Drop B Tuning
Tune to B-F#-B-E-G#-C# with this free online Drop B tuner
What Is Drop B Tuning?
Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) is a very heavy, deep tuning at the core of metalcore, djent, and modern metal. It is simply Drop D moved down a step and a half: from standard tuning the 6th string drops a perfect fourth (E2→B1), while the other five strings each fall 1½ steps (three semitones).
The payoff is the same one-finger power chord that makes Drop D so fun, but far heavier. The bottom three strings ring out a B5 power chord (B-F#-B), so you can crush full power chords by barring a single fret across them. That low, dropped 6th string is what gives Drop B its crushing, modern-metal weight.
Drop B Tuning Notes — B F# B E G# C#
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6th | B1 | 61.74 Hz |
| 5th | F#2 | 92.50 Hz |
| 4th | B2 | 123.47 Hz |
| 3rd | E3 | 164.81 Hz |
| 2nd | G#3 | 207.65 Hz |
| 1st | C#4 | 277.18 Hz |
Famous Songs in Drop B Tuning
- Before I ForgetSlipknotPummeling Drop B metal groove
- Pray For PlaguesBring Me The HorizonEarly deathcore in Drop B
- Send the Pain BelowChevelleBrooding alt-metal in Drop B
- GravityBullet For My ValentineTitle track tracked in Drop B
- CarrionParkway DriveHeavy metalcore riffing in Drop B
- Wrong Side of HeavenFive Finger Death PunchModern metal ballad in Drop B
Learn metal and rock guitar with real-time feedback
The Gibson App has full lessons for rock and metal — the AI listens and tells you exactly what to fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drop B tuning?+−
Drop B tuning (B-F#-B-E-G#-C#) is a very heavy, low guitar tuning used in metalcore, djent, and modern metal. It is Drop D tuned down a step and a half. The lowest three strings form a B5 power chord (B-F#-B), so you can crush full power chords with a single finger across one fret.
How do I tune to Drop B?+−
Start in standard tuning (EADGBE). Drop the 6th string a perfect fourth, from E2 down to B1. Then lower the other five strings 1½ steps (three semitones) each: A2→F#2, D3→B2, G3→E3, B3→G#3, and E4→C#4. The result is B1-F#2-B2-E3-G#3-C#4. Use the tuner above — it is preset to Drop B, so each string shows its Drop B target as you play.
What songs and bands use Drop B tuning?+−
Drop B is a staple of metalcore, djent, and modern metal. Confirmed examples include Slipknot's 'Before I Forget', Bring Me The Horizon's 'Pray For Plagues', Chevelle's 'Send the Pain Below', Bullet For My Valentine's 'Gravity', Parkway Drive's 'Carrion', and Five Finger Death Punch's 'Wrong Side of Heaven'. Bands like Trivium and As I Lay Dying also use Drop B across heavier material.
Is Drop B the same as B standard?+−
No. B standard is B-E-A-D-F#-B — standard tuning intervals shifted down to a low B. Drop B is B-F#-B-E-G#-C#, which is Drop D moved down 1½ steps. Both start on a low B, but in Drop B the 6th string is dropped a further whole step below the 5th string so the bottom three strings form a one-finger B5 power chord (B-F#-B). B standard keeps the normal fourths-and-a-third interval pattern, so it has no dropped power-chord shape.
What gauge strings do I need for Drop B?+−
Drop B sits very low — the 6th string falls to B1 (61.74 Hz) — so light strings go floppy and buzz. Use heavier gauges to keep tension and clarity: an 11-56 set is a sensible minimum, and many players go thicker (12-60 or beyond). A baritone guitar with a longer scale length is the ideal tool if you live in Drop B and similar low tunings.