So we have talked about guitars, amps, and even pedals. Now it’s time to move on to our final phase…Doom Metal Tunings. While tuning lower definitely makes things sound a little heavier, alternate tunings are more than just that. Different tunings can be a “secret weapon” for your band. Utilizing different tunings can change the way you write a song or riff. I know if I am in a rut, I usually try out a different tuning to see if it opens any new doors to my creativity. Nine times out of ten, it helps me come up with a new idea! There are plenty of other big names that use drop C as well. That’s what makes it one of the most popular doom metal tunings. The single finger power chords make it easy to sludge your way through riffs, and drop C still retains tons of clarity. There may be a little bit of added bass to your sound, but you can simply adjust your amp settings.

Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar 6 Strings | Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Guitar 6 Strings | Ernie Ball

So these are perfect for the riff enthusiast, and they are pretty balanced when it comes to using them with different scale lengths. If this is the first time you are trying to find strings for Drop C tuning, the “Not Even Slinky” set is the perfect place to start. This set is extremely versatile.

Using the 11-48 set with the low-E string swapped out for a 52 gives you all of the low-end chug that you need while still feeling like standard tuning on the higher strings. Gibson Scale – Beefy Slinky (11-54)

Ernie Ball Paradigm Not Even Slinky 12-56 – Thomann UK

As mentioned earlier, drop B is really low. Your Guitar will definitely need a full setup. I recommend “Mammoth Slinky” strings by Ernie Ball. This is a set of strings made especially for drop B or drop A tuning, and they work great. If you take a look at 7 string guitars (B standard) or baritone guitar sets, youll see that the Mammoth string gauges are pretty similar. I work with a student who is a fan of Slipknot and decided to set a Reverend Double Agent W in Drop B (B F# B E G# C#) tuning with a set of these Not Even Slinky 12s. So tuning down this far might sound really cool, but you need to prepare! Your strings for Drop C are going to be much different than the ones that you use for standard. They definitely need to be a heavier gauge to compensate since you’re going down. Lighter gauges used for standard tuning will probably be pretty floppy. I have used these strings for Drop C tuning on both types of scale lengths, and I find that this set works great for ANY scale length. The tension is near perfect for me, and they hold tune wonderfully with all scale lengths (I use them on my baritone also). While the tunings above probably will not require any adjustments to your guitar, C standard is the tipping point. You will probably have to re-intonate your guitar. We will also have to go up a string gauge.

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As far as bands go, drop B is definitely not as popular when it comes to Doom Metal tunings, but there are a few bands that use it. And the bands that use it have an iconic sound because they are tuned so low. Some of these bands listed are more than just Doom Metal bands, but they certainly borrow from the genre often.

Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky 12-56 Guitar Strings - Andertons

Retains the feel of standard tuning even when dropped to a much lower tuning. D Standard Fender Scale – Beefy Slinky (11-54)Doom Metal is all about being heavy, slow and foreboding. Sure, you can achieve a heavy guitar sound in standard tuning. But there are several different Doom Metal tunings that the pros prefer. Today, we take a look at the top 5!