Why CGCFAD is the HEAVIEST Guitar Tuning

[MusicisWin]

dOoO yOuU wAnT hEaV-eHhHh beH-bAyYyYyYy????

- James Hetfield

[keenantroll]

Drop C is the best tuning for a heavy sound with a standard guitar setup. To get lower tunings to sound good it really helps to use a guitar that's built for it with longer neck scale length, a nut slotted for thicker string gauges, etc. and also you need to spend some time re-dialing your amp and trying different OD/Dist pedals with different settings. Those lower notes just behave a little different in the effects chain

[carlosortega]

I'm so glad you include COB in these. They get overlooked way too much for how awesome they were.

[austintate]

Animal I Have Become was the first song I ever learned on guitar. Definitely holds a special place in my heart.

[noluck]

You should do an entire video about Gojira they have a really unique sound and the way they use tapping is really interesting

[GregJonson]

Not that long ago I discovered _the_ most brutal and sense-making tuning for the 8 string guitar.

First you drop the low F# string down to E, no big deal. But then you also tune the G string down a 1/2 step.

What you end up with is essentially a B standard tuning on the 6 center strings _plus_ a high E and a low E on the respective edges. The standard tuning allows you to do pretty much anything you'd do on a normal guitar but with more emphasis on the lows, since you moved a perfect 4th from E standard. _And_ you also have the opportunity to do some drop riffage with the low E. _And_ you also have an extended range for leads/solos thanks to the high E. _And_ the best part is that it's very easy to learn and play some usual guitar chords across all of the 8 strings.

Personally I also take this whole thing and tune it up a 1/2 step so that I end up in C standard with added Fs - merely because I like this sound more. (The tuning string by string would be F C F Bb Eb G C F.)

Now, I don't claim that I invented this, I'm very sure other people must have discovered this tuning before me, I just never heard of anyone using it. Do any of you know of an actual usage of this? I'd be grateful for inspiration.

[Forestboy]

A drop C riff you should check out (that doesn't get talked about much) is Blew by Nirvana. The bass mixed in with the heavy riff Kurt plays plus the hard hitting drums of Chad Channing gives Blew the heaviness it deserves

[semipilot]

I think what makes drop C so special as a tuning is it’s the perfect middle ground for heaviness and melodic phrasing potential. IIRC, most pop songs are written in C (major to be specific). You can make a great melody in any key, but there’s something about C, minor or major, that can really make it pop in a good way. I think it’s why most melodic metalcore bands in the 2, 000’s used it; the melodies always sounded good, but the chugging on the low C always brought the heaviness.

[KingOfStoats]

My favourite drop C riff is probably Prong - Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck. It has two different riffs that could easily have been on this list. Probably my first exposure to drop C way back in 1994...

[chiphargis]

Mastodon’s earlier albums were played in AGCFAD and it’s my favorite tuning. It’s so heavy but also so weird.

[abowla]

The ENTIRE Deftones White Pony album is in drop C and is my favorite album of all time. It's perfect.

[brubakersflatcakes]

I know Rammstein's tuning varies but hearing their C (or whatever it was) live nearly buried me at Lincoln Financial Field last week. Epic. They let those two-ton chords just carry and it's beyond YUGE. 🔥🔥🔥😃

[nothingislogical]

My favorite System song in Drop C has to be either “Prison Song” or “Aerials”. “Deer Dance” is a good one too. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with just about any song on Toxicity for good Drop C riffs.

[DangerrNoodle]

I think my favorite Drop C riff is "Silhouette" by Thrice - simple, but just so good. Just huge and powerful sounding and I've always loved it.

[vincent]

I never knew what a versatile guitarist you were! You can play anything! I really enjoy you videos, I think your one of the best out there doing this! Keep up the killer work!

[ThePseudonoob]

Gojira's got all sorts of amazing drop C songs, from "Vacuity, " "Toxic Garbage Island, " and "The Way of All Flesh" to "Mouth of Kala, " "Gift of Guilt, " "Pray, " etc.
One of my other favorite drop C riffs definitely has to be "Holy Roller" by Throwdown.

[cameronharrison]

Even though Disturbed is just a meme at this point, I've always enjoyed their riffs. The beginning of Stricken is a pretty dope drop c song.

[danielsgrunge]

I have a Jazzmaster exclusive for that tuning
Deftones' White Pony and many other of their songs made me do it
So many great riffs

[ShredmasterScott]

BAD HORSIE is infectiously but in a ton of work to recreate these tracks

[fredquevillon]

I agree with the comments bellow. I’ve been playing guitar for 18 years now, I’m a Metallica and Dream Theater fan and I just started to listen to Gojira last year. My first thought was: why didn’t I listen to them sooner. They are now in my top 5 bands.