How to Tune Your Guitar in Dropped C

Drop C tuning (C-G F-A-D) can be thought of as standard EADGBE guitar tuning with a few small changes. When tuning your guitar in dropped C, the first through the fifth strings are lowered, or dropped, one whole step, and the sixth string is dropped two whole steps. While the easiest method to tune to drop C--especially for a beginner--is to use an electronic guitar tuner, the tuning can also be achieved by using one string as a reference pitch and using octaves in the middle of the neck to tune most of the other strings to the reference pitch.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use a reference pitch to play the note D above middle C. Your reference pitch can be anything that you know to be accurate. Use a tuning fork, pitch pipe, tuned piano or electronic keyboard.

2. Tune the sixth string until it is the same pitch as the reference.

3. Play the fifth fret harmonic of the fifth string (the B string in standard tuning) and tune it until it is the same pitch as the seventh fret harmonic of the sixth string.

4. Play the note on the seventh fret of the third string (the G string in standard tuning) and tune it until it is one octave lower than the note on the tenth fret of the sixth string.

5. Play the note on the ninth fret of the fourth string (the D string in standard tuning) and tune it until it is one octave lower than the note on the seventh fret of the first string.

6. Play the seventh fret harmonic on the fifth string and tune it until it is the same pitch as the open first string.

7. Play the fifth fret harmonic on the sixth string and tune it until it is the same pitch as the twelfth fret harmonic on the fourth string.

Tips & Warnings

• As a point of reference when referring to the first string: it's the highest string on the guitar. This makes the sixth string the lowest.
• Most electronic tuners will register the pitches on the display, so use your tuner to tune the strings to C-G-C-F-A-D, low to high.
• The octaves method is more accurate and can reduce tuning errors as long as the guitar's intonation is properly adjusted and you can hear the relative pitches with ease.