Learn › Drop C Chords: Heavier Sound, Same Shapes
New Released in April 2026
Drop C Chords: Heavier Sound, Same Shapes
Drop C (C G C F A D) is drop D moved a whole step lower on every string. Your hands play the same shapes as in drop D, but every drop C chord sounds two half steps lower, which is why the tuning is so popular for dark, heavy riffs.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Rename every shape
- The open A shape (x02220) sounds as G.
- The open D shape (xx0232) sounds as C.
- The Am shape (x02210) sounds as Gm.
- The C shape (x32010) sounds as Bb.
- The one-finger shape on the low strings: see the chart below.
Power chord names, fret by fret
- Fret 0: C5
- Fret 2: D5
- Fret 3: Eb5
- Fret 5: F5
- Fret 7: G5
- Fret 8: Ab5
- Fret 10: Bb5
- Fret 12: C5
Drop C Chords: Heavier Sound, Same Shapes
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps.
Play the demoStrings and setup
Tuning every string down makes them loose, so notes can buzz and go slightly sharp when you pick hard. Many players move to a heavier string set for drop C and check the intonation once. If you switch between standard and drop C often, a second guitar saves a lot of retuning.
Let the game name the chord
ChordRunner hears what actually sounds, not the shape you hold. In drop C, play your usual D shape and the game hears C: a fast way to learn the new names until you stop translating.
The levels in ChordRunner
- Beginner: major, minor, augmented and diminished chords.
- Intermediate: adds sus2 and sus4.
- Advanced: adds 6th, 7th and 9th chords.
- Pro: adds 11th, 13th and altered chords; an adaptive mode adds the next family when you are ready.
Common questions
What are the notes of drop C tuning?
From the 6th string to the 1st: C G C F A D.
Is drop C the same as drop D?
Same shapes, one whole step lower on every string. A chord shape that gives D in drop D gives C in drop C.
Do I need heavier strings for drop C?
Not strictly, but many players use a heavier set so the low C stays firm and in tune.
Which instruments work?
A USB MIDI keyboard, detected automatically, or a piano or guitar through the microphone. Everything runs in Chrome or Edge on a computer, tablet or phone.
How is this different from apps where you tap the screen?
Tapping trains your eyes and fingers on glass. Here you press real keys or fret real strings, and the game hears the actual notes, so what you practise is exactly what you will play on your instrument.
Is everything in the demo?
The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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