How to Tune the Guitar in Drop C: 10 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

The Drop C tuning is an alternative tuning, in which the sixth string is lowered by two tones until it reaches C and the rest of the strings are lowered by one tone. The difference between the Drop C tuning and the standard one is that the former allows the three lower strings to form a very powerful C chord. It is also possible to move up and down along the keyboard with a single finger (usually the index finger), to produce any chord quickly and easily, just like in Drop D, but with a lower and heavier sound. It is mainly used in metal and its subgenres.

Steps

Step 1. Starting from the classic Mi-La-Re-G-Fa-Mi tuning, lower the sixth string (the low E) to the third fret of the fifth string

Play the note by pressing the respective fret on the fifth string and lower the sixth note until they coincide.

Step 2. Tune the other strings to the second fret, proceeding in the same way

Tune the fifth string using the second fret of the fourth as a reference. For all the others, from the second to the first, use the third key instead.

Step 3. The guitar strings should be tuned in the sequence E-G-Do-Fa-La-Re

You will still have to make some adjustments to lower the E to C, using the fifth string to tune the sixth. Press the sixth string at the ninth nut and tune it along the fifth string.

Step 4. The guitar will be tuned in Drop C, that is:

• Re | -

  

• The | -

  

• Fa | -

  

• Do | -

  

• Sol | -

  

• Do | -

  

Method 1 of 2: A Quick Method

Step 1. The quickest way to tune the guitar in Drop C is presented below, starting with the standard tuning

• Lower the first string by a full tone or two frets.

  

• Lower the second string by a whole tone or two frets.

  

• Lower the third string by a whole tone or two capos.

  

• Lower the fourth string by a whole tone or two frets.

  

• Lower the fifth string by a whole tone or two capos.

  

Step 2. Lower the sixth string by two tones or four capos

Step 3. Play, practice and have fun

!

Method 2 of 2: Another Method

Step 1. If you know how to use harmonics correctly, you can easily lower the pitch of the guitar

• Play the seventh harmonic on the sixth string.

  

• Play the 12th harmonic on the 5th string. Lower the sixth string until they sound the same. The sixth string will therefore have been lowered by half a scale, becoming Drop D.

  

• Play the fifth harmonic on the sixth string once again.

  

• Play the seventh harmonic on the fifth string.

  

• Tune the fifth string until they sound the same.

  

Step 2. Repeat to lower the other strings

Step 3. Now all strings will be tuned in D

Repeat from the first step and you will get the Drop C tuning.