The quick answer: the lower you tune, the heavier the set. As starting points, 11-49 for Drop D, 12-54 for Drop C, 12-56 for C standard and 12-60 for Drop B. Below that, on a six string with a standard scale, the low string turns floppy, and a baritone or a 7 string holds the note better. These are starting points, not rules: the right gauge also depends on your touch, your guitar and the feel you are after.
What string gauge means
String gauge is the thickness of each string, usually in thousandths of an inch. A 10-46 set runs from .010 on the high E to .046 on the low E. The higher the number, the thicker the string, and at the same tuning and scale length, a thicker string carries more tension.
Sets are named by their extremes: 9-42, 10-46, 11-52. The first number is the high string, the last the low one. Two 10-46 sets can still feel different, depending on the brand, the alloy, the core of the string and the setup of the guitar.
Why drop tunings need heavier strings
At the same string and the same scale length, tension is proportional to the square of the frequency. Every half step down multiplies the tension by about 0.89. That compounds quickly, and drop tunings ask for several half steps at once.
| Tuned down by | Example | Tension left | Tension lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| A half step | Standard to Eb standard | 89% | about 11% |
| A whole step | Drop D's sixth string; Drop C's top five strings | 79% | about 21% |
| A step and a half | The top five strings of Drop B | 71% | about 29% |
| Two whole steps | Every string of C standard; Drop C's sixth string | 63% | about 37% |
| Five half steps | Drop B's sixth string, E down to B | 56% | about 44% |
This is why Drop D gets away with a modest change, one string losing a fifth of its tension, while Drop B asks a lot: its sixth string keeps only a little over half the tension it had in standard tuning. If you go down a half step or a whole step, going up one notch in gauge keeps a feel close to the one you know. It is not compulsory: if you like the slinky feel of a 9-42 in Eb or in standard, that choice is perfectly defensible.
String gauge chart by tuning
| Tuning or guitar | Suggested set | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (E A D G B E) | 10-46 (lighter: 9-42) | All-round | 9-42 for a light touch and easy bends, 10-46 for the most common balance. |
| Eb standard | 11-50 | Classic rock | One step up in gauge makes up for the half step down. |
| Drop D | 11-49 | Rock, light metal | A steadier sixth string under palm mutes, with a firm attack. |
| Drop C | 12-54 (or 11-54) | Metal, rock | 12-54 tracks precisely. 11-54 if you want a softer feel. |
| C standard | 12-56 | Metal, doom | A heavy set keeps the lowered strings in tune. |
| Drop B | 12-60 (13-62 on a short scale) | Modern metal | The usual floor below Drop C. |
| Baritone, B standard | 13-62 to 14-68 | Low rock, studio | The long scale keeps the tension despite the low tuning. |
| 7 string (B E A D G B E) | 10-59 | Prog, djent | Comfortable top like a 10-46, a readable low string. |
| 8 string (F# B E A D G B E) | 9-74 | Djent, fusion | Hybrid set: light top, tight bottom. |
| DADGAD | 11-50 | Folk, fingerstyle | Clear arpeggios, low strings not too slack. |
| Open G, Open D, Open E | 11-52 | Slide, blues | More tension, sustain and control under the slide. |
The notes of each tuning
Notes from the lowest string to the highest, with a starting gauge for each.
| Tuning | Notes, low to high | Starting gauge |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | E A D G B E | 10-46 (acoustic: 12-53) |
| Eb standard | Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb | 11-50 |
| Drop D | D A D G B E | 11-49 |
| D standard | D G C F A D | 11-52 or 12-54 |
| Drop C | C G C F A D | 12-54 |
| C standard | C F Bb Eb G C | 12-56 |
| Drop B | B F# B E G# C# | 12-60 (13-62 if short) |
| B standard | B E A D F# B | 13-62 to 14-68, ideally a baritone |
| 7 string standard | B E A D G B E | 10-59 |
| 8 string standard | F# B E A D G B E | 9-74 |
The lowered standard tunings, Eb, D, C and B standard, keep the intervals of standard tuning: every string goes down by the same amount, so the chord shapes stay the same. The drop tunings take only the lowest string a further whole step down from the others. The names of the six strings in standard tuning are on guitar string notes.
Scale length: why the same gauge feels different
Scale length is the vibrating length of the string, from the nut to the bridge. At the same gauge and tuning, a longer scale usually feels tighter than a short one. That is one reason copying an artist's or a friend's gauge is not enough.
| Scale length | Example | With the same gauge |
|---|---|---|
| About 24.75 in | Les Paul or SG type | Softer under the fingers: a 10-46 can feel quite comfortable. |
| About 25 in | Some PRS models | In between: the setup decides a lot. |
| About 25.5 in | Strat or Tele type | Tighter and snappier: a 9-42 can feel close to a 10-46 on a short scale. |
| 26.5 to 27 in and up | Baritone, 7 string, 8 string | Steadier low end: you can tune down without a floppy string. |
The bridge plays a part too. A fixed bridge or a stopbar sends all the resistance back into your fingers. On a floating vibrato, part of the effort moves the system, so a bend can feel softer, and after a gauge change the whole balance between strings and springs shifts: tune, check the angle of the vibrato, adjust the springs, then set the intonation.
Common mistakes, and the checklist
| Symptom after a change | Likely cause | Useful fix |
|---|---|---|
| The guitar buzzes | Gauge too light or action too low | Raise the action slightly, or move to a steadier gauge. |
| The low strings wobble | String too thin for the low tuning | Switch to a hybrid set, or go one step up on the low string. |
| Bends got hard | Gauge too heavy for your touch | Go back half a step, or lighten only the low strings. |
| Out of tune high up the neck | Intonation has moved | Reset the saddles once the strings have settled. |
| The string catches in the nut | Slot too narrow or string too thick | Lubricate, then have the nut adjusted if it persists. |
- Jumping from 9-42 to 12-54 in one go is too abrupt. Go step by step: 9-42, then 10-46, then 11-49.
- Changing gauge without checking the nut and the bridge risks buzzing or strings that catch.
- A big change moves the neck relief: check the truss rod.
- Neglected intonation means notes going sour past the twelfth fret: reset the saddles. It is one of the usual suspects when a guitar is in tune but sounds wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What string gauge for Drop D and Drop C?
Do I really need heavier strings to tune down?
What gauge for a 7 or 8 string guitar?
Does a heavier gauge sound better?
How do I stop the guitar going out of tune after restringing?
Should I mix brands?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris. He teaches adults: people with jobs, limited practice time and a clear idea of the songs they want to play. The tuning pages and tools on this site come out of his lessons. The rest of our free guitar tools work without an account.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.