Drop D tuning has become popular as of late. In drop D tuning the low E string is tuned down one whole step to D. This enables the guitarist to play power chords with a single finger. If your favorite band uses drop D tuning and you want to experiment with this tuning, by all means do so. What ever you do, don't learn the guitar in drop D tuning-you'll get all mixed up.

To tune your guitar to drop D tuning, first make sure your tuned to standard tuning. Then you'll want to tune your low E string down two steps to D(we drop it down one step, hence the name). See the picture below. You can use the audio clip below to tune your low E string to D for drop D tuning.

An example of the use of drop D tuning can be found in the song "Higher" by Creed.

It's a rich sounding riff because of the use of the open strings. It takes full advantage of the drop D tuning. Here it is: