Drop D or E standard for guitar theory?

[Christian Pettersen]

Hey hey!
So i have recently gotten into guitar theory, like learning the names of the different notes on the frets, scales, chords etc. Usually i play in Drop D and i have a Floyd rose floating bridge so tuning up and down can be a bit of a hassle(fucking annoying). So what should i learn guitar theory in, E standard or Drop D.

 

[Ed Seith]

Theory is theory, regardless of the tuning, but it does change shapes you use on the guitar. Papa’s theory lessons are all in standard tuning, so you’d have to adapt. It might be a little harder that way, at first, but if Drop D is your preferred tuning, it’s probably better to do the adaptation up front. That’s just an opinion, though. YMMV.

 

[Noah Berends]

It’s not too hard to learn the fretboard in Drop D, it’s only one string to compensate for. Just remember to shift the notes on that string down by two frets when going back to E standard.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I play D standard, so everything I do is two frets higher on the guitar then the videos. You’d just have to adapt that to the low string if you played drop D.

 

[Jak Angelescu]

I think it’s important to learn in E standard tuning for theory first. You miss out on important aspects like how the CAGED system actually works. Not to mention it’ll be impossible to transcribe that concept to drop D tuning. The CAGED system comes in massive handy for finding positions you can solo with and over which chords. I think drop tuning is an added effect and shouldn’t be the basis of how you actually learn the guitar. Hate to tell ya man, but you better get over the “it’s a bitch to tune” thing because eventually it’ll get to a point where it’ll have to be tuned by unlocking it and using the key. It’s a part of having a Floyd Rose. You can do what you want, but ultimately you’re losing out on learning a lot of cool stuff like open chords and single barres. You’re also going to have a really hard time in a jamming situation if the other guitarist is playing in standard tuning with chords and you don’t know what chords they are. You will have no idea what to play

 

[idssdi]

Theory is theory so it’s not really that important how your guitar is tuned. But if you usually play in drop d make sure you can find stuff in drop drop first and after that do standard

 

[Christian Pettersen]

Thanks for the replies, i really appreciate it
From now on i will play and learn theory stuff in E standard.. for now
thanks again )

 

[Alan Celis]

well theory in drop D you can just play the same notes as you do on the other D string, but maybe thats just me hahaha, i already took the drop D lifestyle since i also have a floyd rose as my main guitar(the only one i put new strings on hahaha)
Having it tuned in drop D can give you advantages and disadvantages
+you can play a low D and Eb chord while in E standard you cant
-some riffs originally written in standard are harder to play while in drop tuning

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I’ve been playing D standard for a few years … its easier to adapt to if you were gonna do it honestly. I only use drop C for certain songs mainly for the breakdowns.