Guitar tuning

Drop Bb Tuning

Bb·F·Bb·Eb·G·C

Tonal centre Bb (Drop D shapes, deep in the low end) Also called Drop A#, BbFBbEbGC Difficulty Very hard on tension — wants a baritone or heavy gauges

Open on the Canvas → Explore chords in the app

Drop Bb takes standard tuning down a major third to C standard, then drops the 6th string another whole step to a low Bb: Bb, F, Bb, Eb, G, C. The power-chord shape is unchanged — one finger across the bottom strings — sitting between Drop B and Drop A, six semitones below Drop D.

It is a deathcore and downtempo staple. Bands like Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel, Emmure and much of modern breakdown-heavy metal live around this pitch. The low Bb is far enough below standard that a normal-scale guitar with a normal set will not hold it — a baritone, an extended scale, or a very heavy string set is close to required.

How to tune to Drop Bb

From standard tuning:

6th (lowest) E → Bb (down a tritone)
5th A → F (down a major third)
4th D → Bb (down a major third)
3rd G → Eb (down a major third)
2nd B → G (down a major third)
1st (highest) E → C (down a major third)

Open—Shape’s tuner listens for one string at a time and tells you which string it is and how far off — including in alternate tunings like this one.

What Drop Bb does well

One-finger power chords, near the floor. The drop shape carries down to Bb — barre the bottom strings for a fifth anywhere on the neck.
Between Drop B and Drop A. A half step under Drop B, a whole step over Drop A — the same shapes, a small step in weight.
Every drop shape, transposed. Anything in Drop D, Drop C or Drop B works unchanged, just lower.
Weight as the main event. The pitch does most of the work — slow, palm-muted breakdown parts sound huge with almost nothing fretted.

Common chords in Drop Bb

The shapes are the standard Drop shapes, moved down. Each is the first voicing the engine returns; tap to browse the rest.

Bb 0 0 0 2 x 2 1 of 393 → Bb5 0 0 0 x x x 1 of 203 → Bbsus4 0 0 0 0 3 3 1 of 619 → Eb 5 5 0 0 0 x 1 of 551 → Eb5 x x x 0 3 3 1 of 203 → F x 0 2 2 2 0 1 of 181 → Gm x 2 0 x 0 2 1 of 397 → Cm 2 2 2 0 0 0 1 of 425 →

Numbers read low string to high; 0 is open, × is muted.

A progression to try

A heavy Bb–Eb–F on the low string:

Bb→Eb→F→Bb

Songs in Drop Bb

Used across Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel and Emmure
Common through deathcore and downtempo metal
A step in the Drop B / Drop Bb / Drop A ladder

Where you’ll hear it

Deathcore, downtempo and breakdown-heavy metal — Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel, Emmure, Signs of the Swarm. One of the lowest six-string tunings in common use before players move to seven- and eight-string guitars.

Open a Drop Bb canvas — a tuning module already set, wired to a starter progression, every shape recalculated for you.

Open on the Canvas → Explore chords in the app

Drop Bb tuning FAQ

How do I tune to Drop Bb?

Tune every string down a major third from standard first, which gives C standard (C, F, Bb, Eb, G, C), then drop the 6th string another whole step from C to Bb. The result is Bb, F, Bb, Eb, G, C from low to high.

Is Drop Bb the same as Drop A#?

Yes — Bb and A# are the same pitch, so the two names describe the same tuning. Drop Bb is the more common spelling.

Is Drop Bb the same as Drop D?

The shapes are identical — Drop Bb is the Drop D idea six semitones lower. Every power chord and riff transfers directly; only the tension and the guitar you need are different.

What guitar do I need for Drop Bb?

A baritone or extended-scale guitar, or a set built for very low tunings. On a standard 25.5-inch scale with a normal set, the low Bb will feel slack and buzz badly.

Can I use a capo in Drop Bb?

Yes — a capo raises all six strings equally, so the dropped 6th keeps its interval. A capo at the 1st fret gives Drop B pitch with an easier feel. Open—Shape recalculates every shape for the capo.

Related tunings

Drop D Drop C Drop C# Drop B Drop A Double Drop D