Drop B Tuning

Mic off

Drop B B F♯ B E G♯ C♯

Uses your microphone. Nothing is recorded or sent anywhere.

Tuning

Pitch

Normal

Strings

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A4 calibration

440Hz
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  • A Auto detect

Drop B on a six-string guitar is B F# B E G# C# from low to high: Drop D tuned a step and a half lower. It is a very low, very heavy tuning for metal.

What is drop B tuning?

Every string goes down a step and a half from standard, and the 6th string drops a further whole step to B. The bottom three strings are B, F# and B, so power chords are still one finger across three strings.

This is a big drop for a six-string guitar. Most players who live in Drop B use a much heavier set of strings, or a baritone guitar with a longer neck, so the low B stays tight and in tune.

Drop B tuning notes

Drop B from the thickest string to the thinnest is B F♯ B E G♯ C♯. The frequencies are for standard pitch, A4 = 440 Hz.

StringNoteFrequency
6th (thickest)B161.74 Hz
5thF♯292.50 Hz
4thB2123.47 Hz
3rdE3164.81 Hz
2ndG♯3207.65 Hz
1st (thinnest)C♯4277.18 Hz

How to tune to Drop B

Start from standard tuning (E A D G B E) and change 6 strings:

  1. Lower the 6th string (E) 5 half steps to B.
  2. Lower the 5th string (A) a step and a half to F#.
  3. Lower the 4th string (D) a step and a half to B.
  4. Lower the 3rd string (G) a step and a half to E.
  5. Lower the 2nd string (B) a step and a half to G#.
  6. Lower the 1st string (E) a step and a half to C#.

The tuner at the top of this page is already set to Drop B. Press the mic button, play each open string and let it ring, then turn the tuning peg until the string lights up green. When you lower a string, go a little below the note and tune back up to it so it stays in tune.

Why guitarists use Drop B

  • A very low, crushing sound for modern metal.
  • Gets close to 7-string range on a regular six-string guitar.
  • One-finger power chords like every drop tuning.

Learn to play in Drop B

Hear it played and try it yourself with these video lessons from the Infinite Guitar library:

Drop B Tuning Etude - Intro & Performance Free lesson · Lucas Fowler Drop B Tuning Etude - Riff 1 Free lesson · Lucas Fowler Drop B Tuning Etude - Riff 2 Free lesson · Lucas Fowler Drop B Tuning Etude - Riff 3 Free lesson · Lucas Fowler

Other guitar tunings

Drop DD A D G B E Half step downE♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭ D standardD G C F A D Drop CC G C F A D Drop C#C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯ DADGADD A D G A D Open GD G D G B D Open DD A D F♯ A D Open EE B E G♯ B E Open CC G C G C E 7-string standardB E A D G B E 7-string Drop AA E A D G B E 8-string standardF♯ B E A D G B E 9-string standardC♯ F♯ B E A D G B E

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Drop B tuning FAQ

How do I tune to drop B tuning?

Start from standard tuning (E A D G B E). Lower the 6th string (E) 5 half steps to B. Lower the 5th string (A) a step and a half to F#. Lower the 4th string (D) a step and a half to B. Lower the 3rd string (G) a step and a half to E. Lower the 2nd string (B) a step and a half to G#. Lower the 1st string (E) a step and a half to C#. The tuner on this page is already set to Drop B, so play each string and turn it until it lights up green.

How do I get back to standard tuning?

Raise the 6th string from B back to E. Raise the 5th string from F# back to A. Raise the 4th string from B back to D. Raise the 3rd string from E back to G. Raise the 2nd string from G# back to B. Raise the 1st string from C# back to E. Or pick Standard under the tuner and tune each string until it turns green.

Is 6-string Drop B the same as 7-string standard?

Not quite. Both have a low B, but 7-string standard is B E A D G B E, which keeps the usual six strings on top. Six-string Drop B moves every string down, so its top strings are different: B F# B E G# C#.