Drop C Tuning on 4-string bass guitar
Drop C tuning is C1 G1 C2 F2, written CGCF. Drop D with everything lowered another whole step: the 4th string sits on C1 and the other three drop a whole step each.
Every frequency is computed from the MIDI number, not typed in. Each one links to its own reference page.
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Why guitarists use Drop C tuning
C1 at the bottom of the instrument is close to the practical limit for a standard 34 inch scale with ordinary gauges, so this is where bass players usually switch to a 5-string rather than tune further down.
Where you will hear it: metalcore, modern metal. That list is deliberately limited to genres and playing traditions. Attributing a tuning to specific songs or players is the kind of claim that needs a source, and this page does not make claims it cannot back up.
Drop C compared with standard EADG tuning
This is the table that tells you how far to turn each peg, in semitones and in hertz. A negative semitone value means the string goes down.
| String | Standard | Standard (Hz) | Drop C | Drop C (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th (lowest) | E1 | 41.20 | C1 | 32.70 | -4 semitones (-8.50 Hz) |
| 3rd | A1 | 55.00 | G1 | 49.00 | -2 semitones (-6.00 Hz) |
| 2nd | D2 | 73.42 | C2 | 65.41 | -2 semitones (-8.01 Hz) |
| 1st (highest) | G2 | 98.00 | F2 | 87.31 | -2 semitones (-10.69 Hz) |
Notice that equal semitone steps are not equal hertz steps: the same whole step is worth about 9 Hz down at the bottom string and far more at the top. That is why tuners report cents, which are proportional, rather than hertz.
How to tune to Drop C, string by string
- Play the 4th (lowest) open and adjust until the tuner reads C1 at 32.70 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads G1 at 49.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads C2 at 65.41 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st (highest) open and adjust until the tuner reads F2 at 87.31 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
Retune in two passes. Changing the tension on one string changes the pull on the neck, so the strings you set first will have drifted slightly by the time you finish the last one. That effect is larger the further the tuning sits from standard, so a tuning that moves four or more strings almost always needs a third pass.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is Drop C tuning on a 4-string bass guitar?
Drop C is C1, G1, C2, F2, written CGCF. Drop D with everything lowered another whole step: the 4th string sits on C1 and the other three drop a whole step each.
What are the frequencies of Drop C tuning?
C1 is 32.70 Hz, G1 is 49.00 Hz, C2 is 65.41 Hz, F2 is 87.31 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
4 of 4. the 4th (lowest) goes from E1 to C1 (down 4 semitones), the 3rd goes from A1 to G1 (down 2 semitones), the 2nd goes from D2 to C2 (down 2 semitones), the 1st (highest) goes from G2 to F2 (down 2 semitones).
What is the lowest note in Drop C tuning?
C1 at 32.70 Hz, MIDI note 24. Low notes take longer for a pitch detector to lock onto, so play the string firmly and let it ring before trusting the cents reading.
Other 4-string bass guitar tunings
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .