Notes On Basic Tunings

Below I will show you the notes for three different tunings:

-Standard: EADGBE
-Drop D: DADFBE
-Drop C: CGCFAD

This comes in handy when transcribing music from different tunings. I personally am not a fan of alternate tunings. I think its annoying having to stop and tune my guitar. Why bother telling you this anyways, I know you really dont care. Email me any mistakes, I havent read this over yet.

STANDARD: 

E-|---F---|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|-A-|-A#/Bb-| 
B-|---C---|-C#/Db-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|-E-|---F---| 
G-|-G#/Ab-|---A---|-A#/Bb-|---B---|-C-|-C#/Db-| Continued On 
D-|-D#/Eb-|---E---|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-| Next Line -> 
A-|-A#/Bb-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|-D-|-D#/Eb-| 
E-|---F---|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|-A-|-A#/Bb-| 

		3rd Fret	 5th Fret 

E-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|-D-|-D#/Eb-|-E-| 
B-|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|-A-|-A#/Bb-|-B-| 
G-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|---E---|-F-|-F#/Gb-|-G-| 
D-|---A---|-A#/Bb-|---B---|-C-|-C#/Db-|-D-| 
A-|---E---|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-|-A-| 
E-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|-D-|-D#/Eb-|-E-| 

7th Fret 	9th Fret 	12th Fret 

------------------------------------------------------------ 

DROP D: 

E-|---F---|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|-A-|-A#/Bb-| 
B-|---C---|-C#/Db-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|-E-|---F---| 
G-|-G#/Ab-|---A---|-A#/Bb-|---B---|-C-|-C#/Db-| Continued On 
D-|-D#/Eb-|---E---|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-| Next Line -> 
A-|-A#/Bb-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|-D-|-D#/Eb-| 
D-|---E---|-E#/Fb-|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-| 

		3rd Fret 	5th Fret 

E-|---B---|---C---|-C#/Db-|-D-|-D#/Eb-|-E-| 
B-|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|-A-|-A#/Bb-|-B-| 
G-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|---E---|-F-|-F#/Gb-|-G-| 
D-|---A---|-A#/Bb-|---B---|-C-|-C#/Db-|-D-| 
A-|---E---|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-|-A-| 
D-|---A---|---B---|-B#/Cb-|-C-|-C#/Db-|-D-| 

7th Fret 	9th Fret 	12th Fret 

------------------------------------------------------------ 

DROP C: 

D-|---E---|-E#/Fb-|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-| 
A-|---B---|-B#/Cb-|---C---|-C#/Db-|-D-|---E---| 
F-|-F#/Gb-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|---A---|-B-|-B#/Cb-| Continued On 
C-|-C#/Db-|---D---|---E---|-E#/Fb-|-F-|-F#/Gb-| Next Line -> 
G-|-G#/Ab-|---A---|---B---|-B#/Cb-|-C-|-C#/Db-| 
C-|---D---|-D#/Eb-|---E---|-E#/Fb-|-F-|-F#/Gb-| 

		3rd Fret 	5th Fret 

D-|---A---|---B---|-B#/Cb-|-C-|-C#/Db-|-D-| 
A-|-E#/Fb-|---F---|-F#/Gb-|-G-|-G#/Ab-|-A-| 
F-|---C---|-C#/Db-|---D---|-E-|-E#/Fb-|-F-| 
C-|---G---|-G#/Ab-|---A---|-B-|-B#/Cb-|-C-| 
G-|---D---|---E---|-E#/Fb-|-F-|-F#/Gb-|-G-| 
C-|---G---|---A---|-A#/Bb-|-B-|-B#/Cb-|-c-| 

7th Fret 	9th Fret 	12th Fret

Comments

[Oswald]

This means that when you c tune, the Pentatonic scales wont work the same?

[boxcar4ever!]

wtf?

[Mudvayne692]

Yup h is hammer on and ~~ IS LET RING

[Pog]

this is menna be basics. for retards!!! wtf is hammer on. do u want me to take a ***in sledge hammmer to my guitar?!?!?!

[juanpumas]

how do i tune my guitar from standard to drop D, well if any one can help let know at; [e-mail]

[grhpckls]

would be handy if there was sum info on how to tune your guitar with all these different tunings

[Night Prowler]

Stuff like this just makes me feel stupid...

