Drop B Tuner
Press Start, allow the microphone and play a string. Drop B is set: B F# B E G# C#, with the low string down to B1.
Press Start and allow the microphone.
Tap a string to hear its note and tune to it by ear.
Drop B tuning notes
Drop B tuning is B1 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4. From standard, the 1st to 5th strings go down three semitones (E to C#, B to G#, G to E, D to B, A to F#) and the 6th string goes down five, from E to B. The bottom three strings, B F# B, play a one-finger power chord.
| String | Note | Frequency | From standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | B1 | 61.74 Hz | down 5 semitones |
| 5th | F#2 | 92.50 Hz | down 3 semitones |
| 4th | B2 | 123.47 Hz | down 3 semitones |
| 3rd | E3 | 164.81 Hz | down 3 semitones |
| 2nd | G#3 | 207.65 Hz | down 3 semitones |
| 1st | C#4 | 277.18 Hz | down 3 semitones |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; change A4 in the tuner and the table follows.
What Drop B is for
Drop B is C# standard with the low string dropped a whole step, the shape of Drop D five semitones lower. Its low B, 61.7 Hz, is the extra string of a 7-string guitar, reached on a regular 6-string. It is a mainstay of metal, nu-metal and metalcore.
Five semitones is a big drop for a guitar built for standard tuning. Heavy strings, or a baritone guitar with a longer scale, keep the low B from flapping and going sharp when you pick hard.
How to tune to Drop B from standard
- Press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Drop B is already selected.
- Lower the 1st to 5th strings by three semitones each: E to C#4, B to G#3, G to E3, D to B2 and A to F#2.
- Lower the 6th string by five semitones, from E2 to B1. Check it by ear: the 6th string at the 7th fret should match the open 5th string (F#).
- Play every string again. After a drop this size the neck relaxes, and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
Songs in Drop B tuning
A few well-known recordings in this tuning:
- Duality by Slipknot
- Psychosocial by Slipknot
Want to learn a song you heard but can't name? Identify it with the microphone first.
Strings and setup
Use a heavy set made for low tunings, 12–60 or 13–62, or a baritone guitar. A wound 3rd string keeps the G# stable. Check the nut, since a thicker 6th string may need its slot widened; the truss rod and intonation usually need a setup after the change.
Drop B tuning: frequently asked questions
What are the notes in Drop B tuning?
B F# B E G# C#, from the 6th string to the 1st: B1, F#2, B2, E3, G#3 and C#4.
What is the difference between Drop B and B standard?
Drop B lowers five strings by three semitones and the 6th by five (B F# B E G# C#). B standard lowers all six strings by five semitones (B E A D F# B) and keeps the intervals of standard tuning.
Can I tune a normal 6-string guitar to Drop B?
Yes, with heavier strings (12–60 or 13–62) and a setup. With standard strings the low B is very loose and buzzes.
Is Drop B the same as a 7-string guitar?
The lowest note is the same B1, but a 7-string keeps standard E A D G B E above it. Drop B moves every string down, so riffs and chord shapes sit differently.
How do I get to Drop B from Drop C or Drop D?
From Drop C, lower every string by one semitone. From Drop D, lower every string by three semitones.
Why does the tuner show B1?
B1 is the B below the guitar's normal low E, about 61.7 Hz; the number is the octave. The open 4th string in Drop B is B2, one octave higher.
Drop C tuning
C G C F A D: Drop D a whole step lower.
C standard tuning
C F Bb Eb G C: every string two whole steps down.
Drop D tuning
D A D G B E: only the low E goes down to D.
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