How to tune to a drop tuning

Drop tuning is when the 6th string in standard tuning is dropped two semitones. For example, Drop D is when you drop the bottom E string in E standard tuning down to a D, which is two semitones lower. A fret difference is one semitone.

To tune to Drop D you would tune to E standard and then lower the pitch of the bottom string until the 7th fret of the 6th string is the same pitch as the 5th string open. All the rest of the strings should still have the same relationship as standard tuning, so the whole relationship is as follows for any drop tuning:

7th fret of 6th string = open 5th string
5th fret of 5th string = open 4th string
5th fret of 4th string = open 3rd string
4th fret of 3rd string = open 2nd string
5th fret of 2nd string = open 1st string

When tuning it is generally best to work down from the highest pitched string as the bottom string goes out of tune more and it is harder to discern the pitch of a lower pitched note. So to tune to any drop tuning, tune the top (highest pitch) string to two semitones above the name of the drop tuning. So for Drop D this is E, Drop C it is D, drop B it is C# (There is only one semitone between notes B and C, and also between E and F). Once you have tuned the top string, hold down the 5th fret of the 2nd string, and adjust its tension with the tuning pegs until it matches the top string, then hold down the 4th fret of the 3rd string and adjust it until it matches the 2nd string, and so on. You may need to repeat this several times to check they are all in tune, especially for floating tremolo systems.

For floating tremolos, repeat until it is all in tune then lock the locks at the base of the headstock, then check it is still in tune. If it is not, then adjust the fine tuning pegs on the bridge of the guitar until they are, with the same process of checking fretted strings against open strings. Now you are done, assuming the tension of the springs is such that the bridge is level. If not, then you will need a more in depth guide to tuning floating tremolo systems, as it is a complicated process. Your guitar/tremolo manufacturer may have provided a guide with your guitar, or online, if not there are many guides for tuning floating tremolo systems.

Another way of tuning is to use a guitar tuner which tells you whether your string is too sharp or too flat. Tuners are very useful, but I find on the 6th string it is better to use the method above as the tuner nearly always gets the pitch slightly wrong. I shall list the notes in popular drop tunings, but you can work this out yourself using how many semitones apart each string should be.

Starting on the 1st string going down to the 6th string:

Drop D:

E
B
G
D
A
D


Drop C:

D
A
F
C
G
C


Drop B:

C#
G#
E
B
F#
B


Drop A#:

C
G
D#
A#
F
A#