Drop C tuning

Drop C tuning is an alternative guitar tuning where at least one string has been lowered to a C, but most commonly refers to CGCFAD, which can be described as D tuning with a 6th string dropped to C, or drop D tuning transposed down a whole step. Because of its heavier tone, it is most commonly used in rock and heavy metal music.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Drop C tuning (CGCFAD) (listen)

Artists that have used CGCFAD

A Day To Remember (on most songs, they occasionally use Drop B and A#) ^[6]
Alter Bridge (on some songs such as "Isolation")^[7]
Arch/Matheos^[8]
Black Stone Cherry^[9]^[10]
Chimaira^[11] (on most songs after their first album)
Dååth^[4]
Dope^[12]
Escape the Fate^[13]
Heaven & Hell (on "Follow the Tears") ^[14]
King's X^[15] (most later material and live performances, also used on some songs since Dogman)
Metallica (on the majority of songs in the "St. Anger" album)^[16]
Nickelback (on some songs) ^[17]^[18]
Skillet^[19] (on "Monster")
System of a Down^[20]
Theory of a Deadman^[21]
Triggerfinger^[22]
Wintersun^[23] (on some songs)

Artists that have used CADGBE

Bob Dylan – predominantly in the period 1965-1966.^[24]
John Mayer – on the song "Neon".^[25]^[26]
Muse – on the songs "Map Of The Problematique"^[26]^[27] & "Dead Inside"
Brad Richter – on the piece "Flirtation"^[28]
The Tallest Man on Earth – on the song "The Sparrow and the Medicine".^[29]^[30]

Artists that have used CGDGBE

References

^ Aledort, Andy (7 April 2010). "Atreyu: Prior Convictions". Guitar World. Retrieved 23 November 2011. ...drop C tuning, which is like drop D but with all of the strings down a whole step [low to high: C G C F A D]. Drop C sounds a little more brutal. Because of its deeper, heavier sound, it is commonly used in metal.
^ Perry, Megan (November 2004). Wired: musicians' home studios : tools & techniques of the musical mavericks. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-87930-794-3. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^ Guitar Player Magazine (1989). Jim Hatlo (ed.). Hot Licks. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-88188-910-9. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^ ^a ^b Emil, Werstler (7 August 2008). "Emil from Daath Talks Guitars". Roadrunner News. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^ Guitar Setup for Drop C Tuning article explains drop tunings for rock guitars and metal bands on the Guitar Repair Bench Luthier Website
^ "A Day To Remember Keep in Touch with Their Devoted Fan Base on the Road and on Their New Album, 'Common Courtesy'". 13 January 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
^ Freed, Nick (20 December 2010). "Album Review: Alter Bridge – AB III". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^ Michael Kizer; Jim Matheos (21 October 2011). "Jim comments briefly on the tunings used on Sympathetic Resonance". Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
^ "Rig Rundown - Black Stone Cherry's Chris Robertson". All Axess. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
^ "Rig Rundown - Black Stone Cherry's Ben Wells". All Axess. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
^ "Rob Arnold of Chimaira – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2009". GuitarGeek. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
^ Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (1 April 2002). Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation; Jeff Kitts; Brad Tolinski (eds.). Guitar World Presents Nu-Metal. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-634-03287-5. Retrieved 24 November 2011. dropped c guitar.
^ "Bryan Monte Money of Escape The Fate – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2008". GuitarGeek. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
^ Mercedes-Benz Enthusiast Channel 1 (12 July 2009), HEAVEN & HELL - Follow The Tears, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 5 April 2016{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "Ty Tabor of King's X – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2008". GuitarGeek. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
^ "Metallica Guitar Tunings Over The Years: The Complete, In-Depth Guide!". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
^ "Rig Rundown - Nickelback's Chad Kroeger & Ryan Peake". Premier Guitar. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
^ "Nickelback Equipment". Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2014. ...(Drop D One Whole Step Down CGCFAD, Drop C CADGBE and Drop B BADGBE)
^ Skillet - Monster (Tab), retrieved 17 July 2023
^ "System of a Down Amp Settings & Gear – Daron Malakian Tone". Liam Plowman. Retrieved 10 April 2023.|
^ "Backstage with Theory of a Deadman HQ(Guitar Edge.com)". Guitar Edge. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
^ Adriaensen, Wouter. "Ruben Block gear". Blues Online. Retrieved 13 May 2014. Ruben also plays ... a Melody Maker in CGCFAD tuning - which is dropped D tuning one full tone down...
^ "Rigged: Wintersun". MetalSucks.net. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
^ "Roadmaps for the Soul". dylanchords.info. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
^ "CADGBE Guitar Tuner". gtdb.org. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
^ ^a ^b "The Uses of Drop D and Drop C Tunings Today". 16 September 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
^ Delany, Ross (31 July 2006). "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations". Retrieved 14 May 2014.
^ Richter, Brad (3 October 2005). Brad Richter, Solo Guitar Collection. Mel Bay Publications. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7866-6744-4. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
^ The Tallest Man On Earth - Topic (30 November 2014), The Sparrow and the Medicine, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 4 March 2019
^ "The Tallest Man On Earth - Sparrow And The Medicine (Guitar Pro)". tabs.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
^ "A Brief History of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" (PDF). Dancing Cat Records. Retrieved 13 May 2014. ... C-G-D-G-B-E Tuning (often called "Keola's C", because it has been used most prominently by Slack Key guitarist Keola Beamer)
^ "Q&A re: Gear and Tunings". richardthompson-music.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
^ Little, Guy (29 December 2013). "Richard Thompson". Acoustic Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2014. My main tunings are: drop D, DADGAD and CGDGBE…
^ Rotondi, James (June 1994). "Alone in the Superunknown". Guitar Player. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

