Question about playing Metal on bass

[Paperman]

I have been playing bass for about a year, and have been learning in standard tuning (EADG).

I really enjoy metal music, and was just wondering if it is possible to play metal without downtuning? Are there any metal bands that play in standard tuning?

Also, wouldn't extending the bass' range by playing a 5-string, for example, in standard tuning give you access to the same notes as if you had downtuned a 4-string?

I am just trying to learn about this, and am finding it slightly confusing -- please feel free to help educate me


Thanks in advance for any responses -- I really appreciate it!

- Paperman

[K2000]

I'm pretty sure Motorhead plays in standard tuning. I'd guess the more recent the band, the odds of downtuning will rise somewhat.

Don't just downtune for the heck of it... do it because you like the sound, or the music you're playing really calls for it.

If you learn in standard tuning, making the transition to other tunings is not difficult IMO... I'd say don't sweat it, just keep playing and learning.

[BarkerBass]

metallica's master of puppets and most other "early" stuff was all E standard although I think motorhead played in Eb quite a bit. Don't worry about drop tuning, if your bass can handle it and it sounds gd in the song go for it but if it's not needed then don't bother and yes a 5 string never hurts and allows you to access low D, C and B tunings without detuning. there's only 1 song i've even come across which i can only play in drop D as opposed to 5 string purely because it required a lot of open strings in between high fretted notes. anyway drop tuning isn't a problem but old school metal like metallica and motorhead are usually in E

[bishop55]

If they HAVE to tune down, you can hang, your strings will be looser, no biggie. Its really not necessary to sound heavy, but it does have good effects sometimes. I was in metal band for years and we tuned down just a half step. I don't even remember why, other than that's what Kiss did.

[anthowl]

if you're looking into more modern metal, lamb of gods stuff is played in Drop D, a popular tuning in heavier music that requires you only detune one string. to be specific the low E string down to a D, which is one tone lower (two semitones, frets).

this tuning is also used by bands like Dillenger Escape Plan.
both those groups are heavy as.

yes a 5 string will extend your note range down to that of a low B, but it changes the playing dynamic, so it may or may not be comfortable for you.

[BigOldHarry]

Until recent times, Metal was played with standard instruments. I you simply *must* play in a band with guys who heavily detune, then you will likely want to yourself.

Musically speaking, it isn't required, but your peeps will get stressed if you can bring out those big floppy A's and B's that are, for reasons I don't grasp, popular. So detune.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Until recent times, Metal was played with standard instruments. If you simply *must* play in a band with guys who heavily detune, then you will likely want to yourself.
.

yeah, recent times like early black sabbath

[SoyMilkHero]

Originally Posted by Paperman

I have been playing bass for about a year, and have been learning in standard tuning (EADG).

I really enjoy metal music, and was just wondering if it is possible to play metal without downtuning? Are there any metal bands that play in standard tuning?

Also, wouldn't extending the bass' range by playing a 5-string, for example, in standard tuning give you access to the same notes as if you had downtuned a 4-string?

I am just trying to learn about this, and am finding it slightly confusing -- please feel free to help educate me


Thanks in advance for any responses -- I really appreciate it!

- Paperman

The best thing about playing an instrument, is that you get to do your own thing. There is no set rules, no one to say you can't. Whatever you feel comfortable with is what you should use. As far as getting a 5string, you might want to string your bass BEAD, that's what I've done and it works out well, especially because i very very rarely use the G string [I play metal to] Hope this helps :]

[FallenAbom]

If your going to focus on modern metal (As I Lay Dying, Between The Burried and Me, Killswitch engage) your going to want to detune, as 95% (probably more) of the people in that genre are going to do the same. I've played metal for quite awhile, and its been years since I've run into any standard tuning bands around my neck of the woods.

I would suggest however trying to change that up though and do some standard tuning songs, if you stay in the same tuning all the time (in regards to metal) a lot of it does start to sound the same in my oppinion. (Don't bash me metal heads... I am a card carrying / head banging / collapsed lung screaming metal man)

5-string is G-R-E-A-T for metal! BigOldHarry mentioned the dreaded floppy strings (feel and play wise I've never been a fan). But if your guitarist is in Drop-A tuning, all you need to do is drop all the strings one step (ADGCF) and you'll be able to match him / have a fuller range of notes to use / and it'll still play & sound nice.

