Drop C Tuning: The Ultimate Guide

If standard tuning isn’t quite chunky enough for you, but you’re not looking to add a 7th or 8th string into the mix, then Drop C Tuning might be exactly what you need…

While many alternate tunings completely rearrange the fretboard and force you to try new things, drop C is just drop D but a whole step-down—meaning you can still use most of your old chords, scales, and licks, all while extending your guitar’s range.

In this guide, we’re going to cover everything you need to know about drop C tuning. From what it is and how to set-up for it to playing chords and scales, all the essential information you need about drop C is right here. So grab a guitar, a tuner, and get ready to see why drop C is one of the most popular alternate tunings. 

How to Tune to Drop C

Before you can play in drop C, you have to tune to it. Thankfully, drop C is easy to understand and tune to. If you’ve played in drop D before, you’ll have no issues with drop C. Drop C is just drop D, but tuned down a whole step.

The notes for drop C tuning are: C-G-C-F-A-D.

As far as your guitar goes, it’s a good idea to have it set-up for drop C. Since you’re tuning everything down a whole step (or more in the case of your low string), you may run into issues with a guitar set-up for standard. Your string tension will drop, meaning your strings will feel floppy. You also might have issues with strong/fret buzz as well due to the tension change. 

We recommend using a heavier set of strings for drop C. Many players prefer our .011 – .058 Drop Tune Medium gauge for drop C (and this is what we usually recommend to most players), while some like to use our .012 – .056 or even .012 – .064s for an extra powerful sound. You can always make a custom set of strings, allowing you to choose the exact gauge you want for each string. 

Playing in Drop C Tuning

With tuning done, the next step is actually playing in drop C. Since drop C is just drop D down a whole step, your fretboard doesn’t really change. All of your licks, chords, scales, and shapes for standard will work (outside of the low string). This makes drop C one of the easiest alternate tunings to pick up and play. 

One thing to keep in mind with drop C is that you get a power chord from your lowest three strings (CGC), just like drop D. This can be very useful, as you get the ability to quickly play chords by just barring three frets. This is one of the main reasons drop C is so common amongst rock and metal artists. 

Also, remember that you are tuned down a whole step. If you’re playing with other instruments, you’ll need to make sure you’re actually playing the right notes and chords. For example, if a song calls for an A major chord, you won’t play a 5th fret major barre chord like usual. You’d need to play it on the 7th fret (up a whole step) since you are tuned down a whole step. This can be annoying at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly. 

Chords in Drop C

Like with most things in drop C, chords are fairly straightforward. Since all of your strings are tuned the same but down a whole step (except the low string), your old shapes and chords will still work. For example, the major and minor triads will still be the same shapes. 

However, you have to keep in mind that your low string is tuned even further down. This means that standard chord shapes that include the low string won’t work, unless you shift the low string up two frets. 

On the flipside, there are some chords you can play in drop C that you can’t in standard tuning. The standard open D chord shapes (major or minor) sound great in drop C since you get the corresponding bass note from the opening string. 

Scales in Drop C

As with chords, scales for drop C are very similar to scales in standard tuning. All of your shapes will be the same, except for the low string. You can compensate for that by moving your patterns up two frets on the low string. 

Again, keep in mind that you are tuned down a whole step. So if you want to play in A for example, you need to move your scale shape up two frets from where it would be in standard. This is particularly important if you are playing with other instruments not tuned to drop C. 

If you aren’t already familiar with basic scale shapes, just look up the shapes for standard online. They will all apply here, outside of the low string. 

What to Play in Drop C Tuning

So, what can you play in drop C tuning? Since it’s essentially just drop D tuned down a whole step, it’s well suited for all the same things as drop D. Unsurprisingly, drop C is mainly used for hard rock and metal music. That said, it’s not the only thing you can use it for. Let’s take a quick look at a few songs that are in drop C. 

Drop C works very well for the heavy riffs found in metal songs. The low C makes riffs sound very big, thick, and powerful. Steve Vai’s iconic Bad Horsie is a great example of how heavy drop C can get. At the same time, it also showcases that drop C works great for solos.

Another example of drop C in hard rock/metal is Oblivion by Mastodon. This track is a bit more melodic and progressive than Bad Horsie, but it works perfectly in open C. The heavy riffs work well in the tuning, as do the more traditional chords used. This example shows that drop C can be used to create a wide variety of sounds, not just heavy riffs.

Though drop C is almost always thought of as a hard rock and metal tuning, it can be used in other contexts as well. Drop C can also work great for rock, folk, singer/songwriter, and more, especially if you want to lower the key for easier vocals. Neil Young’s Don’t Let it Bring You Down is a perfect example of drop C being used in an acoustic setting. The song uses a slight variation of drop C (double drop C; C-G-C-F-A-C), but it’s close enough to include here. 

Downtune and Have Fun

If you’re looking to make your riffs a little bit heavier or want to extend your guitar’s lower range, drop C tuning is worth trying out. Whether you’re a die-hard metalhead or an acoustic folkie, drop C has something to offer for everyone. So put on a fresh set of Stringjoy strings, tune down, and have some fun in drop C tuning.