GUITAR · B F# B E G# C#

Drop B tuning chords

Drop B tuning is B F# B E G# C# from the low string to the high string: Drop D lowered three half steps. Pick a root and chord type below to see the frets, the note each string sounds, and hear the shape.

DROP B CHORD WORKBENCH

B50 0 0 X X X

Drop B · B1 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4
Three half steps below Drop D; this is not B standard.

Root Quality

Fret codes run from string six to string one. 0 is open; X is muted. Power chords use only the root and fifth.

Read the low B string first. The table shows each selected string's fret, actual sounding pitch, and chord role.
Finger row: suggested finger — 1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 pinky; – not fretted. A bar means one finger holds several strings.

SELECTED SHAPE

B5

Drop B · 0 0 0 X X X

Sounding notes, string six to string one
String	Fret	Note	Role
6 · B	O	B1	Root
5 · F#	O	F#2	Perfect fifth
4 · B	O	B2	Root
3 · E	X	Muted	Silent
2 · G#	X	Muted	Silent
1 · C#	X	Muted	Silent

What is checked: each fret is applied to B1–F#2–B2–E3–G#3–C#4 and the resulting pitch classes must match the selected quality. Only the selected strings sound. These are exact-pitch references within fifteen frets, not promises about comfortable fingering.

HOW DROP B CHORDS WORK

Tune from standard or Drop D to Drop B

Every string goes down. From standard, the low E drops five half steps to B and the other five strings drop three. From Drop D, all six strings drop three half steps. A string that low feels loose on a standard set; most players move to a heavier set, as on the Drop C page.

String	Standard	Drop D	Drop B	Change from standard
6	E2	D2	B1	down 5
5	A2	A2	F#2	down 3
4	D3	D3	B2	down 3
3	G3	G3	E3	down 3
2	B3	B3	G#3	down 3
1	E4	E4	C#4	down 3

Drop B power chord chart

The low three strings are tuned B F# B, so one finger across them at the same fret plays a power chord. Open is B5, fret 1 is C5, fret 2 is C#5, up to B5 again at fret 12. The same one-finger shape works in Drop D, Drop C and Drop C#; only the chord names shift.

Fret	Frets (6 → 1)	Notes
0	0 0 0 X X X	B1 · F#2 · B2
1	1 1 1 X X X	C2 · G2 · C3
2	2 2 2 X X X	C#2 · G#2 · C#3
3	3 3 3 X X X	D2 · A2 · D3
4	4 4 4 X X X	D#2 · A#2 · D#3
5	5 5 5 X X X	E2 · B2 · E3
6	6 6 6 X X X	F2 · C3 · F3
7	7 7 7 X X X	F#2 · C#3 · F#3
8	8 8 8 X X X	G2 · D3 · G3
9	9 9 9 X X X	G#2 · D#3 · G#3
10	10 10 10 X X X	A2 · E3 · A3
11	11 11 11 X X X	A#2 · F3 · A#3
12	12 12 12 X X X	B2 · F#3 · B3

COMMON QUESTIONS

Drop B chord questions

What notes are in Drop B tuning?

B F# B E G# C#, low to high (B1 F#2 B2 E3 G#3 C#4).

Is Drop B the same as B standard?

No. B standard is B E A D F# B, every string five half steps below standard. In Drop B the low string is a fifth below string 5 instead of a fourth, which is what makes the one-finger power chord work.

Can I play Drop D songs in Drop B?

Yes, with the same frets. Every string is three half steps lower than Drop D, so a song in D sounds in B.

Do I need a 7-string or baritone guitar for Drop B?

No, a 6-string works. A heavier string set keeps the low B from buzzing and going out of tune; a baritone gives more tension if you play there often.

More tunings: Drop A tuning and B standard tuning · DADGAD chords.