How Do I Tune Down My Bass String ? (Yes I'm A Noobie)

[chesey40]

Well see ive been playing bass for 2 months now and for this song i want to learn i need to change my E string to drop C, and well really stupid question but how do i do it??

o and i have got a tuner !! =]

cheers

[aus_bass]

Turn those shiny things on the headstock, until the tuner lights up with whatever note you're trying to tune to. Pretty simple, aint it ?

[Revmizery]

You should tune the strings with the tuner so it will be C.G.C.F instead of E.A.D.G Lowest to highest note.

[chesey40]

yeah i did that but nothing came up??

[Igastopheles]

Try holding the 12th fret when you pluck the string. It'll hit the same note as an open string and if your tuner says that it's in tune, then your open string should be.

[atheos]

You might also need thicker strings to tune down. A standard .100 or .105 E string will be pretty loose if tuned down to C which will decrease the definition of the note and make the string less comfortable to play.

I sometimes use harmonics with the low strings if my AX3000B tuner doesn't catch the note, meaning that you put your left hand finger on the string at 12th fret (the fret itself, not in between 11th and 12th fret where you would put it while playing normally), pluck the string and immediately raise your finger. I do this because my action is so low that the buzz will sometimes distract the tuner. Also if the intonation is not set perfectly the harmonic will be more accurate.

[Infernal Affair]

Do you have a chromatic tuner and not a basic guitar tuner? That would help.

[LarsLockwood]

The tuner you use makes a bid difference. If you have the type of tuner that clips onto your headstock then it may have trouble recognizing the notes. My clip-on reads notes easier when played on the 12th fret as opposed to an open string. A tuner you plug into is much better for alternate tunings, IMO. Clip-on tuners are convenient. What type of tuner are you using?

[Roland777]

He's a newbie. Keep things simple.

Does it say "chromatic" anywhere on your tuner? Then just tune to CGCF, starting at the lowest stromg. If it does not (which probably is the case), do like this:
1. Start at your lowest string. Plug in your tuner, and tune the string down. Press down at the fourth fret and play the string. When the tuner says "E", you're done with this string. Keep tuning down until you get "E" when pressing down at the fourth fret.
2. Move on to the next string. Tune down. This time however, you press down at the SECOND fret. When tuner reads "A", you're done.
3. Next string, same thing. Tune down, second fret, play. When it reads "D", finito.
4. Final round. Tune down, second fret, play. When it reads "G", you're in drop-C tuning.

A useful tip would be to get some heavy-gauge strings for this. (50-110)