advice sought before practice tomorrow

[chokeslam512]

I recently got my first 5 string the other day. I have been playing 4 strings since I started playing bass. The band I am in tunes:
Db, Ab, Db, Gb. I am curious where I should set my low B string. I a thinking just taking to down to Bb but I was also curious about tuning the low B to Db and going up from there. Are there any bad things that can happen by doing this? Am I putting too much tension on the neck/strings?

[mrkreuzschlitz]

If you do that, just use SUPER DUPER light guage strings,
but you'd be better off getting a 4 string set and adding on an extra high string.

[Projectile]

The benefit of having a five string is that you don't need to downtune. You have Db already accessible on your B string. If the fact that they are using so many flats makes it confusing, then just tune down a half step. That way your hand positions are just going to be one whole step lower than the guitarist when he's playing his dropped power chords. Then there is no need to go with some strange string gauge and to put your bass in such a weird tunning IMO.

This is the whole reason many players get a five string in the first place, me included. I was in several bands that all used different tunings and I was sick of always retuning my bass for each band. The five string solves this problem, and I don't have to bother retuning anymore.

[xgator4u]

Originally Posted by Projectile

The benefit of having a five string is that you don't need to downtune. You have Db already accessible on your B string. If the fact that they are using so many flats makes it confusing, then just tune down a half step. That way your hand positions are just going to be one whole step lower than the guitarist when he's playing his dropped power chords. Then there is no need to go with some strange string gauge and to put your bass in such a weird tunning IMO.

This is the whole reason many players get a five string in the first place, me included. I was in several bands that all used different tunings and I was sick of always retuning my bass for each band. The five string solves this problem, and I don't have to bother retuning anymore.

+1 with the B string you should NOT have to tune down.

[JustDavid]

+1 to downtuning all by a semi-tone.

[Stumbo]

Here's a thought:

While the guitars have tuned down, based on my calculations, if you tune the 5 string up a step it will go from B E A D G to Db Gb B E A

That way you'll get an open Db (I) and an open Gb (IV) to work with and the I-IV-V within easy reach on the two lowest strings. And you can play the 5 string with the same patterns/boxes/finger spacing as you do with the standard tuning.

Might have to adjust the truss rod to compensate for the additional tension.

Something to think about. Correct me if I'm wrong.