Drop G Tuning

[BoomHeadshot]

If this is the wrong section, I'm sorry, but it relates to both strings and setup. so I wasnt sure where to put it.

In my new band, we have decided to tune in drop G (low to high: GDGCF). I use D'addario Xl strings (0.50-1.35). This allows me to tune ADGCF, but I can't get my lowest string to a G or I lose all clarity and articulation. I don't know of any 1.40 gauge strings, so how do I make the 1.35 work for a G?

[rockstarbassist]

That's an interesting tuning. The low A is the proper tuning to "match" the other one-step down strings, but I can see the "drop" aspect of that being something worth at least trying.

I have my Spector NS5 tuned ACGCF and sometimes drop the A to a low G, and even with that high-end bass, a custom setup of double-dropped Circle K strings, and a kick@ss Mesa setup, the low G is still hard to make sound clear and like a "normal" string.

To help:
1. What bass are you using
2. What amp setup are you using
3. Have you had your bass setup/intonated for that tuning?

From personal experience Circle K's get it done. But those other items are going to be a big contributing factor. You'll need a pretty high-powered amp and a choice cabinet for that to really sound like it should. Through a 300W amp and a 210 or 115 cabinet, it's not gonna work.

[BoomHeadshot]

I use an Ibanez SRX and an Ibanez SR with Barts. At the moment, I'm using a 300w combo with a 15" speaker, but I'm upgrading to a 800w head with a mesa 610 in a month or two. My bass is curently set up/intonated for standard 5 string tuning. My amp has no trouble at all projecting the A, so I don't think it's an issue with my amp. I'll look into these circle K strings and get my bass set up for the right tuning.

[ysand]

IME lower than a low A it gets inaudible, especially in metal gigs.
Why would you want to go so low btw?

[BoomHeadshot]

Honestly, A standard is my favourite tuning, but the guitard is convinced that we need to tune as low as physically possible. He wanted drop E(yea, one octave below the lowest note in standard), but we reached a compromise(drop G). So now I'm trying to make that work.

[Bonerific]

Haha guitard

[Lionslicer9999]

Low A on a bass is the lowest possible note before it just becomes noise. Maybe a 6 string could hold a tuning that low... I've seen bands play in lower than G and have a 6 string bass player.

Look for some metal bands with 8 string guitar players, and see if you can find interviews with bassists from those bands about their set ups, I'm sure that will be a load of help to you.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by BoomHeadshot

I use an Ibanez SRX and an Ibanez SR with Barts. At the moment, I'm using a 300w combo with a 15" speaker, but I'm upgrading to a 800w head with a mesa 610 in a month or two. My bass is curently set up/intonated for standard 5 string tuning. My amp has no trouble at all projecting the A, so I don't think it's an issue with my amp. I'll look into these circle K strings and get my bass set up for the right tuning.

Well that rig will def help out once you get acclimated! And yeah A is only one step down from B so your combo won't be too bad, but I just mean that G is a whole 'nother animal altogether. As i said even with my setup I can still get "down" to a G, but it's really not all that music especially at high volumes so it's something to look out for it or at least be aware of.
The strings will help as well as a setup but in the end it still may not give you as good results as you are hoping, unfortunately. Have you thought about G#? I can still get mostly musical notes out of that.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by BoomHeadshot

If this is the wrong section, I'm sorry, but it relates to both strings and setup. so I wasnt sure where to put it.

In my new band, we have decided to tune in drop G (low to high: GDGCF). I use D'addario Xl strings (0.50-1.35). This allows me to tune ADGCF, but I can't get my lowest string to a G or I lose all clarity and articulation. I don't know of any 1.40 gauge strings, so how do I make the 1.35 work for a G?

I find that anything below a low B flat just sounds bad. It works on guitar to tune that way because they are an octave higher.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by Ric5

I find that anything below a low B flat just sounds bad. It works on guitar to tune that way because they are an octave higher.

My low A works fine, as long as it's not just an open low A...

[beelzelboss]

Originally Posted by BoomHeadshot

Honestly, A standard is my favourite tuning, but the guitard is convinced that we need to tune as low as physically possible. He wanted drop E(yea, one octave below the lowest note in standard), but we reached a compromise(drop G). So now I'm trying to make that work.

What a typical metal guitard. Idiot. Unless he can write music like a mofo, I suggest dropping him. If he thinks you need to go as low as possible, he needs to start listening to bands that actually go that low and see if it makes a difference.

[PunkSweeper]

Low =/= heavy. Just look at Opeth.

It's all about context. A C can sound ridiculously low if you're not constantly flogging it, or even Eb, for that matter.


Oh, well, I hate it when people try to dissuade me In my threads, so I'll recommend a cab that's Rock-solid at 49hz, which is a low G's first even-order harmonic. That sounds easy, but a Low B is well known to fart out bass cabs, and it's first harmonic is at 61.74hz. It's really that harmonic that gives most strings their voice in the low end.