This unique guitar tuning, aptly named Drop C (Alternate), offers a powerful and dark sonic landscape. Its origins, as highlighted in a masterclass by Mark Holcomb of Periphery/Haunted Shores, suggest it’s designed for modern progressive metal and heavy rock, where intricate riffing meets crushing low-end impact.

Verbal Analysis

The tuning provides a significantly lowered register, giving the guitar a deep, guttural growl perfect for heavy rhythms and thick, dense chords. While sharing the "Drop C" name, this isn't a typical C-G-C-F-A-D arrangement. The alterations to the inner strings create a distinctive harmonic flavor, allowing for rich voicings that go beyond simple power chords. Players can expect a powerful, resonant sound that excels in drop-tuned genres, offering both crushing single-note lines and harmonically interesting chord progressions.

Technical Analysis

Starting from standard E-A-D-G-B-E tuning, this setup involves significant down-tuning across all strings. The resulting open string notes are C2-G2-C3-E3-G3-D4.

• The 6th string (C2) and 4th string (C3) are tuned to C an octave apart, a common characteristic of 'Drop' tunings that facilitates easy single-finger power chords.
• The 5th string (G2) provides a perfect fifth to the low C, further enhancing the low-end power chord structure.
• The middle strings reveal the unique character of this "Alternate" Drop C: the 3rd string is E3 and the 2nd string is G3. Relative to the C3 on the 4th string, these form a Major 3rd (E) and Perfect 5th (G).
• The 1st string (D4) is tuned down to D, which is a Major 2nd/9th relative to the C root.

Open Chords and Shapes

This tuning is highly conducive to both heavy riffing and harmonically rich chords:

• Power Chords: The lowest three strings (C-G-C) form a strong root-fifth-octave power chord structure. Barring a single fret across the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings will yield a heavy power chord (e.g., first fret gives C#-G#-C#).
• Open C Major Voicing: Strumming strings 6 through 2 (C-G-C-E-G) produces a robust and resonant C Major chord. The presence of the Major 3rd (E) and Perfect 5th (G) on the inner strings makes this voicing particularly full and harmonically satisfying without needing to fret any notes.
• Extended Chords: Including the 1st string (D4) with the open C Major voicing (C-G-C-E-G-D) creates a complex Cmaj9sus4 or Cmajadd9 voicing, offering interesting possibilities for arpeggios or dissonant swells.
• The overall arrangement allows for easy access to low, heavy root-fifth-octave power chords, while the specific intervals on the inner strings also open up opportunities for more melodic and harmonically intricate passages, making it versatile for both aggressive riffing and atmospheric textures.

The target notes for your guitar in Drop C (Alternate) tuning are:

• 6th String (Low E): C2
• 5th String (A): G2
• 4th String (D): C3
• 3rd String (G): E3
• 2nd String (B): G3
• 1st String (High E): D4