How to Tune to Drop B
Drop B is C♯ standard with the low string a further whole step down. Every string moves a long way, so tune in two passes.
- Lower the top five strings three semitones (300 cents) each: A to F♯, D to B, G to E, B to G♯, and high E to C♯.
- Lower the low E string five semitones (500 cents), to B1. It should sound one octave below the fourth string.
- Tap a string's button to lock the tuner to it, and check all six again at the end. After a drop this big the neck takes a few minutes to settle, so tune once more after you play for a while.
The low B is 61.7 Hz. Phone microphones pick up notes this low weakly, so the tuner also reads the string's overtones. Hold the phone close and pluck firmly.
Strings for Drop B
On regular strings drop B is slack: the top five strings lose about 30% of their tension and the low string about 44%. Slack strings buzz, go sharp when you pick hard, and sound less defined. Most players use a heavy set, such as 12–56 or 13–62, often with a low string of .060 or heavier. A baritone guitar, with its longer scale, keeps normal tension at this pitch.
After a big change of gauge the nut slots may need widening, and the intonation and truss rod usually need adjusting. A guitar tech can do all three in one setup.
What Drop B Is Used For
Drop B is a metal and metalcore tuning. The bottom three strings (B F♯ B) make a power chord with one finger. The low B matches the lowest string of a 7-string guitar. Some 7-string riffs can be played on a 6-string in drop B.
Tune up to each note rather than down to it. If you go past, loosen the string below the note and come back up: the string holds its pitch better that way.
String Notes and Frequencies
At the standard reference pitch, A4 = 440 Hz. String 1 is the highest-pitched string.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | B1 | 61.74 Hz |
| 5 | F♯2 | 92.50 Hz |
| 4 | B2 | 123.47 Hz |
| 3 | E3 | 164.81 Hz |
| 2 | G♯3 | 207.65 Hz |
| 1 | C♯4 | 277.18 Hz |