How to Tune a Guitar to Dropped C

Dropped C guitar tuning is less well known than its close relative, dropped D tuning, but it is a commonly used tuning and may allow you to get that specific sound you are looking for. Dropped C is essentially dropped D tuned a whole step lower. Bands such as System of a Down, Thrice and Atreyu use dropped C guitar tuning.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar
• Chromatic tuner

1. Begin with your guitar tuned to standard tuning (EADGBE).
2. Tune your guitar to dropped D. The simplest way to do this is to pluck the D string and then lower the E string until it is the same note. The low D will be an octave lower than the D string.
3. Re-tune the rest of the strings like you would for standard tuning using the low D as the reference. To do this, start on the fifth fret of the lowest string (originally E, now D), pluck it and lower the next string (originally A, lowering to G) to that pitch. Repeat on the next 2 strings so that you have D-G-C-F.
4. Hold down the fourth fret on the fourth string (originally G, now F) to reference the pitch for the fifth string.
5. Change the pitch of the sixth string by holding down the fifth fret on the fifth string and matching that pitch by lowering the sixth string. Your guitar should be tuned down a whole step to DGCFAD.
6. Drop the tuning of the lowest string down one more step. Do this by tuning the guitar to dropped D like you did in Step 3, but it will be a low C now. Verify it by holding down the seventh fret and comparing it to the second string. It should be the same pitch.

Tips & Warnings

• A chromatic tuner is your best friend for alternate guitar tunings. Check your pitches on your strings with a tuner, or if one is not available you can use a piano.
• You can play in dropped C the same as you would in dropped D. This means that you can play power chords on your guitar by holding down the lowest three strings on any fret and playing only those three strings.
• Dropped C is much lower than when your guitar is in standard tuning. Because of this, you will have to retune it more often. The guitar will not be accustomed to the lower tuning and will be more likely to go out of tune.
• Using the same thickness of strings for dropped C tuning as you do for standard tuning may result in a rattle or bad tone. You may want to consider using thicker strings to maintain the tension of the strings if you plan on playing in dropped C regularly.