Drop tuning: can I get an explanation?

[Admiral Axtell]

So I am reaching where I think I am like a high end beginner or low intermediate player, I have just been learning technique, names of notes, scales and basic stuff but I haven't bothered with drop tuning yet, now im looking to play some covers that are dropped, so when people say drop D or C or B (most common ones that I have seen) what exactly does it mean, I mean it usually has what notes to tune to but Like how do I figure out what to tune to without having to look online and be like oh E needs to go to D and A to whatever. Also, my tuner does not show me how to do that, or atleast I can't figure it out, It only has 6 notes BEADGC, nothing in between, so I can't even figure out how to do it even though I know the notes, is this just my tuner or is there a way to make it show me notes inbetween? thanks.

[Waterpilot]

You drop the E string. So hit the open E and lower the note until it reads D (Or C, whatever you're dropping to) on your tuner.

In dropped tunings you don't drop any other strings. I believe in D it would be called D standard vs drop D, for example... Someone will correct me if I'm wrong though.

[Admiral Axtell]

oh alright sweet thank you that definitely clears things up A LOT.

[Admiral Axtell]

wait a sec
http://www.bassmasta.net/s/slipknot/103450.html
I don't get it, its telling me that all the strings are different ??

[themurm523]

there are different versions of drop tunings, standard on a four string would obviously be E A D G, when you go drop D its D A D G, but sometimes like for instance drop C is C G C F or drop Eb is Eb Ab Db Gb. i know slipknot sometimes goes drop B which is B E A D or standard with the extra g or c on a 5 or 6 string. It really just depends on the song. If you are playing full band covers usually you drop to whatever the vocalists range is. If you are just playing songs you really can drop to whatever you want if you play by ear as long as the notes are correct. anyone correct me if i am wrong, but this is how i do it

[TheBasicBassist]

Originally Posted by Admiral Axtell

wait a sec
http://www.bassmasta.net/s/slipknot/103450.html
I don't get it, its telling me that all the strings are different ??

That "Drop B" tuning is written incorrectly, it should be said that it's Drop B as compared to C# standard. A true Drop B would be written B-A-D-G.

The "Drop A" tuning is Drop A as compared to B standard. Once again, it would have been helpful for the poster to write this. Though, perhaps he didn't because these are the standard keys of said band. Normally, when people call dropped tunings, they drop them from standard tuning ([b]-E-A-D-G-[C]), however, as we can see it isn't always the case. Hope this helps.

[mambo4]

That tab suggests that B-F#-B-E or A-E-A-D tunings can be used interchangeably, which is ludicrous.The relative string intervals are the same (root - fifth -8ve -4th) but They can't both be the right key.