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How to Play Hardcore in Drop C

Drop C is a popular tuning among heavier music genres like hardcore, metal and so on. The low tuning drops the pitch of the guitar to below the standard E tuning by one step. The other major change in the tuning is that the top string (or low C string) is dropped an extra step to create an octave between the first and third strings of the guitar. Playing hardcore music is much simpler in this tuning, as it allows you to play full bar chords just by laying one finger across multiple strings on a fret.

Things You'll Need

  • Guitar tuner
  • Guitar cable
  • Guitar pick
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Instructions

    • 1

      Plug one end of your guitar cable into the the guitar and the other end into the input of your tuner.

    • 2

      Turn on the power to your tuner.

    • 3

      Strike the first string (or low E string) of the guitar, and drop the pitch to C using the strings tuning peg on the guitar's head stock. Watch the tuner to see when you have reached C.

    • 4

      Tune the second string down one step from A to G.

    • 5

      Tune the third string down one step from D to C.

    • 6

      Tune the fourth string down one step from G to F.

    • 7

      Tune the fifth string down one step from B to A.

    • 8

      Tune the sixth string down one step from E to D.

    • 9

      Learn songs in drop C. Lots of bands use this tuning to create heavier tones. You can find guitar tabs featuring drop C tunings from some of your favorite bands. For beginners, try learning System of A Down's "Toxicity." For more advanced players, try playing "King of Nothing" by Shadows Fall.

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