a confusing name because only one string is dropped to E. At some point you just have to accept that the point of these names is to communicate information and they are failing, so why not just say "Oh it's drop A with a low E on the 8th"?

Once you start putting irregular intervals in there it doesn't make sense to have a standard name anymore. Like take CAFO tuning for example, which is BDADGBE. It's easier to describe that as drop D but the 7th is still B, or B standard but the E is drop tuned.

As to what a "double drop" tuning could be in the parlance of ERGs, let's be honest, drop tunings are about easy power chords. So logically a double drop tuning would be one where you can do drop tuning riffs on two pairs of strings. For example, GDADGBE makes sense to describe as double drop.

 

[keyanhoushmand]

Don't be so pedantic lol. He's just saying it's "Drop D#." D# is 11 semitones below D and 6 semitones below A. You damn literalists

I am a fucking moron that doesn't know music theory. This is what I meant:

If you had a 7 String in Standard B, which you then dropped the top string to A, and then detuned the entire guitar -6 semitones from that point. THAT is what Invent Animate and a lot of other bands view as Drop D#. Northlane use a similar tuning in certain songs, although they dorp the 6th string as well so it's basically a dropped 6 string in Drop G# with a low D#

Yes, I just made an account to address this