Do you de-tune the low E?

[unbasslichkeit]

Well..(per the rules)

Glad this forum is here - I can use the inspiration.

I've played a lot of bg and a very small amount of rockabilly over the past 30 years. My upright ('60 Kay) is set up with steel strings and most of my gigs are on electric so I don't get to use it much anymore.

Got a question: Long time ago I saw an article in a magazine that described a style whereby the low E string world be de-tuned so it'd act as a percussive kinda thing. You'd essentially play the bass backwards (slap first, then play the note.)

Any good links, players to watch, etc. where I might get a better line on this technique? I tried to get the hang of it a long time ago, but I didn't have any songs to apply it to so it kind of went forgotten.

[ZombieGhosTrain]

I'm not quite sure what you are talking about, but do you mean you bring your hand to the fingerboard (causing a slap) and then slap/pluck another note? You would only notice this at the first note in a series, as it could be taken as the 2nd click from a double slap on the previous note.

And no...I don't de-tune my E string, with these weedwhackers the tension is low enough!

[Tony F]

Originally Posted by unbasslichkeit

Well..(per the rules)

Got a question: Long time ago I saw an article in a magazine that described a style whereby the low E string world be de-tuned so it'd act as a percussive kinda thing. You'd essentially play the bass backwards (slap first, then play the note.)

I had heard about this years ago, but I've not seen anyone actually do it. I think the basic idea is that the player would be slapping the strings in the normal rockabilly style, but would be using the loose E string just to add a bit of meat to the slap sound against the fingerboard. The E string itself would be unplayable, of course, and I think that may be one of the reasons why it's not a widespread technique, plus the fact that low-tension strings and adjustable bridges are readily available now.

Cheers,

Tony

[swamprocker]

don't know about just the e-string. but some people tune down 1/2 step.

[ZuluFunk]

There are many styles of music that use slapping and there are nearly as many variations in the set ups and techniques players use.

Ususally steel strings have a higher tension, so you may think you'd have to de-tune to get a slap when you palm or thumb down on it...but you don't. It would give you a different sound than one tuned to E, but you'd lose any chance of playing notes on that string. I'd see lowering the action on that side of the bridge so that you can get a faster gallop going, but I wouldn't de-tune.

I play guts, and my action is moderately low. Too high for jazz soloing, but low for most RaB players. But I'll adapt my slap style to how I have it set up. I had WAY higher action when I played with whackers, and I had to play far in front of the beat. When I use Sprios, I usually keep the action about as low as I can get it...even for slap.

It's easy enough to just de-tune, play with it for a bit, and see if you can get something going with it like that.

[Dan in NJ]

I think that article was in Guitar Player magazine with Eddie Cochran on the cover, no?

I was in Nashville on vacation and I got to hear/speak with Mark Winchester--he started with the E detuned to a thud because of that article and now plays with the E tuned to D (DADG).

He was/is with Chris Casello at Robert's Western World on lower B'way on Sunday nights, Dave Roe also plays there, caught him too.

I'd never been to Nashville b4, really enjoyed it--Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B, the Ryman, all very cool (IMO).

[Chris Rhoades]

Don't tune down you're E string anyone who tells you to do that has no idea what they are talking about and are trying to mess you up.