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Drop Db / Drop C# Guitar Tuner

Drop Db / Drop C#
±0
B
Target: 61.7 Hz
-50WAITING+50
Waiting for sound
B62
B62
B123
B123
B123
B247

How to Tune to Drop Db / Drop C#

Drop D tuning lowered by one half step across all strings, giving you the one-finger power chord convenience of Drop D but with a darker, heavier sound. This tuning was central to the 90s grunge movement, used extensively by Alice in Chains and later adopted by metalcore and hard rock bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Deftones.

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

StringStandardTargetWhat to do
String 6E2Db2Tune down 3 semitones
String 5A2Ab2Tune down a half step
String 4D3Db3Tune down a half step
String 3G3Gb3Tune down a half step
String 2B3Bb3Tune down a half step
String 1E4Eb4Tune down a half step
Printable Drop Db / Drop C# chart (PNG / PDF)
Fun Fact

Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell used this tuning for much of the band's iconic catalog. The tuning perfectly complemented Layne Staley's dark, powerful vocals and allowed Cantrell to create the heavy, grinding riffs that defined Seattle grunge. The Deftones later adopted it for their nu-metal/shoegaze fusion sound.

String Tension & Setup Tips

Recommended Gauge:.011-.052 strings work well — slightly heavier than standard to compensate for the half-step-down tension loss. The low Db string benefits from a thicker gauge (.052-.054) to maintain clarity.

Gear for Drop Db / Drop C#

Tools that make tuning to Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - Eb 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.

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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 Db / Drop C#Intermediate
Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbNo Capo
Song Details
Drop Db / Drop C#Intermediate
Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbNo Capo
Song Details
Drop Db / Drop C#Intermediate
Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbNo Capo
Song Details
Drop Db / Drop C#Intermediate
Db - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbNo Capo
Song Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Who uses Drop Db?
Drop Db (also called Drop C#) is very common in grunge, metalcore, and alternative metal. Notable users include Alice in Chains (Jerry Cantrell), Deftones (Stephen Carpenter on some tracks), Avenged Sevenfold, and many modern metalcore bands. It bridges the gap between the accessibility of Drop D and the heaviness of Drop C.
How to tune to Drop C# on guitar?
The easiest method: first tune to Eb Standard (everything down a half step), then drop the low Eb one more whole step to Db. Alternatively, from standard tuning: drop every string a half step (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb), then drop the 6th string an additional whole step to Db. The result is Db-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb.
What are the Drop Db notes?
From low to high: Db2 (69.30 Hz), Ab2 (103.83 Hz), Db3 (138.59 Hz), Gb3 (185.00 Hz), Bb3 (233.08 Hz), Eb4 (311.13 Hz). This is identical to Eb Standard but with the 6th string dropped an additional whole step.
Does Deftones use Drop C#?
The Deftones use several different tunings across their catalog. Stephen Carpenter uses Drop C# on certain tracks, particularly on albums like "Around the Fur" (e.g., "My Own Summer"). On later albums, Carpenter moved to even lower tunings and 8-string guitars.