C Standard Tuner
This C standard tuner listens through your microphone and shows how far each string is from C F Bb Eb G C, the notes of C standard from the 6th string to the 1st. Press start, allow the microphone, and pluck one string at a time. The tuner names the string it heard, shows the cents you are off, and tells you which way to turn the peg.
C standard is four semitones below standard, and that deep pitch is why players reach for it: the whole guitar rumbles while every chord shape stays the same. Going this far down, ordinary strings get very slack, so a heavier string set is the sensible choice, and the guitar will almost certainly want a setup tweak for intonation and buzz.
The notes of this tuning
| String | Standard | This tuning | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | E | C | −4 |
| 5 | A | F | −4 |
| 4 | D | B♭ | −4 |
| 3 | G | E♭ | −4 |
| 2 | B | G | −4 |
| 1 | E | C | −4 |
How to tune from standard
- Start from standard tuning with the tuner open. All six strings will drop four semitones each, so work slowly.
- Pluck the 6th string and loosen it four semitones, from E to C.
- Move to the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings, lowering each four semitones to its new note.
- Recheck every string after a short break. With this much slack, the neck settles slowly and the lowest strings usually drift first.
Frequently asked questions
What is C standard tuning?
C standard lowers all six strings by four semitones, so the notes from the 6th string to the 1st are C F Bb Eb G C. Like D standard, it keeps the same intervals as standard tuning, so every chord shape still works. The strings sit much lower in pitch, which calls for a heavier gauge.
What string gauge works for C standard?
A heavier set, such as the ones sold for lower tunings, keeps the tension playable when every string drops four semitones. Start there and adjust: if the strings feel too stiff for you, go one step lighter; if they buzz, go heavier. Let the neck settle, then check the intonation at the 12th fret.
How long does it take to tune down to C standard?
A few minutes with the tuner, plus a little settling time. Drop each string in order, then play for a while and retune; the neck takes a few minutes to finish moving under the lower tension. If you stay in this tuning, one careful pass after that usually holds well.