When I tune my guitar to Drop C, why does it go out of tune so quickly?

Question

A lot of bands I want to play like Atreyu and Bullet For My Valentine use this tuning, but my guitar (Fender Stratocaster) just seems to go out of tune very quickly.

Answer 1

Unless it's a 'hard tail' Strat, it will go out of tune any time you de-tune 'any' string, even a small amount. Even on a guitar, without a floating tail piece ( hard tail ), when you release tension ( de-tune ) on a string, this lessens the tension that stretches the length of the neck, from nut to bridge, and causes all other strings to go sharp. It isn't as bad as on a floating tail piece guitar, but still exists. It's simple physics.
The 'tail piece' on a guitar with a whammy bar, is referred to as a 'floating' tail piece ( bridge ).
That means it works as a pivot. When tension is lessened on any string, this makes the other strings go sharp and vice versa.

Have you ever noticed when you attach a capo on a neck, the chords sound out of tune? The pressure applied by the capo sharpens the strings a tiny bit making them sound sharp.

I've owned a Strat ever since '69, so I know my 'Strats'
Ask me about the 'lock nut' system. I'd like to answer that one, too.

Answer 2

Try larger gauge strings, so they can hold some tension. You may have to get your guitar set up entirely different if you want a drastic change in tuning; intonation, pickup height, and more importantly, action.

Answer 3

Are your strings new? New strings tend to stretch, thus losing tune quicker, so that could be a problem...Also, you might want to check to see if your neck is warped or if there's a problem with the bridge.