Drop C Tuner (C G C F A D)
Tune to Drop C online in seconds.
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Drop C tuning reference
Notes low to high: C G C F A D
| String | Note | Frequency | Vs. standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (lowest) | C2 | 65.41 Hz | down 4 semitones |
| 5th | G2 | 98.00 Hz | down 2 semitones |
| 4th | C3 | 130.81 Hz | down 2 semitones |
| 3rd | F3 | 174.61 Hz | down 2 semitones |
| 2nd | A3 | 220.00 Hz | down 2 semitones |
| 1st (highest) | D4 | 293.66 Hz | down 2 semitones |
How to tune to Drop C
- 1Start in standard or D standard tuning. Either works as a reference point, D standard is one step closer to where you're headed.
- 2Select Drop C mode. The tuner above listens for C, G, C, F, A, and D.
- 3Drop the low string first. Loosen the sixth string all the way down to C, roughly two whole steps below standard E.
- 4Tune the remaining five strings. Drop each one a whole step below standard, following the target note on screen.
- 5Play a low power chord. Barre the bottom three strings with one finger and strum. It should ring clean without buzzing.
What is Drop C tuning
Drop C tuning takes standard EADGBE, drops every string down a whole step to D standard, then drops the low string one further step to C. The result reads C G C F A D from low to high, with the same one finger power chord shape as Drop D available across the bottom three strings, just two whole steps lower.
That extra low end and the easy power chord shape make Drop C a staple of metalcore, nu metal, and modern hard rock. Bands like Killswitch Engage, Bullet for My Valentine, and Slipknot lean on Drop C for the crushing low riffs that define the genre. It's also common in stoner rock and doom, where a loose, heavy low string carries the groove.
Because the low string drops so far below its usual tension, standard gauge strings often feel floppy and lose clarity in Drop C. Most players move up to a heavier gauge, something in the .011 to .052 range or heavier, to keep tension and note definition on the low C. If you switch between Drop C and standard often, expect to make small truss rod or intonation adjustments, since the shift in overall string tension can change how the neck sits.
Frequently asked
Drop C vs Drop D?
Drop D only lowers the sixth string a whole step, keeping the other five at standard pitch. Drop C lowers every string, first down a whole step to D standard, then the low string down one more step to C. Drop C sits a full step lower across the whole guitar.
What strings should I use for Drop C?
A heavier gauge helps. Many players move to at least .011 to .052 for six-string guitars, or a set built specifically for lower tunings. Standard light gauge strings often feel loose and lose punch at this pitch.
Will Drop C hurt my guitar?
Not permanently, but the change in overall string tension can affect neck relief and intonation. If you keep the guitar in Drop C most of the time, a setup that accounts for the lower tension will keep it playing its best.
Can I use Drop C power chord shapes in other tunings?
Yes. The one finger power chord shape on the bottom three strings works the same in Drop D, Drop C, and any tuning built the same way, since the relationship between those three strings stays a fifth plus an octave. Only the fret position and starting pitch change.
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If your guitar still doesn't sound right after tuning to Drop C, buzzy frets, intonation drift up the neck, or action that fights you, a proper setup will change everything. Based in Pikeville, NC, serving Goldsboro and Wayne County.