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Guitar tuning

Drop B

A half step below Drop C. The sixth string reads B1 — the bottom of guitar register.

Electric · 6 in line
B1F♯2B2E3G♯3C♯4
Acoustic · 3 + 3
B1F♯2B2C♯4G♯3E3
6th
B1
61.7 Hz
5th
F♯2
92.5 Hz
4th
B2
123.5 Hz
3rd
E3
164.8 Hz
2nd
G♯3
207.7 Hz
1st
C♯4
277.2 Hz

Note names won’t tune your guitar.

Knowing the strings should read B F♯ B E G♯ C♯ is the easy half. Landing each frequency — and knowing whether you are nine cents flat or three — is the half that needs an ear or an instrument.

1
Open Dial and play a string
It listens as soon as you play. Nothing to press.
2
Turn each peg until the needle centres
Everything drops a step and a half; the sixth string lands at 61.7 Hz.
3
Check the remaining strings
Changing tension on one string shifts the neck slightly. The rest usually need a nudge.
Get Dial for iPhone Standard tuning free
Alternate tunings, one-time unlock
Dial showing the low E string at 82.4 hertz, needle centred

What Drop B is for

Deftones-and-heavier territory. At this tension a standard string set goes floppy, so most players fit a heavy gauge — or reach for a baritone. The one-finger power chord shape survives the whole way down.

A few chords to try

B5
Open
F♯5
7th fret
7fr
B
Open

Nearby tunings