Drop C Tuner
Press Start, allow the microphone and play a string. Drop C is set: C G C F A D, Drop D lowered by a whole step.
Press Start and allow the microphone.
Tap a string to hear its note and tune to it by ear.
Drop C tuning notes
Drop C tuning is C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4. It is Drop D taken a whole step lower: from standard, the 6th string goes down two whole steps (E to C) and the other five strings go down one whole step. The bottom three strings, C G C, play a power chord with one finger.
| String | Note | Frequency | From standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | C2 | 65.41 Hz | down 2 whole steps |
| 5th | G2 | 98.00 Hz | down a whole step |
| 4th | C3 | 130.81 Hz | down a whole step |
| 3rd | F3 | 174.61 Hz | down a whole step |
| 2nd | A3 | 220.00 Hz | down a whole step |
| 1st | D4 | 293.66 Hz | down a whole step |
Frequencies at A4 = 440 Hz; change A4 in the tuner and the table follows.
What Drop C is for
Drop C keeps the one-finger power chords of Drop D a whole step lower, with a low C at 65.4 Hz. It is one of the most common tunings in metal, metalcore and heavy alternative rock, where riffs move fast between the open low C and power chords up the neck.
Because every string is lowered, the chord and scale shapes you know from Drop D still work; they sound a whole step lower. A Drop D song played with the same fingering in Drop C comes out a step down, which also suits singers with a lower range.
How to tune to Drop C from standard
- Press Start tuning and allow the microphone. Drop C is already selected.
- Lower the 1st to 5th strings by a whole step each: E to D, B to A, G to F, D to C and A to G. Stop each one when the tuner says In tune.
- Lower the 6th string by two whole steps, from E to C2. Check it by ear: the 6th string at the 7th fret should match the open 5th string (G).
- Play every string once more. Lowering six strings lets the neck relax, and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
Songs in Drop C tuning
A few well-known recordings in this tuning:
- Chop Suey! by System of a Down
- Toxicity by System of a Down
Want to learn a song you heard but can't name? Identify it with the microphone first.
Strings and setup
Light 9s or 10s feel floppy this low and buzz on the 6th string. Most players move to a heavier set for Drop C, such as 11–56 or 12–56, which brings the tension back near what lighter strings have in standard. After the change, the neck may need a small truss-rod adjustment and the intonation a check.
Drop C tuning: frequently asked questions
What are the notes in Drop C tuning?
C G C F A D, from the 6th string to the 1st: C2, G2, C3, F3, A3 and D4.
What is the difference between Drop C and C standard?
Drop C is Drop D a whole step lower: only the 6th string is dropped further (C G C F A D). C standard lowers all six strings by two whole steps (C F Bb Eb G C) and keeps the intervals of standard tuning.
Can I play Drop D songs in Drop C?
Yes, with the same fingering. Everything sounds a whole step lower, so you will be a step below the recording.
What strings do I need for Drop C?
A heavier set than you use in standard, often 11–56 or 12–56 on a regular 25.5-inch-scale guitar. Lighter strings work but feel loose and buzz.
How do I get to Drop C from Drop D?
Lower every string by a whole step. From D standard, lower only the 6th string another whole step, from D to C.
How do I tune to Drop C without a tuner?
Get the 5th string to G from a reference (tap G2 under the tuner to hear it). Then the 6th string at the 7th fret matches the open 5th; the 5th string at the 5th fret gives the 4th (C); the 4th at the 5th fret gives the 3rd (F); the 3rd at the 4th fret gives the 2nd (A); the 2nd at the 5th fret gives the 1st (D).
Drop D tuning
D A D G B E: only the low E goes down to D.
C standard tuning
C F Bb Eb G C: every string two whole steps down.
Drop B tuning
B F# B E G# C#: the low string down to B1.
D standard tuning
D G C F A D: every string a whole step down.
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