Playing in Drop C

[mandokiddo]

So this may be the wrong forum for this but feel free to move it. Excuse my stupidity please.

So I've recently joined a death metal band that plays in Drop C tuning. I'm currently playing a 4 string bass but was looking at picking up a 5 string. If anyone has experience playing a 5'er in drop C what do you normally tune it to? Do most people just leave it in standard or do you tune to drop C and drop the B string 2 steps as well. I was also thinking it might be possible to leave it in standard but tune the B string up a half step to C so that riffs that pedal off of the low C could still be played with the open note.

So my question is what tunings allow you to play the 5 string most effectively with guitarists in drop c?

thanks

[El-Bob]

C,G,C,F,Bb?

Edit: Seriously, If you're going to be needing the open C, this is going to be the most effective way, IMO/IME.

[japhy4529]

You could just stick with the 4-string and tune C-G-C-F. This works for a number of bassists, including the amazing Dug Pinnick of King's X (check out the album Dogman for some excellent songs in this tuning).

[mandokiddo]

Yeh I suppose I'm just not particularly fond of the slackness of the strings in that tuning. Other than that its not really a big deal but I thought that switching to a 5 string bass could eliminate that problem. Maybe I should just put a bigger nut on my bass and use even heavier gauge strings

[rockstarbassist]

If you're getting a bass just for this tuning (which you pretty much need to do it incorrectly when you factor in proper string setup) just get another 4.
My band plays in drop C and I'd been doing it in cover bands for years; however up until I just got my RXT I'd been using my NS-5 and tuned it ACGCF. Technically following the "drop tuning" chart, it should go GCGCF, but I don't like having to angle up/down/sideways to get an octave from the G-tuned strings, so I do it this way. It's frustrating enough on the C-tuned strings. I would prefer we either play in D standard or C standard but having a hard time working that out.

But to actually answer your OP, if you were playing drop C on a 5'er it'd be tuned GCGCF. I recommend heading over to the Strings forum and do a quick search on strings and setup and it'll really make a difference vs. trying to jack up your bridge and saddle heights to accommodate light gauge strings or (which I don't recommend as it doesn't sound good/stay intonated up the neck) try and use a 5'string BEADG set and throw out the E and tune the B up to C.

[El-Bob]

It shouldn't take that much set up. If you're using a 4, you'll need to file the nut a little bit to fit heavier strings, if it's a 5, and you go CGCFBb, then the nut will have wide enough slots to begin with. the only other adjustments should just be a regular set up (intonation, maybe truss rod, although probably not if you have the same string tension as before, and maybe bridge saddle height, although again probably not an issue if it was set up right before).

[yaboiimizz]

If it was me id just tune the B string up to a C and leave the rest in standard. Thats what i do with my band who plays in drop B, the guitarist tune BF#BEG#C# and i tune BEADG Sounds way better than drop tuning in my opinion.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by El-Bob

It shouldn't take that much set up. If you're using a 4, you'll need to file the nut a little bit to fit heavier strings, if it's a 5, and you go CGCFBb, then the nut will have wide enough slots to begin with. the only other adjustments should just be a regular set up (intonation, maybe truss rod, although probably not if you have the same string tension as before, and maybe bridge saddle height, although again probably not an issue if it was set up right before).

You're gonna tune up to get to drop C? That's going to sound pretty bad against those guitars trying it that way...
Your E-G strings are all going to be up 1.5 steps which tension wise isn't gonna be fun or again sound good. Do you personally do this?

[tylerwylie]

Use a set of circle k strings meant for this tuning. The 5 string drop 124 will give you balanced tension on all the strings so your GCFBb strings will not be super tight. Or use a 6 string set with a 125 and throw out the E string.

[PunkSweeper]

I'd get some nice thin strings for the fiver and tune each string up a half-step for C standard.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

Use a set of circle k strings meant for this tuning. The 5 string drop 124 will give you balanced tension on all the strings so your GCFBb strings will not be super tight. Or use a 6 string set with a 125 and throw out the E string.

Yep- the technology for this has long since caught up with the trends and it's extremely easy to do this properly nowadays and have it sound right and not all incorrectly intonated or giant or tuned up strings.
Even if I didn't play down I'd still rock Circle K's b/c they're that much better. I have .118's on my basses for this but .124 also works well if you want a lil more beef.

[El-Bob]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

You're gonna tune up to get to drop C? That's going to sound pretty bad against those guitars trying it that way...
Your E-G strings are all going to be up 1.5 steps which tension wise isn't gonna be fun or again sound good. Do you personally do this?

Nope, sorry I should have elaborated. This isn't an uncommon tuning, basically you'd string it EADGC, having the high C instead of low B, but down a step, with the low D then dropped another step. so you're at the standard drop C with an extra higher string. Generally in drop tunings like this you'll find little use for the extra low string (not saying it can't be used, just that it's often not), so this seems to me to be a more effective tuning. YMMV.

[AwkwardLoudness]

I use a Circle K balanced tension set with 0.146" gauge low C string on one of my 5-string basses (Spector).

You will need good speaker cab(s) to handle the lows at death metal volume.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by El-Bob

Nope, sorry I should have elaborated. This isn't an uncommon tuning, basically you'd string it EADGC, having the high C instead of low B, but down a step, with the low D then dropped another step. so you're at the standard drop C with an extra higher string. Generally in drop tunings like this you'll find little use for the extra low string (not saying it can't be used, just that it's often not), so this seems to me to be a more effective tuning. YMMV.

Ok good now I don't think you're crazy LOL
And I've too seen that done before and IMO makes sense if you're not totally familiar with a 5'er. I've been playing one for over 10 years so playing a 5 with no "low B" (even tho it's tuned to A) "reference" to me on a 5'er would be weird, but for a nuub or relative nuub to a 5'er that would work.

[KsPiNeSh]

I tuned my Ibanez(s) and Warwicks to A-C-G-C-F for years with no issues.

[aaronhutson]

I play in a metal band that for whatever reason tunes to Bflat (guitarists' idea of course). I use a 5 string and tune to Bflat but leave it in standard. So I drop all the strings a half step.

I sometimes use my 4 string for it though. And it can handle Bflat with 105 gauge strings so surely you could handle C on yours. Even then I find the best thing to do is stay in standard but just drop all of them equally.

Doing this will make you more independent on tuning because you will be differnt than the guitars. Also, everything except your C (or in 440 your E) will be raised 2 frets on the neck from your guitarists. I.E. thay play 3rd fret you play 5th. This is because they are dropped and you are standard.

For whatever reason I dont like drop tuning on bass. It just doesnt fit me. However, i dont knock anyone who does. Whatever works best for you is personal preference.


But thats my 2 cents on the subject...

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by japhy4529

You could just stick with the 4-string and tune C-G-C-F. This works for a number of bassists, including the amazing Dug Pinnick of King's X (check out the album Dogman for some excellent songs in this tuning).

nitpicking, i know, but back in the dogman days, doug (he was dOug back then) would tune C-G-D-G for drop C. nowadays they tune everything down a whole step lower than they used to, so his current drop C bass would have been a drop D bass back then.