THE TUNEGUITAR GUIDE
Understand C♯ standard
A minor-third transposition
Lowering every string three semitones preserves standard fingering relationships. An E shape sounds C sharp, an A shape F sharp and a G shape E. This is a uniform transposition, not a dropped-bass layout. The fourth string is B2, which can look unfamiliar if you normally associate B with the second string.
A direct route from Drop B
Drop B and C sharp standard have the same upper five strings. Raise only the sixth string from B1 to C sharp2 to switch between them. If you instead start in Drop C sharp, its upper five strings must drop a whole step to reach C sharp standard. Naming the starting tuning avoids a misleading instruction such as simply 'tune down'.
Reading flats without a second preset
D-flat standard and C-sharp standard describe the same equal-tempered targets. Some note pairs are spelled differently by notation convention, but the frequencies are unchanged. Use the six-note sequence and octaves when comparing sources, especially where a tuner chooses B rather than C flat. Do not retune for spelling alone.
Your string-by-string route from standard
This is a comparison of target pitches, not a recommendation to use every tuning on every guitar. Start from the tuning your instrument actually has. Use the directions and the octave labels together.
| String | Start | Target | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | E2 | C♯2 | Lower 3 semitones |
| 5 | A2 | F♯2 | Lower 3 semitones |
| 4 | D3 | B2 | Lower 3 semitones |
| 3 | G3 | E3 | Lower 3 semitones |
| 2 | B3 | G♯3 | Lower 3 semitones |
| 1 | E4 | C♯4 | Lower 3 semitones |
Nearby tunings, compared by their actual notes
These are the three closest six-string presets by total semitone movement from this setup. The ranking describes target changes, not playing difficulty or physical suitability. A familiar name can hide a different middle-string layout.
| Next tuning | All target notes | Strings that change |
|---|---|---|
| Drop B | B1 · F♯2 · B2 · E3 · G♯3 · C♯4 | 6 |
| C standard | C2 · F2 · A♯2 · D♯3 · G3 · C4 | 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 |
| D standard | D2 · G2 · C3 · F3 · A3 · D4 | 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 |