Drop C tuning

Drop C tuning (CGCFAD)

Drop C tuning (CGCFAD) (listen)

Drop C tuning is an alternative guitar tuning where at least one string has been lowered to a C, but most commonly refers to CGCFAD, which can be described as D tuning with a 6th string dropped to C, or drop D tuning transposed down a whole step. Because of its heavier tone, it is most commonly used in rock and heavy metal music. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Artists that have used CGCFAD

• A Day To Remember (on most songs, they occasionally use other drop tunings) ^[6]
• Alter Bridge (on some songs such as "Isolation") ^[7]
• Arch/Matheos ^[8]
• Black Stone Cherry ^{[9] [10]}
• Chimaira ^[11] (on most songs after their first album)
• Dååth ^[4]
• Dope ^[12]
• Escape the Fate ^[13]
• Heaven & Hell (on "Follow the Tears") ^[14]
• King's X ^[15] (most later material and live performances, also used on some songs since Dogman )
• Metallica (on the majority of songs in the "St. Anger" album) ^[16]
• Nickelback (on some songs, such as most songs on their 2003 album "The Long Road") ^{[17] [18]}
• Skillet ^[19] (on "Monster")
• System of a Down ^[20]
• Theory of a Deadman ^[21]
• Triggerfinger ^[22]
• Wintersun ^[23] (on some songs)

Artists that have used CADGBE

• Bob Dylan – predominantly in the period 1965-1966. ^[24]
• John Mayer – on the song "Neon". ^{[25] [26]}
• Muse – on the songs "Map Of The Problematique" ^{[26] [27]} & "Dead Inside"
• Brad Richter – on the piece "Flirtation" ^[28]
• The Tallest Man on Earth – on the song "The Sparrow and the Medicine". ^{[29] [30]}

Artists that have used CGDGBE

• Keola Beamer ^[31]
• Richard Thompson ^{[32] [33]}
• Soundgarden-on the song "Limo Wreck" ^[34]

References

1. Aledort, Andy (7 April 2010). "Atreyu: Prior Convictions". Guitar World . Retrieved 23 November 2011. ...drop C tuning, which is like drop D but with all of the strings down a whole step [low to high: C G C F A D]. Drop C sounds a little more brutal. Because of its deeper, heavier sound, it is commonly used in metal.
2. Perry, Megan (November 2004). Wired: musicians' home studios : tools & techniques of the musical mavericks. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 79. ISBN   978-0-87930-794-3 . Retrieved 24 November 2011.
3. Guitar Player Magazine (1989). Jim Hatlo (ed.). Hot Licks. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 101. ISBN   978-0-88188-910-9 . Retrieved 24 November 2011.
4. Emil, Werstler (7 August 2008). "Emil from Daath Talks Guitars". Roadrunner News. Roadrunner Records . Retrieved 24 November 2011.
5. Guitar Setup for Drop C Tuning article explains drop tunings for rock guitars and metal bands on the Guitar Repair Bench Luthier Website
6. "A Day To Remember Keep in Touch with Their Devoted Fan Base on the Road and on Their New Album, 'Common Courtesy'". 13 January 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
7. Freed, Nick (20 December 2010). "Album Review: Alter Bridge – AB III". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved 24 November 2011.
8. Michael Kizer; Jim Matheos (21 October 2011). "Jim comments briefly on the tunings used on Sympathetic Resonance". Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
9. "Rig Rundown - Black Stone Cherry's Chris Robertson". All Axess. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
10. "Rig Rundown - Black Stone Cherry's Ben Wells". All Axess. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
11. "Rob Arnold of Chimaira – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2009". GuitarGeek. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
12. Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (1 April 2002). Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation; Jeff Kitts; Brad Tolinski (eds.). Guitar World Presents Nu-Metal . Hal Leonard Corporation. p.  132. ISBN   978-0-634-03287-5 . Retrieved 24 November 2011. dropped c guitar.
13. "Bryan Monte Money of Escape The Fate – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2008". GuitarGeek. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
14. Mercedes-Benz Enthusiast Channel 1 (12 July 2009), HEAVEN & HELL - Follow The Tears, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 5 April 2016
15. "Ty Tabor of King's X – Guitar Rig and Gear Setup – 2008". GuitarGeek. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
16. "Metallica Guitar Tunings Over The Years: The Complete, In-Depth Guide!". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
17. "Rig Rundown - Nickelback's Chad Kroeger & Ryan Peake". Premier Guitar. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
18. "Nickelback Equipment". Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2014. ...(Drop D One Whole Step Down CGCFAD, Drop C CADGBE and Drop B BADGBE)
19. Skillet - Monster (Tab) , retrieved 17 July 2023
20. "System of a Down Amp Settings & Gear – Daron Malakian Tone". Liam Plowman. Retrieved 10 April 2023.|
21. "Backstage with Theory of a Deadman HQ(Guitar Edge.com)". Guitar Edge. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
22. Adriaensen, Wouter. "Ruben Block gear". Blues Online. Retrieved 13 May 2014. Ruben also plays ... a Melody Maker in CGCFAD tuning - which is dropped D tuning one full tone down...
23. "Rigged: Wintersun". MetalSucks.net. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
24. "Roadmaps for the Soul". dylanchords.info. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
25. "CADGBE Guitar Tuner". gtdb.org. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
26. "The Uses of Drop D and Drop C Tunings Today". 16 September 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
27. Delany, Ross (31 July 2006). "Muse - Black Holes and Revelations" . Retrieved 14 May 2014.
28. Richter, Brad (3 October 2005). Brad Richter, Solo Guitar Collection. Mel Bay Publications. p. 6. ISBN   978-0-7866-6744-4 . Retrieved 24 November 2011.
29. The Tallest Man On Earth - Topic (30 November 2014), The Sparrow and the Medicine, archived from the original on 13 December 2021, retrieved 4 March 2019
30. "The Tallest Man On Earth - Sparrow And The Medicine (Guitar Pro)". tabs.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
31. "A Brief History of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" (PDF). Dancing Cat Records. Retrieved 13 May 2014. ... C-G-D-G-B-E Tuning (often called "Keola's C", because it has been used most prominently by Slack Key guitarist Keola Beamer)
32. "Q&A re: Gear and Tunings". richardthompson-music.com. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
33. Little, Guy (29 December 2013). "Richard Thompson". Acoustic Magazine . Retrieved 13 May 2014. My main tunings are: drop D, DADGAD and CGDGBE…
34. Rotondi, James (June 1994). "Alone in the Superunknown". Guitar Player . Retrieved 13 May 2014.