Drop tunings for 5 strings?

Baydelmusic · #1 12-06-2007, 12:41 PM

Hey guys, i hope i placed this question in the right thread.

I'm about to move from my 4 string standard jazz bass to a 5 string studio schecter.

Most of the bands i listen to are heavy, and very technical.

They play in drop tunings for the desired heavier sound.
Ex: Myspace.com/aftertheburial
myspace.com/betweentheburiedandme
myspace.com/theacaciastrain

So my question is, i usually tune my 4 string to drop b, somtimes drop c or drop a
So what would i tune the low 5th string to?
-E
-B
-Gb
- B
- 5th string?

Thanks!

Higgie · #2 12-06-2007, 03:16 PM

If you have a 5 string, why drop tune at all?

If you really need to, tune all the strings down one step:

High to low: FCGDA

Any lower than that and you'll need a high end amp and cab to even reproduce those frequencies.

Not to mention your strings would be floppy as hell.

EADG mx · #3 12-06-2007, 03:19 PM

Never heard those other two bands but BTBAM tunes to C#-F#B-E-A, or standard 5 string tuning up a step. I don't recommend you try this unless you have light strings.

Other bands tune the top 4 to a drop tuning then the B a 4th down from whatever the E string is tuned to.

ex. CGCF (dropped D down a step) becomes GCGCF on a 5 string.

I believe Mudvayne uses or used this tuning.

BEADG could work fine for your needs. But if you really need to get lower, down a step (ADGCF) and dropping just the B (AEADG) are also popular

Baydelmusic · #4 12-06-2007, 04:40 PM

Why drop tune?
I'm not sure you understand how heavy these bands are, there not nu-metal like korn hahah.

Thanks for the tip!

Alex.Diede · #5 12-06-2007, 04:55 PM

Dan Briggs, BTBAM's bassist, actually tunes G#-C#-F#-B-E. So you could tune your top four strings what you normally did on your four string bass, and then just continue tuning in fourths for your 5th string.

ATB's bassist only plays a four string, unless he got a new one since last december, and they play in F standard (the F 11 half steps below regular standard tuning). So I'm not sure exactly what he does...

EADG mx · #6 12-07-2007, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex.Diede

Dan Briggs, BTBAM's bassist, actually tunes G#-C#-F#-B-E.

I don't think I've ever heard him play that low and I read in a magazine that his lowest was C#. do you have a source on that?

chaosMK · #7 12-07-2007, 09:05 AM

I use a 5 string, keep it in standard BEADG... I've played with guitarists in drop D, drop C, C# standard, drop B.

Stumpy · #8 12-07-2007, 09:10 AM

A bass friend of mine and I were discussing this very topic last night. Drop, other than the lowering one whole step, tuning is not necessary with the low B. IMHO You just need to learn to play the 5er straight up and fix your brain. Then everyone in the band will think that you are a genius becuase you have the flexibility to play anything at any time

Get the 5 (35" scale), get the taper core strings (Smith, DR, MTD, etc.), and just bang your way into history. JMHO

tremor100 · #9 12-07-2007, 09:20 AM

ryan martinie plays in dropped c tuning (bassist from mudvayne). I hate playing in dropped C and have turned down many bands because of it because i find it makes your strings hang off your fingerboard... and everyone says get thicker strings so theres more tension... but i dont have 70 - 100 bucks a month to blow on strings to play in a tuning i dont much care for. However my current band usually plays in dropped D is ADADG so i have like 4 full octaves or whatever. When i almost filled in for my freinds band and he tuned dropped C, i tuned CDGCF so whenever i had to do the stupid open string breakdowns and **** i just go one the low C, and whenever im playing fills i dont get all my tone sucked from floppy strings. Doubt this helped cause ive yet to meet someone who tunes like this but yea. its a option.

Sarah5string · #10 12-07-2007, 09:34 AM

I stick to B and just find how to play something using that. I don't really see the point tuning lower than B to be fair as I'd worry about the neck.

lemur821 · #11 12-07-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tremor100

i dont have 70 - 100 bucks a month to blow on strings to play in a tuning i dont much care for.

Where are you buying these solid gold strings?

Stellar Blues · #12 12-07-2007, 10:10 AM

Isn't this a little confusing when playing?

Unless I don't understand, that would mean if you and the guitars are tuned down one step, then the keyboardist is playing one step higher.

Hmmm, now I want to go home from work and try it out, but wouldn't it be better to just play in keys one step lower instead of destabilizing your string tension and getting fret buzz?

Happynoj · #13 12-07-2007, 10:17 AM

If you are already tuning down to a B, do you feel the need to go lower? If you do, then what you tune to if your decision. If you don't need to go lower, then don't bother with alternate tunings - just leave it BEADG

Alex.Diede · #14 12-07-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

I don't think I've ever heard him play that low and I read in a magazine that his lowest was C#. do you have a source on that?

Yes, in the transcription book for Alaska, which he wrote, he says in the intro the tuning is G#,C#,F#,B,E. And also says to adjust your action accordingly. As far as hearing him play that low, listen to 'Autodidact' track 10 from Alaska. More specifically the breakdown that starts at 4:35, and to hear the low G# isolated, listen at 4:55.