5ths tuning

[KingRazor]

I've been thinking about having a bass tuned to 5ths; A-E-B-F#

My thought behind this is, on a 24 fret bass, you have all the upper-register notes of a 20, 21, or 22 fret standard tuned bass, and all the low notes of a standard 5-string bass.

I've been looking on the Circle K website and I'm thinking as far as gauges I would use .150, .100, .064, and .043.

Would be pretty interesting I think.

[ixlramp]

Highly recommended!

But then I'm biased, I've been tuned in fifths for 15 years and consider it superior to fourths. Feels weird at first, but if you work at it and don't give up you might realise how logical and intuitive it is. The wider note spacing in chords makes them clear and beautiful.

[KingRazor]

I wouldn't be able to use the same patterns as I would on a standard 4th tuned bass, but I know the fretboard well enough that I'd be able to find the notes I need just fine. Might have to get a little creative to figure out new fingering patterns for some parts though

[isthimus]

lol its kinda obvious but KEEP AT LEAST ONE BASS IN FOURTHS.

its like dropped d, even if eveything you play regularly works fine,eventually someone will come round and say "lets play ______" an u'll have to retune the whole damn thing

[onosson]

It's worked for cellists and violinists for centuries - I say, go for it!

[FunkMetalBass]

My biggest problem with fifths tuning is deciding what notes to use to expand the range in both directions.

On a typical 4-string, B-G# or D-B make the most sense to me, but when it comes to applying the same idea to my 6-strings...I'm at a loss.

[wshines1892]

I had my bass tuned CGDA for a while, it's pretty cool. It's a nice challenge.

[onosson]

Originally Posted by wshines1892

I had my bass tuned CGDA for a while, it's pretty cool. It's a nice challenge.

I would add to this that I've worked with a guitar tuned to CGDACE for quite some time. CGDA on a bass is identical to a cello, but an octave lower (I believe?). One of the big advantages is chording, if you do that on the bass at all (or if you want to start) it really expands the possibilities.

[J. Montgomery]

Some upright bassists (Red Mitchell for example) tune in 5th. Do a search, and you should be able to find out what tunings they use.

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by onosson

One of the big advantages is chording, if you do that on the bass at all (or if you want to start) it really expands the possibilities.

I think tuning in 4ths is much more convenient to play chords, especially on a bass instrument where you mostly use double stops rather than plain chords.
For example, you don't have access to a simple 2 string root+3rd when tuned in 5ths.
Now scales are very easy to run in 5ths and you get a lot more range without moving your hand much.


I play bass and mandocello so I switch from one to the other quite often.
Scales are simply mirrored, you get used to it very quickly.

[onosson]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

I think tuning in 4ths is much more convenient to play chords, especially on a bass instrument where you mostly use double stops rather than plain chords.

This is true, but isn't that because it's tuned in 4ths? That is, if you use 5th tuning it is easier to play more than just double stops, so you might use different voicings because they are more accessible. I strum bar chords on my 4-string (standard tuned) bass occasionally, but the kinds of voicings you can get in 5th tuning would not be as muddy since the intervals between each note of the chord would be larger.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by onosson

This is true, but isn't that because it's tuned in 4ths? That is, if you use 5th tuning it is easier to play more than just double stops, so you might use different voicings because they are more accessible. I strum bar chords on my 4-string (standard tuned) bass occasionally, but the kinds of voicings you can get in 5th tuning would not be as muddy since the intervals between each note of the chord would be larger.

I suspect the 4ths tuning is more attributed to the bass' foundation. Given the 40" scale length, one can more easily access all notes in a single octave in only one position. In fact, in order to chromatically ascend from the low F to A when tuned in fifths would require the fretting hand to span roughly 10" before you could use the open A string. It's really not ergonomic. On a 34" scale, it's only about 8", which is more manageable.

Furthermore, the muddiness is one of the reasons electronic bassists usually play double-stops as opposed to triads in any of the lower registers. The extra octave provides a lot more clarity and tends to mesh better with guitars.

[Infidelity]

And imagine doing finger rolls in root 5th's run.. IMO that would seriously slow you down!

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

My biggest problem with fifths tuning is deciding what notes to use to expand the range in both directions.

On a typical 4-string, B-G# or D-B make the most sense to me, but when it comes to applying the same idea to my 6-strings...I'm at a loss.

Wow really? I've always yearned for more range. When I bought my first 6 I was super-keen to reach down to at least A0, and also up to high notes and beautiful quadruple-stop chords that both have a clarity and tone far superior to a guitar. My first all-fifths tuning on a 6 was:

G# .013p
C# .022w semitone above high C
F# .035
B .060
E .095 standard E
A .145 detuned B

The range of an 8 string on a 6.

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

I think tuning in 4ths is much more convenient to play chords, especially on a bass instrument where you mostly use double stops rather than plain chords.
For example, you don't have access to a simple 2 string root+3rd when tuned in 5ths.

Bass chords in fifths are so much clearer due to a wider note spacing based around the most consonant interval after the octave.

In fifths the third goes up an octave: 2 strings up and 2 frets up. This is clearer and it's very easy to add a fifth on the string inbetween.

[kuys]

I use a fifth's tunning. Bb F C G

I love it, it just fits me.

G .043 42.8 pounds of tension
C .064 40.3 or .068 45.7
F .100 43.4
Bb .150 42.3

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

I suspect the 4ths tuning is more attributed to the bass' foundation. Given the 40" scale length, one can more easily access all notes in a single octave in only one position. In fact, in order to chromatically ascend from the low F to A when tuned in fifths would require the fretting hand to span roughly 10" before you could use the open A string. It's really not ergonomic. On a 34" scale, it's only about 8", which is more manageable.

Yes precisely this. Double basses would naturally have followed the tuning of violins, violas and cellos, but the extreme scale led to a fourths tuning. Fourths is the freak tuning here. The electric bass then copied the double bass. However electric bass has a shorter scale that is in fact closer to a cello.

[Jazz Ad]

It's just in the middle. A double bass is roughly 40", an electric bass usually 34" and a cello is 26", slightly more than a guitar.

[KingRazor]

So in other words, 5ths tuning would work best in a short scale.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

Wow really? I've always yearned for more range. When I bought my first 6 I was super-keen to reach down to at least A0, and also up to high notes and beautiful quadruple-stop chords that both have a clarity and tone far superior to a guitar. My first all-fifths tuning on a 6 was:

G# .013p
C# .022w semitone above high C
F# .035
B .060
E .095 standard E
A .145 detuned B

The range of an 8 string on a 6.

I was thinking GDAEBF# would be most appropriate for my 6-string. Probably go with a custom Circle K .190 - .021 set.