TUNING REFERENCE

Drop C tuning

C · G · C · F · A · D

Drop C is a 6-string guitar tuning with open strings C–G–C–F–A–D.

Instrument
6-String Guitar
Strings
6
Open notes
C G C F A D
With octaves
C2 G2 C3 F3 A3 D4

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

C Minor on the fretboard

Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.

Choose a scale to see it in Drop C. A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.

6-String Guitar referenceC Minor scale in this tuning

6-String Guitar · Drop C · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

C Minor in Drop C on 6-String GuitarPhysical string order is preserved, with the first catalog string at the bottom. Read exact frets and pitches in the table below. Roots carry an R marker.0123456789101112C2G2C3F3A3D4String 1, fret 0: C2, rootCRString 1, fret 2: D2DString 1, fret 3: D#2D#String 1, fret 5: F2FString 1, fret 7: G2GString 1, fret 8: G#2G#String 1, fret 10: A#2A#String 1, fret 12: C3, rootCRString 2, fret 0: G2GString 2, fret 1: G#2G#String 2, fret 3: A#2A#String 2, fret 5: C3, rootCRString 2, fret 7: D3DString 2, fret 8: D#3D#String 2, fret 10: F3FString 2, fret 12: G3GString 3, fret 0: C3, rootCRString 3, fret 2: D3DString 3, fret 3: D#3D#String 3, fret 5: F3FString 3, fret 7: G3GString 3, fret 8: G#3G#String 3, fret 10: A#3A#String 3, fret 12: C4, rootCRString 4, fret 0: F3FString 4, fret 2: G3GString 4, fret 3: G#3G#String 4, fret 5: A#3A#String 4, fret 7: C4, rootCRString 4, fret 9: D4DString 4, fret 10: D#4D#String 4, fret 12: F4FString 5, fret 1: A#3A#String 5, fret 3: C4, rootCRString 5, fret 5: D4DString 5, fret 6: D#4D#String 5, fret 8: F4FString 5, fret 10: G4GString 5, fret 11: G#4G#String 6, fret 0: D4DString 6, fret 1: D#4D#String 6, fret 3: F4FString 6, fret 5: G4GString 6, fret 6: G#4G#String 6, fret 8: A#4A#String 6, fret 10: C5, rootCRString 6, fret 12: D5D

Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.

Fret positions and pitches · first catalog string to last
Open stringFretsNotes with octaves
1 · C20 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12C2 · D2 · D#2 · F2 · G2 · G#2 · A#2 · C3
2 · G20 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12G2 · G#2 · A#2 · C3 · D3 · D#3 · F3 · G3
3 · C30 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12C3 · D3 · D#3 · F3 · G3 · G#3 · A#3 · C4
4 · F30 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 10 · 12F3 · G3 · G#3 · A#3 · C4 · D4 · D#4 · F4
5 · A31 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 11A#3 · C4 · D4 · D#4 · F4 · G4 · G#4
6 · D40 · 1 · 3 · 5 · 6 · 8 · 10 · 12D4 · D#4 · F4 · G4 · G#4 · A#4 · C5 · D5

Intervals from the first string

Each interval is measured by pitch class from the first physical open string. String order is preserved for re-entrant and doubled-course tunings.

StringNoteSemitonesInterval
1C20Root
2G27Perfect 5th
3C30Root
4F35Perfect 4th
5A39Major 6th
6D42Major 2nd

Compare with Standard

Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Standard. Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.

StringDefault pitchThis tuningChange
1E2C2-4 semitones
2A2G2-2 semitones
3D3C3-2 semitones
4G3F3-2 semitones
5B3A3-2 semitones
6E4D4-2 semitones

Explore this string layout

Browse 6-string guitar tunings. Related tunings below prioritize the default tuning, matching interval structures, and nearby open-string pitches.

Chords available in the open strings

D MinorF Major

Scales containing every open-string pitch class

C MajorD MinorD Minor pentatonicF MajorF Major pentatonicG MinorA MinorBb Major

Related tunings

StandardDrop BDrop C#Drop D

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