Guitar Drop C# Tuner — Tune to Drop C# in Your Browser
Mic-based chromatic tuner pre-set to Drop C#. No download, no sign-up, works in your browser.
Tuning summary
- Notes (low to high)
- C#2 · G#2 · C#3 · F#3 · A#3 · D#4
- Instrument
- Guitar
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- About this tuning
- C# Standard with the low string dropped to C#. Sits between Drop D and Drop C — common in modern metalcore.
Start tuning
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About Drop C# on guitar
Drop C# sits between Drop D and Drop C: C# G# C# F# A# D#, low to high. It is C# Standard with the lowest string dropped a further whole step. The pitches are exactly between the two more common Drop tunings, and the tuning is most often used by bands that want a heavier-than-Drop-D feel without committing to the full Drop C drop.
Several modern metalcore and post-hardcore bands use Drop C#. Bullet for My Valentine's later catalogue, Asking Alexandria, parts of Bring Me the Horizon's discography, and various scene-era bands lived in Drop C#. The choice often comes down to vocalist range — singers who find Drop C too low and Drop D too high settle on Drop C# as the comfortable middle ground.
Mechanically, Drop C# is a notch tighter than Drop C. A 25.5-inch-scale guitar with 11-gauge strings holds Drop C# cleanly; the same setup in Drop C may feel slightly looser. This is part of why some bands prefer it: Drop C with light strings goes muddy, but Drop C# with the same strings stays clear.
From a guitarist's perspective, Drop C# is just another Drop tuning — the single-finger power chord shapes work identically to Drop D and Drop C. The chord shapes above the dropped string are in C# Standard, which is identical to Drop B's upper strings, so a guitarist who knows Drop B picks up Drop C# instantly. The novelty is the pitch, not the technique.
Frequently asked questions
- How is Drop C# different from Drop C?
- Drop C# is a half step higher. The pitches are C# G# C# F# A# D# instead of C G C F A D.
- What strings should I use for Drop C#?
- 11-gauge strings work well; 12-gauge if you want very tight tension. Lighter than 11 will feel floppy on the low string.
- What bands use Drop C#?
- Bullet for My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, Bring Me the Horizon, and many other modern metalcore acts.
- Is Drop C# common in classical or jazz?
- No — it's almost exclusively a metal and metalcore tuning.
- Do I need to set up my guitar differently for Drop C#?
- Intonation should be redone if you stay in Drop C# long-term, and slightly heavier strings keep the low C# tight.