Can someone kick me in the right direction when it comes to tuning in fifths?

[wshines1892]

I really want to learn how to play with the bass tuned in fifths, but I'm having a hard time nailing down where to get a string set from. I want to tune it CGDA and am hoping that there's a company out there that sells a ready made set for this, or possibly an online place where I can make my own custom order set. Any help would be appreciated.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by wshines1892

I really want to learn how to play with the bass tuned in fifths, but I'm having a hard time nailing down where to get a string set from. I want to tune it CGDA and am hoping that there's a company out there that sells a ready made set for this, or possibly an online place where I can make my own custom order set. Any help would be appreciated.

There are several on line shops where you can buy individual strings so you can build your own set. I have a question, though - why fifths? With a bass tuned in fourths you have access to a large chromatic swath without having to move your fretting hand much, if at all. If you are tuned in fifths, to go up one semitone on an adjacent string you have to jump back toward the nut farther than your hand can span. I don't understand why you would want that on a bass.

Mandolins and banjos are tuned in fifths, but they are very short scale instruments, so it makes sense to me.

I'm not challenging you to a duel, mind you; it's a serious question.

[wshines1892]

It'd get about the range of a 5 string out of a 4 string, and it'll help me bridge the gap between my banjo playing and bass playing. Granted fretting may be a bit of an issue.

[Marton]

A lot of double bass players do this, so I guess it's probably not much of a problem on a electric bass.

I don't think any company make some fifth set, but you could buy single strings. A good balanced set would probably be around this : 125-90-65-35

[SMILEYSIXX]

This is what I would do:
C: 115 maybe 120
G: 90
D: 65
A: 30

[knuckle_head]

I'd suggest;

.130 .088 .058 .037 .016

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by Marton

A good balanced set would probably be around this : 125-90-65-35

I can tell just by looking at the gauges that is not a good tension balanced set Here are the tensions from the Circle K Strings tension chart pdf

A 35 36.1 lbf
D 64 50.7 lbf
G 88 42.5 lbf
C 124 37.0 lbf

knuckle_head has the right idea, he designs tension balanced sets. These are the tensions of his suggestion:

A 37 40.0 lbf
D 58 42.7 lbf
G 88 42.5 lbf
C 130 40.3 lbf

That's roughly equivalent to a 100 80 60 40 set, but more tension balanced of course.

Circle K Strings mention on their homepage that 5ths sets may be available in future. They sell single strings and I seem to remember they have put together 5ths sets for customers. They'll probably be able to help you put together a tension balanced set.

Fifths tuning is awesome. It opens up new possibilities. Yes it may slow you down a little on some riffs but you'll learn to shift your hand faster. Other riffs and intervals become faster and easier. Chords are stunningly beautiful and clearer due to being more widely spaced. Since our scales and chords have the fifth as such a fundamental building block, they unfold across the fretboard in a logical and intuitive way