About C# Standard tuning
C# standard tunes every string down one and a half steps. This is holy ground for riff players: Black Sabbath's Master of Reality was recorded here, with Tony Iommi detuning to slacken the strings for his injured fretting hand — and accidentally inventing the sound of doom in the process.
All standard shapes apply, three frets lower in pitch. Strings get noticeably loose this far down, so plan on a heavier set if you stay here permanently.
C# Standard tuning notes & frequencies (A4 = 440 Hz)
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | C#2 | 69.30 Hz |
| 5 | F#2 | 92.50 Hz |
| 4 | B2 | 123.47 Hz |
| 3 | E3 | 164.81 Hz |
| 2 | G#3 | 207.65 Hz |
| 1 | C#4 | 277.18 Hz |
How to tune to C# Standard from standard
- String 6 (E2): tune down 3 semitones to C#2.
- String 5 (A2): tune down 3 semitones to F#2.
- String 4 (D3): tune down 3 semitones to B2.
- String 3 (G3): tune down 3 semitones to E3.
- String 2 (B3): tune down 3 semitones to G#3.
- String 1 (E4): tune down 3 semitones to C#4.
After changing string tension this much, make a second tuning pass — the neck settles slightly and the first strings you tuned will have drifted.
Songs & artists in C# Standard
- Children of the Grave — Black Sabbath
- Into the Void — Black Sabbath
- Sweet Leaf — Black Sabbath
String gauge advice
.011–.056 minimum; many doom players go .012–.060.
FAQ
What are the notes of C# Standard tuning on guitar?
C# Standard tuning is C#2, F#2, B2, E3, G#3, C#4 from the lowest string to the highest.
How do I tune my guitar to C# Standard?
Starting from standard tuning: String 6 (E2): tune down 3 semitones to C#2. String 5 (A2): tune down 3 semitones to F#2. String 4 (D3): tune down 3 semitones to B2. String 3 (G3): tune down 3 semitones to E3. String 2 (B3): tune down 3 semitones to G#3. String 1 (E4): tune down 3 semitones to C#4. Use the tuner above — it highlights the string it hears and shows exactly how many cents you are from the target.
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