Tuning - Let the games begin

[danstefl]

Gentlemen and ladies and other things that crawl this site :-)

I currently play in such fun STANDARD tuning on a 5 string.

BEADG

I was approached by a christian metal band to play bass with them. I was given a tab and the tuning of

CDCFA

Either I'm stupid or just inexperienced but that tuning makes no sense to me. I have seen CGCF but never CDCF much less an A on the top string.

Am I looking at this backwards or something? I can get tuned to CDC )which feels weird all on it's own) but the top 2 strings just don't make sense.

Also, what should I be prepared to do to my bass (besides heavy gauge strings) if I want to continue to play with them?

Thank you all for your reply.

[danstefl]

Should it be ACDCF maybe? this is ticking me off.

[kb9wyz]

I got no idea, Bro. This tuning makes zero sense to me. I can't even think of what it might be. If they were down tuned a whole step and then dropped the D to C, that would make sense, but CDC? I just can't do it either.

You have a friend in this.

[Codger]

Originally Posted by danstefl

I was approached by a christian metal band to play bass with them. I was given a tab and the tuning of

CDCFA

Run away. That's the devil's tuning.

Somewhat seriously though, put the notes on the paper and I will play them. The choice of tuning however is mine.

[danstefl]

Originally Posted by Codger

Run away. That's the devil's tuning.

Somewhat seriously though, put the notes on the paper and I will play them. The choice of tuning however is mine.

That was one thought I had. If that is the case and the GUITAR is tuned to CDCFA (how he would do that is beyond me) then what would you tune your bass too?

Also any comment on the foreseeable changes I will have to make to my bass to stay in that tunings (strings, neck relief etc) recomendations?

[uglymutt]

if changing tunings, adjust saddles, intonation (move the saddles backwards or forwards) and possibly the truss rod, only adjust the truss rod if it needs to be adjusted.

[Ozzman]

It sounds like a really funky, dumb chord tuning.

Like the first two string would be part of a major scale, the next two are minor, and the last goes back to major. At least that's what my guitar playing roommate suggests. He says "something along the line of triads". It sounds utterly silly to me.

Edit: He just said it sounded like open interval triads.

[Lokire]

It's like an open maj2add10 chord...or something

Screw that. Just tune to C standard (CFBbEb) and you'll be fine. Or just play in standard BEADG, and you'll be hitting the first fret C pretty often.

Unless you WERE the bands guitarist previously and that's the tuning you're already super used to playing in, then there's no point in matching the guitar player's tuning.

[fretlessguy]

Sounds like the guitarist needs to be the guitarist and the bassist needs to be the bassist. Then again, if they are paying you and you are their employee, and not a regular band member, then that's their perogative (no matter how crazy it may be).

[FunkMetalBass]

Ask for the notes because the tuning is rather awkward and tuning up strings 3 semitones will increase tension like mad on that string.

[NoFrets4Me]

***?

[Wespe]

You'll be fine in standard five-string tuning. If they drone alot on C you could tune your B up a half-step.

[Jim Breece]

Does the tab they gave you look like you're playing a bunch of riffs in unison with the guitar? If so, they may just not be able to imagine you playing the same notes in a different tuning. A bass player doesn't have to use a capo on songs where a guitarist straps one on, and you don't automatically have to retune to match the guitar either. Can you learn the songs without the tab?

[Flintlock]

OK, my take.

It's dropped down 2 semitones from EADG, but with two E strings on the low notes rather then another A, and the top string tuned down another 2 semitones.

Then place the A string where the C string should be

[Bass Troll]

I'd just play in standard, or if they use the open c alot I'd tune the B up a half step or capo the first fret.

[danstefl]

I stayed in standard tuning tuned my B string up a half step. This is the tuning they were use to, whatever. They sucked and their sound was WEIRD. I think they meant CGCF when they first started, tuned incorrectly and just stayed that way. idiots. the durmmer was a diamond in the rough though. He must feel obligated to stay with them cause that chick (yeah and HOT) had SKILLS.

[Rune Bivrin]

Originally Posted by danstefl

the durmmer was a diamond in the rough though. He must feel obligated to stay with them cause that chick (yeah and HOT) had SKILLS.

Confused much?