[calvin420]

I concur

[Spl!nTeRgu!tAr]

um ok....? i dont get it

[Desk Jocky]

You need a tuner... then use the key at the top

-Standard: EADGBE
-Drop D: DADFBE
-Drop C: CGCFAD

SO String 1 for Drop C is a C
So string 2 for Drop C is a G.... etc

[HEROICSEVEN]

How dont u guys understand this

[jeffpartdoce]

how many semitones are there from a "low e" to a "c" note... or better yet, can you say what a semitone is and how they work... i just got a new tuner, and i'm not to sure how to use the semitone function... if you can help out plz do... i'm lost

[guitar21@WE]

me tooo

after readin this article, its not about how to tune your guitar to these tunings, its showing you the notes the frets produce when you have actually worked out how to tune to thse. i like it.

jeffpartdoce:
how many semitones are there from a "low e" to a "c" note... or better yet, can you say what a semitone is and how they work... i just got a new tuner, and i'm not to sure how to use the semitone function... if you can help out plz do... i'm lost

A semi-tone is a 'half note' between two other notes. these 'half notes' are either flats or sharps. so... you can get a Bb which means B flat, you can get a normal B and a B# which is a B sharp. As mentioned above, a Bb can also be an A#. below is a list of notes and semi-tones:
[code]
A,(A# or Bb),B,C,(C# or Db),D,(D# or Eb),E,F,(F# or Gb),G,(G# or Ab)
[/code]

As you can see, the only notes which dont have sharps are C-D and E-F. Dont worry about why, just remember they dont.

Using what i wrote above, you can now find out how many semitones there are between an E note and a C:
[code]
E->F->F#->G->G#->A->A#->B->C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
[code]
So there are a total of 9 tones and semitones between E and C.

On certain types of guitar tuners, a flat can be indicated by the 'needle' moving all the way to the left (flat side of the screen). A sharp is indicated by the needle going to the far right (Sharp side of the screen).

[harlottspy]

i think u nid 2 b more sensitiv wid ur guitars... love ur sounds, always think 4 it!hahaha..

[GuitarAngelme]

i dont even know how to play my acoustic guitar! y am i so clueless? help! email me at [e-mail] if u can help me!

[lparton]

To tune from standard to drop d, just tune your thickest string(6) down two frets, so the 7th fret sounds the same as open string 5. the rest is just standard

[lparton]

^^^^

juanpumas:
how do i tune my guitar from standard to drop D, well if any one can help let know at; [e-mail]
[POSTED: 07 April 2004 - 12:35]|

[fudgeloaf]

i already know how to tune to drop D which is pretty easy but i have no idea how to tune to drop C is there an easy way to do that like there is drop D ???? email me at [e-mail] if you know how please

[TeEice]

Who understood the article? i cant .. lol

[fatsmcfatterson]

this article was excellent i was able to transcribe "love me do" by The Beatles to Drop C using this, Thanx

[lil'lola]

hey---
if u guys don't know how to use this get a friggen piano or keyboard find low d (if ur tryin to tune ur guitar to d)now press the key... got that?? okay not make the string sound like that key . then go to the 5th fret and pluck the 6th string then the 5th right after that (u have to make the 5th string sound like the 6th) that's how u tune ur guitar. idiots!!!!

[dancing_jesus]

if u cant understand this just think about it-the first fret on low E (regular tuning) is the root note of the cord F-the 3rd fret of the low E (regular tuning) is a G-etc.
great Lesson 5 stars

[omertoscar]

for anyone that dont knows how to tune in drop D just make that your E string in the fret number 7 makes the same note that A string and thats all you dont need a map for that.

[snake2222]

dude wtf????drop D is Dadgbe not Dadfbe idiots

[Four Wheels]

Does anyone know how to transcribe tabs which are in
C F Bb Eb G C tuning as used by Queens of the Stone Age?

