How to Tune a Guitar to Drop C
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Drop C tuning is C G C F A D, from the low string to the high string. Tune each string down to its Drop C note with a chromatic tuner: low E to C, A to G, D to C, G to F, B to A, and high E to D. Check each string after the rest have moved.
Start from standard tuning
Tune the guitar to standard tuning, E A D G B E from the low string to the high string, so every string starts from a known note. Set the tuner to chromatic mode, so it reads any note rather than only the standard guitar notes. Clip the tuner to the headstock and pluck each string in turn, watching the note name on the display before you turn a tuning peg.
Tune the low strings down
Begin with the low E string and loosen the peg until the tuner reads C. Move to the A string and loosen it until the tuner reads G, then move to the D string and loosen it until the tuner reads C. Turn each peg in small moves and pluck the string after each move, so the tuner reads the note the string is sounding now. Loosening a string lowers its note, so keep turning in the same direction until the target note shows.
Tune the high strings down
Move to the G string and loosen it until the tuner reads F. Move to the B string and loosen it until the tuner reads A, then move to the high E string and loosen it until the tuner reads D. Work through each string in turn and let the tuner settle on the note name before you move on. When all the strings read C G C F A D from low to high, the guitar is in Drop C.
Check each string again
Tuning a string down changes the pull on the neck, so a string tuned earlier can shift while later strings are tuned. Go through the strings in order from low to high and compare each one with its Drop C note. Adjust any string that has moved and check the full set again, so every string reads its target note after the rest have settled.
Ask a repair shop about buzz
Lower tuning leaves the strings with less pull, and a string can touch a fret when it vibrates. If a string buzzes after tuning, do not adjust the truss rod yourself. Ask a repair shop to look at the setup, and tell them the guitar is tuned to Drop C.
What you need
KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On Guitar
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with a chromatic mode and an octave display, so it reads the low C and shows which octave each string is in.
- Chromatic mode
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip On
Snark SIL-RED Silver Snark Chromatic Tuner Red
A chromatic tuner with a high resolution display that rotates 360 degrees, so the display can face the player while tuning.
- Chromatic mode
Snark ST-8HPT High Precision Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with an anechoic sound shield that keeps room noise out, so it reads the strings in a noisy room.
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip-On
These come from our ranked list Best Tuners, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a chromatic tuner for Drop C?
Yes. A chromatic tuner reads any note, so it shows C, G, F, A and D as you tune down from standard tuning. A tuner locked to standard guitar notes will not show the notes Drop C needs.
Why do the strings move out of tune after I finish?
Tuning a string down changes the pull on the neck, so strings tuned earlier can shift. Go through the strings in order again and adjust any note that has moved, then check them again before playing.
What if the low strings buzz after tuning down?
Lower tuning leaves the strings with less pull, and a string can touch a fret when it vibrates. Ask a repair shop about the setup rather than adjusting the truss rod yourself.
Ranked guitar tuners lists
More how-to guides
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