How To: Set Up Your Guitar For Drop Tunings

If you're anything like me then you've probably experimented with drop tunings, only to realise you're not quite cool enough to pull off being in a metalcore band. 

Since you're all probably significantly cooler people than me, i'm gonna' impart some wisdom regarding drop tunings. We've all been there, trying out that new hip song (maybe just out of morbid curiosity?) and realising you've got to drop your tunings to like... 'drop y' or something. So you put on a brave face, whip out your chromatic tuner (I like the Korg CA-1 as it's about the best bang for your buck), then grimace as your poor 09 guage slinkies rattle the fretboard and sound like wet mud. Well get ready for wisdom as over the next 3 steps i'll show you how to achieve that 'thicker than thick' drop C or even B used by so many modern metal bands. 

Step 1)

The first and possibly most important step is to select the right strings for a drop tuning. If your going to drop C then it's important to have thicker gauge strings such as these 12 gauge 'Not Even Slinky' strings from Ernie Ball, these are my personal favorites for this gauge. Thicker strings do not need to be as high tension as regular gauge strings, so they allow you to hit those lower tunings without sacrificing the tightness of the string. If you're really wanting to straddle the border between a guitar and a bass with a drop B then you should look at getting some baritone strings like these baritone slinkies from Ernie Ball or maybe an even lower gauge (hell, why not just slap on some bass strings and show those metalcore kids some real thud). Some people like to mix and match on strings, preferring lighter gauge strings for the 6th, 5th and 4th strings so it's easier to bend notes. 

Step 2)

After fitting a heavier gauge of strings you'll probably find that you need to adjust your bridge height to accommodate them. As the strings are thicker now you may find you need to raise your string action (blasphemy, I know) just a little to avoid fret buzz. If you have a tune-o-matic or 'gibson style' bridge there is a great tutorial for bridge adjustment here. For 'Fender style' bridges you'll need to adjust the individual saddles using a small 0.05 'hex key' (We calls em' allen keys here in the UK). For floyd rose style bridges use the guide here. 

Step 3) 

You may find you'll need to adjust the neck itself via the truss rod as your guitar is now under different tension due to thicker strings. If you're in any way unsure regarding adjusting neck action via the truss rod then please, please, for the love of Hendrix, take it to someone who does. However if you're feeling brave then follow this guide. As i've said you should only adjust the neck if you're absolutely confident that you can do it, too many guitars have met their ends via over or under-tightening of the truss rod (it will literally snap the neck if you're not careful).

So there you have it, your axe is sharpened and ready to hit those brutal low notes and you can blast out powerful palm muted power chords in those relentless rhythms. Now go, chug those insane breakdowns to your hearts content, brave women and men of modern metal. 


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