[Guitar_World_"storm_to_pass"-1] Aledort, Andy (7 April 2010). "Atreyu: Prior Convictions". Guitar World. Retrieved 23 November 2011. ...drop C tuning, which is like drop D but with all of the strings down a whole step [low to high: C G C F A D]. Drop C sounds a little more brutal. Because of its deeper, heavier sound, it is commonly used in metal.

[2] Perry, Megan (November 2004). Wired: musicians' home studios : tools & techniques of the musical mavericks. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-87930-794-3. Retrieved 24 November 2011.

[3] Guitar Player Magazine (1989). Jim Hatlo (ed.). Hot Licks. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-88188-910-9. Retrieved 24 November 2011.

[Roadrunner_Records_Emil_from_Daath-4] Emil, Werstler (7 August 2008). "Emil from Daath Talks Guitars". Roadrunner News. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 24 November 2011.

[5] Guitar Setup for Drop C Tuning article explains drop tunings for rock guitars and metal bands on the Guitar Repair Bench Luthier Website

[6] "A Day To Remember Keep in Touch with Their Devoted Fan Base on the Road and on Their New Album, 'Common Courtesy'". 13 January 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2024.

[7] Freed, Nick (20 December 2010). "Album Review: Alter Bridge – AB III". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 November 2011.

[8] Michael Kizer; Jim Matheos (21 October 2011). "Jim comments briefly on the tunings used on Sympathetic Resonance". Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

[9] "Rig Rundown - Black Stone Cherry's Chris Robertson". All Axess. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

[10] "Rig Rundown - Black Stone Cherry's Ben Wells". All Axess. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

[11] "Rob Arnold of Chimaira – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2009". GuitarGeek. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2013.

[12] Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (1 April 2002). Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation; Jeff Kitts; Brad Tolinski (eds.). Guitar World Presents Nu-Metal. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 132. ISBN 978-0-634-03287-5. Retrieved 24 November 2011. dropped c guitar.

[13] "Bryan Monte Money of Escape The Fate – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2008". GuitarGeek. Retrieved 12 December 2013.

[14] Mercedes-Benz Enthusiast Channel 1 (12 July 2009), HEAVEN & HELL - Follow The Tears, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 5 April 2016{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[15] "Ty Tabor of King's X – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2008". GuitarGeek. Retrieved 12 December 2013.

[16] "Metallica Guitar Tunings Over The Years: The Complete, In-Depth Guide!". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2024.

[17] "Rig Rundown - Nickelback's Chad Kroeger & Ryan Peake". Premier Guitar. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

[nickelback-18] "Nickelback Equipment". Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2014. ...(Drop D One Whole Step Down CGCFAD, Drop C CADGBE and Drop B BADGBE)

[19] Skillet - Monster (Tab), retrieved 17 July 2023

[20] "System of a Down Amp Settings & Gear – Daron Malakian Tone". Liam Plowman. Retrieved 10 April 2023.|

[21] "Backstage with Theory of a Deadman HQ(Guitar Edge.com)". Guitar Edge. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

[22] Adriaensen, Wouter. "Ruben Block gear". Blues Online. Retrieved 13 May 2014. Ruben also plays ... a Melody Maker in CGCFAD tuning - which is dropped D tuning one full tone down...

[23] "Rigged: Wintersun". MetalSucks.net. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.

[24] "Roadmaps for the Soul". dylanchords.info. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.

[25] "CADGBE Guitar Tuner". gtdb.org. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.

[riffmagic-26] "The Uses of Drop D and Drop C Tunings Today". 16 September 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2014.

[27] Delany, Ross (31 July 2006). "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations". Retrieved 14 May 2014.

[28] Richter, Brad (3 October 2005). Brad Richter, Solo Guitar Collection. Mel Bay Publications. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-7866-6744-4. Retrieved 24 November 2011.

[29] The Tallest Man On Earth - Topic (30 November 2014), The Sparrow and the Medicine, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 4 March 2019

[30] "The Tallest Man On Earth - Sparrow And The Medicine (Guitar Pro)". tabs.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.

[31] "A Brief History of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" (PDF). Dancing Cat Records. Retrieved 13 May 2014. ... C-G-D-G-B-E Tuning (often called "Keola's C", because it has been used most prominently by Slack Key guitarist Keola Beamer)

[32] "Q&A re: Gear and Tunings". richardthompson-music.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

[33] Little, Guy (29 December 2013). "Richard Thompson". Acoustic Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2014. My main tunings are: drop D, DADGAD and CGDGBE…

[34] Rotondi, James (June 1994). "Alone in the Superunknown". Guitar Player. Retrieved 13 May 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]