C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯
Drop C♯ Tuning (Drop D♭)
The tuner listens through your microphone.
Half step down with the low string dropped a further whole step — a heavy, one-finger power-chord tuning.
Press Start tuning, pluck a string and turn its peg until the needle is centred and green. The tuner already knows the Drop C♯ (Drop D♭) notes, so it tells you which string you are tuning.
Drop C♯ (Drop D♭) notes and frequencies
From the thickest string to the thinnest, and how far each one moves from standard tuning:
| String | Note | Frequency | From standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th (thickest) | C♯2 | 69.30 Hz | Down 3 semitones (1.5 whole steps) |
| 5th | G♯2 | 103.83 Hz | Down 1 semitone (a half step) |
| 4th | C♯3 | 138.59 Hz | Down 1 semitone (a half step) |
| 3rd | F♯3 | 185.00 Hz | Down 1 semitone (a half step) |
| 2nd | A♯3 | 233.08 Hz | Down 1 semitone (a half step) |
| 1st (thinnest) | D♯4 | 311.13 Hz | Down 1 semitone (a half step) |
About Drop C♯ (Drop D♭)
Drop C♯ — C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯, also written Drop C# or Drop D♭ — is Drop D lowered by a half step. Every string goes down one semitone from standard, and the 6th string goes down three semitones, from E to C♯.
The three lowest strings keep the Drop D relationship, so power chords are still a single finger across one fret, but everything sounds a half step deeper. It is common in hard rock, metalcore and modern metal, and it suits bands that play in half step down tuning but want a lower bottom string.
Tips
- Tune the five higher strings down a half step first (as for half step down tuning), then take the 6th string down to C♯.
- Check by ear: the open 6th string should sound exactly one octave below the open 4th string (also C♯).
Other tunings
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E A D G B E
Standard
The default tuning for six-string guitar, used for the vast majority of songs, chord charts and lessons.
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D A D G B E
Drop D
Standard tuning with the low E lowered a whole step to D — heavier riffs and one-finger power chords.
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E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭
Half Step Down (E♭)
Every string lowered one semitone — slinkier strings and a darker tone, loved by blues and rock players.
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D G C F A D
Full Step Down (D Standard)
All six strings lowered a whole step — D G C F A D — for a big, heavy sound with familiar chord shapes.
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C G C F A D
Drop C
D standard with the low string dropped another whole step to C — the heavy sound of modern rock and metal.
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D A D G A D
DADGAD
An open, ringing modal tuning from Celtic and folk music that also made its way into rock.