Drop C Guitar
Two steps down on the lowest string. Used heavily in metalcore, post-hardcore, and modern metal.
Drop C takes the Drop D concept and moves everything down two more frets. The result is a massive low end that sits in metalcore, post-hardcore and modern metal territory. Bands like Killswitch Engage, As I Lay Dying and System of a Down use Drop C extensively.
The same one-finger power chord trick from Drop D works here, just deeper and heavier. You will need thicker strings to keep the tension playable at this pitch.
Bullet For My Valentine 1
Deftones 6
Dimmu Borgir 1
Drowning Pool 1
Dueil Angoisseus 1
Five Finger Death Punch 1
Gojira 3
Papa Roach 1
Queens of the Stone Age 1
System of a Down 2
System Of A Down 2
Setting Up for Drop C
String gauge matters a lot at this tuning. A set starting at .012 or .013 keeps the strings from feeling floppy. The intonation will need adjusting at the bridge, and the truss rod may need a slight tweak to compensate for the lower tension. If you switch between Drop C and E Standard often, a dedicated guitar for each tuning saves setup headaches.
The riffs in this tuning tend to be rhythmically aggressive with fast palm-muted chugging. The low C string provides a sub-bass rumble that cuts through a band mix when played tight.