D Standard Guitar Tuner.

Transpose the whole instrument

D standard moves every string down two semitones. A standard G-major fingering sounds F major, and a C-major fingering sounds B-flat major. The familiar fourths and the G-to-B major-third exception remain as an interval pattern, even though the actual string names are now different. This makes the tuning useful when you want a lower register without relearning every shape.

The fifth string exposes a mistaken Drop D

Both layouts begin with D2. In D standard, string 5 must be G2 and string 4 C3. In Drop D they remain A2 and D3. Check these middle strings before blaming a song lesson or backing track. A correct low D cannot establish which of the two tunings you have.

Separate tuning from setup

Lowering the whole guitar reduces string tension for the same strings and scale length. A note that buzzes or changes markedly with picking force may need a different setup for regular use. Do not compensate by deliberately tuning the whole guitar sharp. Establish the correct targets, compare a light and normal attack, and decide whether the instrument is stable enough for the part.

Your string-by-string route from standard

This is a comparison of target pitches, not a recommendation to use every tuning on every guitar. Start from the tuning your instrument actually has. Use the directions and the octave labels together.

Nearby tunings, compared by their actual notes

These are the three closest six-string presets by total semitone movement from this setup. The ranking describes target changes, not playing difficulty or physical suitability. A familiar name can hide a different middle-string layout.

Try the setup with a sourced arrangement

• Nirvana · Come As You Are
• Metallica · Sad But True
• Pantera · Walk

These links refer to named parts in linked arrangements. They do not establish a universal tuning for every recording or live version.