Direct answer: why the other strings move
Drop D targets are D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4. Only the sixth string should leave standard pitch, but on a fully floating tremolo that is still not a one-string job.
A floating bridge balances string pull against spring pull. Drop the low E a whole step and total string tension falls. The springs pull relatively harder, the bridge settles somewhere new, and the other strings change pitch even though you never touched their pegs. The direction is not fixed: springs, claw, gauge, locking nut, and float amount all change the result, so measure what your guitar does.
That also means ordinary peg retuning alone does not guarantee the bridge returns to its original angle. Check all six pitches and the resting bridge position.
For Drop D notes once the guitar is stable, see Drop D Tuning.
Floating vs decked/dive-only vs hardtail
Setup | After dropping only the low E | Safe next step |
|---|---|---|
Fully floating | Bridge rebalances; other strings and angle commonly shift | Recheck all six; verify the bridge rest |
Decked / dive-only | Travel limited one way; side effects often smaller, not zero | Still recheck all six; not a hardtail |
Hardtail | No floating pivot; other strings usually hold if hardware is stable | Set low E to D2, then spot-check the other five |
Decked and dive-only systems are still tremolos, not automatically a factory non-floating EVH D-Tuna setup. Name the arrangement you actually have before copying advice meant for other guitars.
Diagnostic steps
- Confirm targets: sixth D2; others A2 D3 G3 B3 E4.
- Lower only the sixth string toward D2, using a tuner on D2. The sixth-string target is one octave below the fourth-string D3 — do not tune the sixth string up to D3 to match the open fourth (Drop D guide).
- Check the bridge before chasing one wandering string — note lift, dive, or twist versus rest.
- Retune all six. On a float, one pass is rarely enough.
- Finish each string from below (tune up into pitch) so slack is not left in the post or gears (stability checklist).
- Play briefly, then run a second full pass.
- Fill the blank record below.
If the bridge looks stable but a string keeps jumping, stop rather than working the pegs harder. Peg retuning cannot guarantee the original bridge angle comes back after the total tension changes; if the neutral position cannot be maintained, or the setup is uncertain, follow the exact maker setup procedure or see a technician — do not force fine tuners or turn springs and the claw without instructions.
Blank all-six-string retune record
String | Target | Pass 1 | Pass 2 | Bridge note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6 (low) | D2 |
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5 | A2 |
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4 | D3 |
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3 | G3 |
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2 | B3 |
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1 (high) | E4 |
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Done means every string hits its target and the resting bridge position has been checked. A green tuner with a bridge that will not settle is not finished.
Practical paths (with trade-offs)
None of these is free, universally safe, or compatible with every Floyd Rose, EVH, or Strat-style variant.
- Occasional full retune — Drop the sixth string, then check all six strings and the bridge rest. Best when Drop D is rare.
- Dedicated Drop D setup — Balance the guitar for D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4. Fast on stage; awkward if you still need standard often.
- Separate guitar — One stays floating/standard; one stays in Drop D.
- Tech-reviewed non-floating conversion — A tech may deck or block per your model so low-E changes disturb the rest less. Trade-off: you typically lose upward trem range.
EVH D-Tuna manuals are model-specific
Some EVH instruments document a D-Tuna with a non-floating trem so the low E can move between E and D on that design. Keep the attribution tight:
Do not infer that all Floyd Rose, EVH, or Strat-style bridges are non-floating, or that a D-Tuna is a universal drop-in. For bridge, spring, or locking-nut changes, use the manual for your exact instrument or a technician.
When to stop
Stop DIY before spring-balance guesses, blocking experiments, truss-rod work, nut or saddle filing, forcing fine tuners, or unsupported drop devices. Identify the bridge type, drop to D2 with a full six-string pass, record the result, and pick a repeatable path — without assuming a full float will let you switch strings in one motion or return to the same bridge angle.
