Popular Metal Drop Tunings: and how to tune for them

So you like Metal. Sick! Me too :) As you'll quickly find, not a lot of songs are in standard tuning 'EADGBE' (the first E starting on the thickest string). So you're going to have to downtune to get those heavy chugs and riffs. There are various tunings used throughout your favorite bands. Here are a few famous ones and how to tune to them, to make it easier for you.

Personally I use The Drop pedal to tune down a lot. I've added small sections in italic on how to do this for each tuning mentioned.

‍

Drop D Tuning (D A D G B E)‍

Drop D is a staple in the metal genre for its ability to create a heavier sound while simplifying the fingering of power chords. In this tuning, the lowest string is tuned down a whole step from E to D, enabling the guitarist to play power chords with a single finger across the lowest three strings. This tuning has been used extensively in both classic and modern metal, facilitating faster and more aggressive riffing.

To tune to Drop D from standard tuning, simply lower the sixth string (E) down a whole step to D. You can check the tuning by playing the fourth string (D), as both should now produce the same pitch.

No need to use The Drop pedal :)

Famous bands using this:

• Tool
• Metallica (especially in their later albums)
• Avenged Sevenfold
• And metalcore in general, especially easier or earlier songs. Just barring across the bottom 3 strings (thickest 3) gives you those easy and heavy power chords.

‍

Drop C Tuning (C G C F A D)

Drop C tuning takes the principles of Drop D but goes a step further. It's characterized by a deeper, more resonant tone, ideal for metal genres that require a more substantial sound.

To achieve Drop C, start by tuning all strings down one whole step from standard tuning (resulting in D G C F A D), and then lower the sixth string (which is now a D) an additional whole step to C. This results in a tuning of C G C F A D.

Or with The Drop pedal, just tune down the E to a D to get Drop D. Then, engage your pedal on Nr. 2 and you're done.

Famous bands using this:

• System of a Down
• Killswitch Engage
• Bring Me The Horizon

‍

C Standard Tuning (C F Bb Eb G C):

C Standard is another popular tuning in metal, particularly in genres like doom and stoner metal, where a very low, heavy sound is desired.

To tune to C Standard, each string is lowered two whole steps from standard tuning. This means the E strings become C, the A string becomes F, the D string becomes Bb, the G string becomes Eb, and the B string also becomes G. This tuning creates a thick, rich tone that allows for a profound sonic heaviness.

Or with The Drop pedal, just stay in standard, then engage your pedal on Nr. 4 and you're done.

Famous bands using this:

• Mastodon
• Opeth
• Queens of the Stone Age

‍

B Standard Tuning (B E A D F# B)‍

B Standard tuning is significantly lower than standard tuning and is particularly favored in doom metal and some subgenres of death metal. It provides a deep, growling tone ideal for slow, heavy riffs.

To achieve this tuning, the sixth string (E) is tuned down to B, which is two and a half steps lower. The fifth string (A) is tuned down one and a half steps to E, the fourth string (D) is tuned down one whole step to A, the third string (G) is tuned down one whole step to D, the second string (B) is tuned down one whole step to F#, and the first string (E) is tuned down one and a half steps to B.

Or with The Drop pedal, just stay in standard, then engage your pedal on Nr. 5 and you're done.

Famous bands using this:

• Cannibal Corpse
• Entombed
• Amon Amarth

‍

Drop B Tuning (B F# B E G# C#)‍

Drop B is a favorite in genres like metalcore and nu-metal. It provides a very heavy and aggressive sound, with a significant drop in pitch that adds to the depth and darkness of the music.

To tune to Drop B from standard tuning, lower the sixth string by two and a half steps to B, the fifth string by one and a half steps to F#, the fourth string by one whole step to B, the third string by one whole step to E, the second string by one whole step to G#, and the first string by one and a half steps to C#. This tuning allows for heavy, chugging riffs and breakdowns that are characteristic of these metal subgenres.

Or with The Drop pedal, just tune down the E to a D to get Drop D. Then, engage your pedal on Nr. 3 and you're done.

Famous bands using this:

• Slipknot
• Bullet for My Valentine
• Disturbed

‍

If you don't like tuning all the time, you can use The Drop Pedal by Digitech to quickly tune down. So if your guitar is in Standard and you need C Standard, with one push of a button you're in tune! One downside to this, is that the sound your string produces will still be in Standard. So the sound coming from your amp will be different than what your ear picks up from the strings.

But this is just an excuse to turn your amp up ;)

Hope this makes it easier for you!