DROP TUNING / REFERENCE
Drop C tuning.
A low C and a one-finger power-chord layout on strings 6 to 4. Drop C keeps the Drop D geometry, with every note a whole step lower.
6 STRING CHANGES
E→C · A→G · D→C · G→F · B→A · E→D
LOW TO HIGH · STRINGS 6 TO 1
AGT / TUNING MAP · 440 HZ
C G C F A D
STRING 6
C
STRING 5
G
STRING 4
C
STRING 3
F
STRING 2
A
STRING 1
D
HOW TO TUNE
Set each string to its target pitch.
All strings are lowered from standard. A normal set may feel loose; have string choice and setup checked if the guitar will live in Drop C.
01 · String 6: lower E2 to C2 (4 semitones); String 5: lower A2 to G2 (2 semitones).
02 · String 4: lower D3 to C3 (2 semitones); String 3: lower G3 to F3 (2 semitones).
03 · String 2: lower B3 to A3 (2 semitones); String 1: lower E4 to D4 (2 semitones).
After each full pass, recheck all six strings with a chromatic tuner. Stop if a string feels unusually tight.
KEEP YOUR BEARINGS
Check notes before names.
A familiar grip can sound different after retuning. Read the tuning map and use the chord explorer before trusting a shape name.
Notes and fingerings are shown from string 6 to string 1.
WHAT ACTUALLY CHANGES
Three low strings. One movable power-chord shape.
These are sounding pitches, shown from string 6 to string 1: C2, G2, C3, F3, A3, D4.
What transfers
✓ Drop D fingerings transfer a whole step lower.
✓ Strings 6 to 4 form C G C when played open.
✓ A straight barre on those three strings moves a power chord.
What needs checking
· The sixth string drops four semitones from standard.
· The other five strings drop two semitones.
· The top five strings keep standard interval relationships, transposed down.
CHORD & SCALE EXPLORER
Start with C. Move from there.
Use the selected starter shapes, search another chord, or map a scale across frets 0 to 15. This explorer is set to Drop C.
These selected charts are the practical starting points for this tuning.
Familiar shapes appear first where available. Choose a shape that suits your hand. Where a fifth is omitted, the chart says so. For a first set to practise, open Starter chords.
The high string is shown at the top and the low string at the bottom. Scroll horizontally on smaller screens.
THE POWER-CHORD SHORTCUT
One finger. Three low strings.
Use only strings 6 to 4. A straight barre gives a power chord, with no third.
C5
OPEN
D♯5
FRET 3
F5
FRET 5
G5
FRET 7
A♯5
FRET 10
C5
FRET 12
FIRST PROGRESSION
C5 → E♭5 → F5 → G5
Play only strings 6 to 4: open, fret 3, fret 5 and fret 7. Move one straight barre and mute the top three strings. These are power chords, with no major or minor third.
SCALE MAP
Drop C: find C natural minor.
On string 6, play frets 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12: C, D, E♭, F, G, A♭, B♭, then C.
Play the notes slowly in order, then reverse them. Keep the timing even and let each note speak.
0 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12
Choose the same root and scale in the explorer to see the notes on all six strings.
The high string is shown at the top of the scale map. Each row follows one string.
RELATED TUNING
Drop C or D standard?
Use Drop C
Choose Drop C for the low-string power-chord shortcut. D standard keeps all standard intervals but raises the sixth string from C to D.
Explore D standard
Open the related reference and compare the six string pitches before changing a familiar shape.
Explore D standard tuning →QUICK REFERENCE
Drop C tuning checks
What are the open-string pitches?
Strings 6 to 1: C2, G2, C3, F3, A3, D4.
What do the chord names mean?
They name the sounding notes in this tuning. A familiar fingering can have a different chord name after retuning. The fingering numbers run from string 6 to string 1; x means mute.
Can I use a different octave?
Use the octave numbers in the tuning map. A pitch-class match alone does not tell you that a string is in the intended octave.
How do I get back to standard?
Return strings 6 to 1 to E2, A2, D3, G3, B3 and E4. Recheck every string with a chromatic tuner.