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Drop Bb / Drop A# Guitar Tuner

Drop Bb / Drop A#
±0
B
Target: 30.9 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
B31
F87
B62
B123
G196
C262

How to Tune to Drop Bb / Drop A#

C Standard with the low string dropped to Bb, pushing into seriously heavy territory. This tuning is a favorite of modern hard rock and metalcore bands, most notably Breaking Benjamin, who built their signature sound around its dark, powerful low end. Bring Me The Horizon also uses it for their heavier material.

Start in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) and change 6 of 6 strings:

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2Bb1Tune down 6 semitones
String 5A2F2Tune down 4 semitones
String 4D3Bb2Tune down 4 semitones
String 3G3Eb3Tune down 4 semitones
String 2B3G3Tune down 4 semitones
String 1E4C4Tune down 4 semitones
Printable Drop Bb / Drop A# chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

Breaking Benjamin's Ben Burnley originally started playing in standard tuning but gradually tuned lower over the band's career. By the time of "Dear Agony" and "Dark Before Dawn," Drop Bb had become their primary tuning, giving their radio-friendly hard rock songs an unusually heavy backbone that set them apart from other mainstream rock bands.

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:Very heavy strings required: .012-.062 minimum, .013-.064 recommended. The low Bb at 58.27 Hz is extremely low for a standard-scale guitar — a baritone scale or at minimum a heavy gauge is essential for any usable tone.

Gear for Drop Bb / Drop A#

Tools that make tuning to Bb - F - Bb - Eb - G - C easier.

D'Addario Universal Micro Headstock Tuner

A headstock tuner makes switching in and out of this tuning quick, even on stage or without a mic.

View tuner

D'Addario Pro-Winder (winder + cutter)

Retuning 6 strings means a lot of turning — a winder speeds it up and trims new strings too.

View winder

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Drop Bb / Drop A#Intermediate
Bb - F - Bb - Eb - G - CNo Capo
Song Details
Drop Bb / Drop A#Intermediate
Bb - F - Bb - Eb - G - CNo Capo
Song Details
Drop Bb / Drop A#Intermediate
Bb - F - Bb - Eb - G - CNo Capo
Song Details
Drop Bb / Drop A#Intermediate
Bb - F - Bb - Eb - G - CNo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What bands use Drop A#?
Breaking Benjamin is the most well-known user, with most of their catalog in Drop Bb/A#. Bring Me The Horizon uses it on tracks like "Shadow Moses" and other Sempiternal-era songs. It's also used in deathcore and progressive metal by bands like Veil of Maya and Born of Osiris on certain tracks.
What tuning is Diary of Jane in?
"The Diary of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin is in Drop Bb (Bb-F-Bb-Eb-G-C). The song's driving, heavy riff uses the low Bb as an anchor while the melodic chorus takes advantage of the higher strings in C Standard intervals. It's one of the most popular rock songs in this tuning.
How to tune to Drop Bb?
Step 1: Tune to C Standard (every string down 4 semitones). Step 2: Drop the 6th string one more whole step from C to Bb. Result: Bb-F-Bb-Eb-G-C. You'll need heavy strings and a proper setup. The low Bb should target 58.27 Hz — use the tuner above for precision.
Can Bring Me The Horizon songs be played in Drop Bb?
Yes — BMTH used Drop Bb on much of the "Sempiternal" album (2013), including "Shadow Moses," "Sleepwalking," and "Can You Feel My Heart." Their earlier material tends to use different tunings, and later albums explore various tunings including Drop A and lower.