The "Dropped C" tuning, as presented here, offers a powerful and resonant foundation, pushing the lower limits of a standard guitar while maintaining familiar intervals on the higher strings. It's a popular choice for genres requiring a heavy, driving sound, from hard rock to various metal subgenres, providing a distinct sonic character with its deep bass notes.

Technical Analysis:

This tuning sets the guitar's open strings to C2 G2 D3 G3 B3 E4. Compared to standard EADGBe tuning, the 6th string (low E) is lowered two whole steps (4 semitones) to C2, and the 5th string (A) is lowered one whole step (2 semitones) to G2. The remaining 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings (D, G, B, E) retain their standard pitch and relative intervals. This configuration results in a tuning that effectively lowers the entire guitar's lower strings significantly while preserving much of the standard guitar's playability on the higher strings.

Open Chords and Playability:

• The open strings C2-G2-D3-G3-B3-E4 combine to form a rich C Major 9th chord (C-E-G-B-D) with some doubled notes and inversions (Root, 5th, 9th, 5th, 7th, 3rd). This provides a very full and resonant open sound.
• The significant drop of the 6th string to C allows for easy one-finger power chords by barring the 6th and 5th strings (C-G) at any fret, creating powerful 5th intervals that are characteristic of "dropped" tunings. This makes playing heavy riffs and power chord progressions very accessible.
• The D3-G3-B3-E4 upper strings retain their standard relative tuning, which means that many familiar chord shapes, scales, and lead patterns from standard tuning can be directly applied to these strings without relearning, making the tuning versatile despite its low register.

The strings are tuned as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Tuned down to C2
• 5th String (A): Tuned down to G2
• 4th String (D): Tuned to D3
• 3rd String (G): Tuned to G3
• 2nd String (B): Tuned to B3
• 1st String (High E): Tuned to E4

How to Tune:

• 6th String: Tune down 4 semitones from E to C2. Caution: Tuning down 4 semitones is a significant change in string tension. For optimal playability and intonation, especially if this tuning is used frequently, considering a heavier gauge string is advised.
• 5th String: Tune down 2 semitones from A to G2.
• 4th String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at D3.
• 3rd String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at G3.
• 2nd String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at B3.
• 1st String: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) at E4.