String gauge for drop B
Drop B (B F♯ B E G♯ C♯) takes the top five strings down three half steps and the 6th down five. On a .010–.046 set at 25.5″ that costs 29.3% of the tension on strings 1 to 5 and 43.9% on the low string: the .046 falls from 17.5 lb (7.9 kg) in E to 9.8 lb (4.5 kg) on B1, 61.7 Hz.
Drop B from a .010–.046 at 25.5″
Tension of each EXL110 string in drop B and the D'Addario chart gauge closest to its E-standard tension.
| String | Note | Tension with current string (kg) | Suggested | Suggested tension (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C♯4 | 5.2 | .012 | 7.5 |
| 2 | G♯3 | 4.9 | .015 | 6.6 |
| 3 | E3 | 5.3 | .020 | 7.4 |
| 4 | B2 | 5.9 | .030w | 8.0 |
| 5 | F♯2 | 6.3 | .044w | 9.2 |
| 6 | B1 | 4.5 | .060w | 7.8 |
How to use it
- The page opens on the electric guitar, with Drop B as the new tuning and the EXL110 (.010–.046) as the reference set.
- Change the reference set to the one you play in E standard: the target moves with it.
- Set the scale length: 25.5″ on Fender-style guitars, 24.75″ on a Les Paul or SG, 27″ on most baritones.
- Read Tension with current string to see how slack each string gets and Suggested for the replacement gauge, then tap Copy suggested set.
Help and explanations
The calculator uses the tension of your E-standard set as the target. From a D'Addario EXL110 at 25.5″, the D'Addario chart gives .012 .015 .020 .030 .044 .060: 102.3 lb (46.4 kg) in total, about 1% under the 103.6 lb (47.0 kg) you had in E.
Who plays in drop B
Drop B is a staple of metalcore, deathcore and modern metal: drop D shapes, five half steps lower. Many players get there on a regular 6-string instead of a 7-string or a baritone, which is exactly where gauge matters.
Which set to buy
12–60 packs are the usual drop B choice. A D'Addario EXL148 (.012 .016 .020 .034 .046 .060) tuned to drop B at 25.5″ totals 110.5 lb (50.1 kg), about 7% over the target, with the .034 and .046 the tightest strings. An EXL145 (.012–.054) totals 101.5 lb (46.0 kg), close to your E-standard feel overall, but its .054 gives the low B only 13.8 lb (6.3 kg), 21% under the target.
Scale length changes the answer. At 24.75″ every tension drops about 6%, so the same EXL148 on a Les Paul lands at 104.0 lb (47.2 kg), practically the feel of a .010–.046 in E at 25.5″. On a 27″ baritone, a .056 already gives the low B 16.6 lb (7.5 kg).
Nut, intonation and neck
A .060 is 1.52 mm wide against 1.17 mm for the .046, so the 6th-string slot almost always needs opening up; the 5th (.036 to .044) and 4th (.026 to .030) often do too. A binding string pings while you tune.
Heavier wound strings need the saddles moved back to intonate, and the restored tension brings relief back, so check the truss rod. On a floating tremolo, rebalance the springs.
Tips
- A .012 too stiff for bends? A .011 on top gives 13.9 lb (6.3 kg) in C♯; a .010, only 11.5 lb (5.2 kg).
- Tune each new string with the drop B tuner; the low B reads more steadily on the strobe tuner.
- Set the octave of every string with the intonation checker after restringing.
- To compare two whole sets side by side, use the string tension calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What gauge strings for drop B?
At 25.5″, .012 .015 .020 .030 .044 .060 keeps the tension of a .010–.046 in E standard: 102.3 lb (46.4 kg) in total, per the D'Addario unit-weight chart. 12–60 packs are the closest off-the-shelf sets.
Can I play drop B with 10–46 or 10–52 strings?
It will tune, but a .010–.046 loses 29% on strings 1–5 and 44% on the 6th, which ends up at 9.8 lb (4.5 kg). A 10–52 helps only the bottom: its .052 gives the low B 12.4 lb (5.6 kg), still 29% less than a .046 gets in E.
What strings for drop B on a Les Paul (24.75″)?
Go heavier, not lighter: the shorter scale removes about 6% of the tension. A 12–60 set in drop B at 24.75″ totals 104.0 lb (47.2 kg), almost exactly a 10–46 in E at 25.5″.
What gauge for drop B flat?
Drop B♭ goes one more half step down. Keeping the low string at the tension of a .046 in E takes about a .064 at 25.5″ (17.2 lb, 7.8 kg). At that point a baritone scale is usually the better tool.