My Chord Finder
C
C frets from the sixth string to the first: 0 0 0 2 x 2.
C spelling: C, E, G.
C sounding notes: C2 (1), G2 (5), C3 (1), G3 (5), E4 (3).
C open strings: sixth string, C2, fifth string, G2, fourth string, C3.
drop c tuning chords
These drop c tuning chords are calculated in Drop C: C2, G2, C3, F3, A3, D4 (MIDI 36, 43, 48, 53, 57, 62). One finger across the low three strings is a power chord. The measured fifth is 1.2 cents against equal temperament.
One-finger power chords
The same fret on the sixth, fifth, and fourth strings sounds the root, the fifth, and the octave. The upper three strings stay muted.
| Fret | Chord | Frets (6 to 1) | Sounding notes | Hear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | C5 | 0 0 0 x x x | C2 (1), G2 (5), C3 (1) | |
| 1 | C#5 | 1 1 1 x x x | C#2 (1), G#2 (5), C#3 (1) | |
| 2 | D5 | 2 2 2 x x x | D2 (1), A2 (5), D3 (1) | |
| 3 | D#5 | 3 3 3 x x x | D#2 (1), A#2 (5), D#3 (1) | |
| 4 | E5 | 4 4 4 x x x | E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1) | |
| 5 | F5 | 5 5 5 x x x | F2 (1), C3 (5), F3 (1) | |
| 6 | F#5 | 6 6 6 x x x | F#2 (1), C#3 (5), F#3 (1) | |
| 7 | G5 | 7 7 7 x x x | G2 (1), D3 (5), G3 (1) | |
| 8 | G#5 | 8 8 8 x x x | G#2 (1), D#3 (5), G#3 (1) | |
| 9 | A5 | 9 9 9 x x x | A2 (1), E3 (5), A3 (1) | |
| 10 | A#5 | 10 10 10 x x x | A#2 (1), E#3 (5), A#3 (1) | |
| 11 | B5 | 11 11 11 x x x | B2 (1), F#3 (5), B3 (1) | |
| 12 | C5 | 12 12 12 x x x | C3 (1), G3 (5), C4 (1) |
Common major shapes
Each shape is the pitch-checked voicing the Drop C search returns for that root.
D
D frets from the sixth string to the first: 2 2 2 1 0 0.
D spelling: D, F#, A.
D sounding notes: D2 (1), A2 (5), D3 (1), F#3 (3), A3 (5), D4 (1).
D open strings: second string, A3, first string, D4.
E
E frets from the sixth string to the first: 4 4 4 3 2 2.
E spelling: E, G#, B.
E sounding notes: E2 (1), B2 (5), E3 (1), G#3 (3), B3 (5), E4 (1).
E open strings: none.
F
F frets from the sixth string to the first: 5 5 0 0 0 x.
F spelling: F, A, C.
F sounding notes: F2 (1), C3 (5), C3 (5), F3 (1), A3 (3).
F open strings: fourth string, C3, third string, F3, second string, A3.
G
G frets from the sixth string to the first: x 0 2 2 2 0.
G spelling: G, B, D.
G sounding notes: G2 (1), D3 (5), G3 (1), B3 (3), D4 (5).
G open strings: fifth string, G2, first string, D4.
A
A frets from the sixth string to the first: x 2 1 x 0 2.
A spelling: A, C#, E.
A sounding notes: A2 (1), C#3 (3), A3 (1), E4 (5).
A open strings: second string, A3.
Common minor shapes
Cm
Cm frets from the sixth string to the first: 0 0 0 x x 1.
Cm spelling: C, Eb, G.
Cm sounding notes: C2 (1), G2 (5), C3 (1), Eb4 (b3).
Cm open strings: sixth string, C2, fifth string, G2, fourth string, C3.
Dm
Dm frets from the sixth string to the first: 2 2 2 0 0 0.
Dm spelling: D, F, A.
Dm sounding notes: D2 (1), A2 (5), D3 (1), F3 (b3), A3 (5), D4 (1).
Dm open strings: third string, F3, second string, A3, first string, D4.
Em
Em frets from the sixth string to the first: 4 0 4 2 2 2.
Em spelling: E, G, B.
Em sounding notes: E2 (1), G2 (b3), E3 (1), G3 (b3), B3 (5), E4 (1).
Em open strings: fifth string, G2.
Fm
Fm frets from the sixth string to the first: 5 5 0 0 x 6.
Fm spelling: F, Ab, C.
Fm sounding notes: F2 (1), C3 (5), C3 (5), F3 (1), Ab4 (b3).
Fm open strings: fourth string, C3, third string, F3.
Gm
Gm frets from the sixth string to the first: x 0 x x 1 0.
Gm spelling: G, Bb, D.
Gm sounding notes: G2 (1), Bb3 (b3), D4 (5).
Gm open strings: fifth string, G2, first string, D4.
Am
Am frets from the sixth string to the first: x 2 0 x 0 2.
Am spelling: A, C, E.
Am sounding notes: A2 (1), C3 (b3), A3 (1), E4 (5).
Am open strings: fourth string, C3, second string, A3.
× mute · ○ open · green root · terracotta other chord tones
Numbers show a suggested finger: 1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 pinky. A bar means one finger holds several strings. Frets run from the sixth string to the first. The string names are the Drop C open strings, not standard tuning.
A measured Drop C fifth
The window starts at 12.15 seconds and lasts 0.80 seconds. The measured fifth, G2 98.04 Hz divided by C2 65.39 Hz, is 1.49931. Equal temperament for 7 semitones is 2^(7 ÷ 12) = 1.49831, so this fifth is 1.2 cents against equal temperament. A pure 3/2 fifth is 1.50000, and this fifth is -0.8 cents against that. C2 (MIDI 36) is 440 × 2^((36 − 69) ÷ 12) = 65.41 Hz. The same window also shows D4 294.00 Hz, F4 348.90 Hz, A4 440.13 Hz, F3 174.46 Hz.
Raoul NK recorded these open strings. Source: Wikimedia Commons, File:Guitar Drop-C Tuning.ogg. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. This recording is shared under the same license. File page.
Where the tuning page fits
How to retune lives on Drop C tuning. This page only charts chords after the strings are already C, G, C, F, A, D.
Questions people ask about drop c tuning chords
What notes are the open strings in Drop C?
Drop C is C2, G2, C3, F3, A3, D4, MIDI 36, 43, 48, 53, 57, 62. The low three strings are a perfect fifth and an octave, so one finger plays a power chord.
Is this the Drop C tuning page?
No. Drop C tuning explains the tuning. This page is the chord chart calculated in that tuning.
What is the cents number?
The measured fifth, G2 98.04 Hz divided by C2 65.39 Hz, is 1.49931. Equal temperament for 7 semitones is 2^(7 ÷ 12) = 1.49831, so this fifth is 1.2 cents against equal temperament. A pure 3/2 fifth is 1.50000, and this fifth is -0.8 cents against that. C2 (MIDI 36) is 440 × 2^((36 − 69) ÷ 12) = 65.41 Hz. The same window also shows D4 294.00 Hz, F4 348.90 Hz, A4 440.13 Hz, F3 174.46 Hz.
More tunings: DADGAD chords.