String Gauge for a strange tuning?

[pix3l]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forums, so be nice ;-) Heh. Anyway, I'm in a funk-metal band, and just got myself a new Ibanez SR905 bass. Now, up until this point I've played a 4-string, but have decided to move to a 5 string.

My dillema is that currently, the band plays in 1/2 step down, drop-d tuning. Now, whilst some of the songs could be translated to be played on a 5-string that is simply tuned a 1/2 step down, some of them just cant (eg. a slap on the low d string, with pops up around 7th-10th frets, with slaps and ghosts in between that hit back on that low D again). I've tried doing this using the low-b string in standard 1/2 step down tuning, and I just can't get it to work.

So my thoughts are that the bass tuning should be Bb - Db - Ab - Db - Gb. This will allow me to play everything the same way I have been, and give me those few extra low notes. If anyone thinks there is a better way of doing it, please suggest it! I'm open to anything people have to offer.

Presuming that is the tuning I go for, I was wondering what gauge strings would be best to maintain a good tension on all the strings. It may be that I have to use custom gauges, thats ok... I just want it to be a nice tension.

I plan to get the bass setup tomorrow, so some suggestions would be great!

Thanks guys.

[Billy Low]

Originally Posted by pix3l

Hi all,

I'm new to the forums, so be nice ;-) Heh. Anyway, I'm in a funk-metal band, and just got myself a new Ibanez SR905 bass. Now, up until this point I've played a 4-string, but have decided to move to a 5 string.

My dillema is that currently, the band plays in 1/2 step down, drop-d tuning. Now, whilst some of the songs could be translated to be played on a 5-string that is simply tuned a 1/2 step down, some of them just cant (eg. a slap on the low d string, with pops up around 7th-10th frets, with slaps and ghosts in between that hit back on that low D again). I've tried doing this using the low-b string in standard 1/2 step down tuning, and I just can't get it to work.

So my thoughts are that the bass tuning should be Bb - Db - Ab - Db - Gb. This will allow me to play everything the same way I have been, and give me those few extra low notes. If anyone thinks there is a better way of doing it, please suggest it! I'm open to anything people have to offer.

Presuming that is the tuning I go for, I was wondering what gauge strings would be best to maintain a good tension on all the strings. It may be that I have to use custom gauges, thats ok... I just want it to be a nice tension.

I plan to get the bass setup tomorrow, so some suggestions would be great!

Thanks guys.

Part of the reason you maybe having trouble with playing the same stuff in different locations is that your tuning is wrong.
That should be Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb. This shoul allow you the fingering pattern that you are familliar with. A half step shouldn't provide too much slack. If yer talkin' a whole step then there could be a problem. I personally don't like a lot of tension in my string, but if you can string thru the body that will give you more tension. You could try a heavier gauge string set, you may have to raise your action for that.

[pix3l]

I think you have misunderstood me. I realise that a standard tuning is B E A D G, and have tried playing our songs in 1/2 step down tuning Bb Eb Ab Db Gb... However as the songs were written on a four string by the bands previous bass player with tuning Db Ab Db Gb, situations occur where the low Db needs to be slapped intermittently whilst popping higher up the neck. So, trying to accomplish these with a Bb Eb Ab Db Gb tuning is basically impossible as for each slap, the 3rd fret of the Bb string would need to be fretted as opposed to slapping an open Db. This does not allow for a smooth style, and means in some parts you have to slide up and down the neck 4 times within a quarter of a bar between the 3rd and 10th frets.

That is why I want to tune to Bb Db Ab Db Gb, so the original playing style can be retained. Thus, a heavier gauge string would be needed at least for the low Db. Just looking for a recommended list of gauges for each of the strings to achieve a good tension for the type of music that we play.

I've done some research and am looking at something like 135 - 105 - 85 - 65 - 45 at the moment. However, I'm worried that the low Db will be at too low a tension with these strings compared to the other strings.

Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Cheers for your reply.

[dlloyd]

Doing a quick calculation on these, you're looking at two strings that might be on the floppy side if you use the gauges you've suggested.

I would bump that low Db up to a .120 for starters.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by pix3l

I think you have misunderstood me. I realise that a standard tuning is B E A D G, and have tried playing our songs in 1/2 step down tuning Bb Eb Ab Db Gb... However as the songs were written on a four string by the bands previous bass player with tuning Db Ab Db Gb, situations occur where the low Db needs to be slapped intermittently whilst popping higher up the neck. So, trying to accomplish these with a Bb Eb Ab Db Gb tuning is basically impossible as for each slap, the 3rd fret of the Bb string would need to be fretted as opposed to slapping an open Db. This does not allow for a smooth style, and means in some parts you have to slide up and down the neck 4 times within a quarter of a bar between the 3rd and 10th frets.

That is why I want to tune to Bb Db Ab Db Gb, so the original playing style can be retained. Thus, a heavier gauge string would be needed at least for the low Db. Just looking for a recommended list of gauges for each of the strings to achieve a good tension for the type of music that we play.

I've done some research and am looking at something like 135 - 105 - 85 - 65 - 45 at the moment. However, I'm worried that the low Db will be at too low a tension with these strings compared to the other strings.

Any comments/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Cheers for your reply.

Good strategy. Be prepared to purchase some single strings. You may need to increase some of the string gauges. The second and fourth strings may be too light. Try your strategy and most importantly report your findings here. It will help someone else down the line.

Another suggestion: Think about swapping in a Hipshot D-Tuner for the fourth string tuner. This would allow the bass to return to the relative standard intervallic tuning of ascending fourths. Could really come in handy.

[pix3l]

Thanks again all.. so, based on your comments, i may have some issues with my suggestion, so say we upped the low Db to .120, giving us 135 120 85 65 45 does that seem pretty good? or should the 65 be a 70 maybe?

As for the hipshot d-tuner, it may very well be a useful option for me, but i think i'll leave it for now, it may be something i do down the track a bit.

[Roland777]

Funny. Sam Rivers of Limp Bizkit uses the exact same tuning. Personally I'd use .130-.110-.080-.060-.045 in singles, of course. But then again, I play with a rather light touch.