[richardembrace4]

WELL FOR ALL THE GUYS THAT DONT KNOW HOW TO DROP TUNNING FIRST BUY YOURSELF A CHROMATIC GUITAR TUNER THAT WOULD RUN YOU ABOUT 20 BUCKS THEN GET YOUR GUITAR AND YOUR CHROMATIC TUNER AND SLOWLY TUNE DOWN YOUR STRINGS TO WHAT EVER TUNNING YOUR WANTING EASYEST WAY

[richardembrace4]

IF YOU WANTING TO DROP LOWER TUNING BUY A CHROMATIC TUNER SOLD IN HASTINGS CALDWELL MUSIC WAL MART ANY GUITAR OR MUSIC PLACE SHEAPEST IS ABOUT 20 BUCKS RM PEACE

[richardembrace4]

LETS SAY YOU PLAY A SONG YOU KNOW LETS SAY SEETHERS FINE AGAIN YOU KNOW THE WHOLE SONG WHAT DROP TUNNING MEANS IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE PLAYING POWER CHORDS WITH STANDARD TUNNING THEN WHEN YOU DROP TUNNING THE CHORDS COME TOGETHER ONE FINER CAN PLAY A CHORD THAT PROBLY GIVE YOU TROUBLE AND ANOTHER REASON IS BECAUSE IT SOUND HEAVIER SOUNDS DARKER THEN WITH STADARD TUNNING THATS WHY LIKE BANDS LIKE ATREYU USE DROP C IN SOME SONGS HOPE I HELPED A LITTLE

[richardembrace4]

WELL FOR THE GUYS THAT DONT KNOW HOW TO TUNE THERE GUITARS DOWN WELL DROP D IS PRETTY EASY YOU CAN USE REGULAR GUITAR TUNER BUT IF YOU WANT TO TUNE TO C OR ANY OTHER TUNNING YOU HAVE TO BUY A CHROMATIC GUITAR TUNER WHICH IS PREETY CHEAP IN SOME STORES LIKE WAL MART OR CALDWELL OR IF YOU HAVE HASTINGS RUN YOU ABOUT 20 BUCKS

[qwdudeqw]

hwo do u play normal notes shush as c or d or e i mean like th scale
fret2 fret1
e-----*---!-----!-
----
b-----*-----
g----
-*-----
d----- < i know that is a C
a-----*---
d----- but how do i play the rest of the notes

[ledzep1991]

its a good solid, simple lesson on notes...not hard to understand

[Megamanx454]

I play on Drop C tuning right but I want to know if the scales are altered some way. and is my G string sounds deeper than my sixth C string. is that even normal?

[Megamanx454]

if anyone has an answer just E-mail me at [e-mail] I'd really like to know

[Megamanx454]

made a typo sorry....(here it is again) I play on Drop C tuning right but I want to know if the scales are altered some way. and my G string sounds deeper than my sixth C string. is that even normal?

[neptoess]

ok for drop d tune your guitar to standard then tune your thickest string at the seventh to be identical to your open 5th string(2nd thickest string) then for drop c tune your entire guitar a whole step down(tune the thickest on 7th fret to open 5th. Then tune the open 5th to the 5th fret 6th, open 4th to the fret 5th open 3rd to 5th fret 4th, open 2nd to the 4th fret 3rd open 1st to 5th fret second) then tune the thickest string at the 7th fret to the open 5th string. Or just use a chromatic tuner and for drop d tune (thickest to skinniest) DADGBE & for drop c CGCFAD

[joshuablume2006]

a friend taught me this.
C#,F#,B E,G#,C#
I just drop my top string down to B. You can now do fifths with one finger.

[ninja450]

This was a killer lesson, all the other stuff i have lookd up on the internet would never say any thing on notes(though they all say beginner) as if its known to all from birth. for those of us not born knowing this TY!!!

[sgthaus]

I bought an amp that has a built in tuner....it helped tremendously, especially when I started tuning my guitar to all the different variations. I highly recommend it for anyone having difficulties tuning their guitar.....rock on!

[mb889]

I have a question about drop C. Just email me at [e-mail] .

[Metalhead3333]

This has helped me a lot. It's helped me figure out the notes for the scales I'm learning right now. Thanks a ton!

[ForTimeHasCome]

i dont get it ne one tell me how to get into droped C
plx?
thanks,mike

[dylennon]

I don't understand how a F# can be a Gb or a G# can be an Ab. Can someone explain?

[Edge_of_defeat]

>_< this all sounds like gibrish to me i have no clue
will some one please email ma at [e-mail] Thankyou

[marcoRAKIZTA]

[quote]juanpumas wrote:

just tune it on D string, that's why it is called Drop ''D''...

[lyka0518]

omg i dont get this...can anybody help me pls

[JakoSnako]

dylennon, a Gb essentially is an F# in tone or so im told