Too Tight - loose

-MattMacLennan · #1 11-18-2008, 01:00 PM

Hey, i've got a small problem that i bet one of you guys could help me with.

I have a 5 string bass tuned standard , and i need to tune to my bands tuning, which is Drop B. (B-F#-B-E-A). So i can either leave my low B alone, and tune the rest of my strings up, which makes them incredibly tight, or 'tense', which makes fingerstyle a lot tougher, or i can loosen them all down to F#-B-F#-B-E , which makes my low F# completely inaudible, and the rest of the strings so flimsy that im basically playing some percussive non-bass like instrument.
Help?

Matt.

-MattMacLennan · #2 11-18-2008, 01:02 PM

Oh btw, I tried adjusting the neck tension and it had absolutely no effect.

stflbn · #3 11-18-2008, 01:04 PM

I just do not understand all these wild arsed tuning's people are so crazed to use now adays...

You could just play it with normal 5-string tuning regardless of what the guitar players are doing.

lug · #4 11-18-2008, 01:05 PM

Stop that.

You need to get a lighter guage set of strings and probably need a good setup from someone who knows what he or she is doing.

mikezimmerman · #5 11-18-2008, 01:07 PM

No, adjusting the truss rod wouldn't have any effect on the tension of the strings.

Leaving aside the question of why your band is tuning that way

, I can think of two suggestions:

1) Tune to regular drop-A and use a capo on the 2nd fret
2) Buy a set of extra-light (like .030-.090 or .035-.095) string for a 4-string and swap out your E-G strings, so you can tune them up a whole tone without them feeling so tight.

Mike

JustOpenYourMind · #6 11-18-2008, 01:11 PM

Why do you bother to tune your strings that way? I can understand that for a guitarist that tuning can be important so they can do those big 1 finger power chords but for you, you have all the range they have and you don't have to bother with drop tunings since you already have the low B.

If you really want to do it, just buy a 4 string set of the lightest gauge you can find, like 40-90 or 35-90 keep your low B and tune the rest up.

There is no way, you'll have a playable tension with standard string gauges. Like I said, on bass there is no practical reason to do this.

stflbn · #7 11-18-2008, 01:14 PM

Glad someone agree's with me.

justincest · #8 11-18-2008, 01:14 PM

Like everyone has said, you don't have to be the exact same tuning as the guitar, the notes are still there.

PilbaraBass · #9 11-18-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustOpenYourMind

Why do you bother to tune your strings that way? I can understand that for a guitarist that tuning can be important so they can do those big 1 finger power chords but for you, you have all the range they have and you don't have to bother with drop tunings since you already have the low B.

If you really want to do it, just buy a 4 string set of the lightest gauge you can find, like 40-90 or 35-90 keep your low B and tune the rest up.

There is no way, you'll have a playable tension with standard string gauges. Like I said, on bass there is no practical reason to do this.

+1...the 5-string bass already has all the notes you need...why do you need to follow the guitar tunings???

just play the right notes and be done with it...

-MattMacLennan · #10 11-18-2008, 01:20 PM

i did try that, but i just found it a bit easier to have exact tunings .. but i might as well try it for a little while and see how it goes.

But i'll still buy those strings if i decide to keep it that way.

thanks guys

4bpauly · #11 11-18-2008, 01:21 PM

+1 to the previous comments... you don't have to tune to what they tune too...

however...if you are playing riff based music and happen to be bouncing (pedalling) off of the f# for a lot of the parts...i could see why this tuning could be useful.

if you insist on tuning that way... get lighter gauge strings and you should be ok, a semi-tone or tone up isn't really that much... but it will require a set up.

or...get your guitarists to use a normal tuning lol

WhiteKnuckles · #12 11-18-2008, 01:21 PM

I agree with the rest...no reason to change your tuning.

4bpauly · #13 11-18-2008, 01:22 PM

Skywalker83 · #14 11-18-2008, 01:22 PM

buy a capo....

dystopiate · #15 11-18-2008, 01:57 PM

Rather than poo-pooing your tuning, I'll chime in as someone who's actually tuned drop B...

If the music you're playing is fast enough, guitar driven, and involves enough open string pull-offs and non-traditional runs up and down the fretboard, drop tuning is often the way to go. As an analog to those who are saying not to drop, the notes are still there if you drop, but the paterns are generally easier. If you play at blinding speeds, less string skipping is your friend.

My drop B tuning on a 34" scale bass involved the following gauges: 50, 70, 90, 135. I like the medium and fairly uniform string-to-string tension this provides. It's less tension on the higher strings than a medium set in standard tuning, but a tight enough B to be able to run fast 16ths, sextuplets, etc on the open string.

DO NOT HAPHAZARDLY ADJUST THE RELIEF VIA THE TRUSS ROD. If you don't know how to do your own setup, take it to someone who does.

Solarmist · #16 11-19-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikezimmerman

No, adjusting the truss rod wouldn't have any effect on the tension of the strings.

Leaving aside the question of why your band is tuning that way

, I can think of two suggestions:

1) Tune to regular drop-A and use a capo on the 2nd fret
2) Buy a set of extra-light (like .030-.090 or .035-.095) string for a 4-string and swap out your E-G strings, so you can tune them up a whole tone without them feeling so tight.

Mike

This would be easiest ... but ...