Hope that helps!

[Getaway Driver]

Downtuning is extremely popular nowadays, namely drop D... but a lot of bands out there get a thunderous tone out of standard tuning as well. I see drop C pop up from time to time; early System of a Down stuff was drop C, but their newer stuff is drop D or standard and they didn't lose their edge at all... Tuning is only a small percentage of the sound. Really, it only effects how you play, not what you sound like.

[Stickk]

Opeth is mostly standard, but they have some drop-D stuff, so just put an Xtender on your bass.

[The Bottom End]

Most old-school metal is standard tuning (i.e. Maiden, Priest, etc). As others have mentioned, most "Nu" stuff is detuned to some extent. When I picked the bass back up after not playing for a few years, I had to figure out the whole drop-D thing. It was weird at first, but then you wrap your head around it and it becomes fairly comfortable. Drop C can still be a little tricky for me. The key is to practice, practice, practice. Also, If you're still in the early stages of learning, I would suggest mastering playing in standard tuning before venturing into drop tuning stuff.

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

yeah, recent times like early black sabbath

thank you

Originally Posted by FallenAbom

If your going to focus on modern metal (As I Lay Dying, Between The Burried and Me, Killswitch engage)

you mean generic industry trendcrap, i.e. "pop music"

Originally Posted by FallenAbom

I've played metal for quite awhile, and its been years since I've run into any standard tuning bands around my neck of the woods.

now this I actually agree with.

detuning has been going on for a long time; I won't go into another lengthy post about Black Sabbath tuning to D flat, or the old blues guys doing it before them!

"drop" tunings on the other hand, are a worthless excuse for guitarists to play 1 finger bar chords.

these days, you have some of the aforementioned pop bands (like Atreyu for another example) tuning down to C natural. it doesn't make their weak watered-down sugar-coated material sound heavy. compare to early Carcass in the same tuning and you'll see the tuning doesn't make the song or the sound.

early black metal like Darkthrone, Mayhem, and Gorgoroth all tuned to E standard. and their sound pioneered an entire genre that's getting close to a 20 year anniversary.

that said, what *works in a band* is for everybody to be in the same tuning. don't think you can substitute a standard tuned 5 string and transpose when the guitar players are tuned to D or D flat standard. it might work in freefrom jazz, but when you're doing unison metal riffing with bass counterpoint it will never happen.

[thudstaff23]

True, Black Sabbath started all this, but I've always thought they did that to compensate for Tony Iommi's missing nubs. Drop D allowed him to grip a "power chord" with only one finger. The result of the heavier Drop D was a bonus for their heavy, doom sound. Just my opinion.

[FallenAbom]

Originally Posted by Metal Mitch

you mean generic industry trendcrap, i.e. "pop music"

To each their own. Don't know how you see Between the Buried and Me as "pop music".... I would probably agree with the As I Lay Dying though.

[BeerBeer]

well i can truly recommend to play sabbaths stuff, especially iron man, paranoid is a bit more easy but cool too ... and N.I.B. - that song got a very nice bass line
if you got fast fingers or fast pick you can try iron maidens stuff too ... steve harris really kicks ass, try wrathchild its relatively easy to play for a maiden song

maybe also try metallicas "orion" - one of the most beautiful songs ever made on base imo

"enter sandman" - metallica too, easy to play
"symphony of destruction" - megadeth, same as enter sandman

edit: all in E Standard ofc

[Lester4string]

you should be able to play anything any way you want. Whether its going to sound the same as it does on the albums you like is a different story. Many metal heads detune, and detuning changes the timbre of the whole instrument.

[FallenAbom]

Originally Posted by BeerBeer

well i can truly recommend to play sabbaths stuff, especially iron man, paranoid is a bit more easy but cool too ... and N.I.B. - that song got a very nice bass line
if you got fast fingers or fast pick you can try iron maidens stuff too ... steve harris really kicks ass, try wrathchild its relatively easy to play for a maiden song

maybe also try metallicas "orion" - one of the most beautiful songs ever made on base imo

"enter sandman" - metallica too, easy to play
"symphony of destruction" - megadeth, same as enter sandman

edit: all in E Standard ofc

Enter Sandman is in Eb.

[rmarsch]

I agree that it is best to practice in standard. Gives more reference to the instrument as the majority of people know it. Once you know standard well, the drop D tuning is a minor adjustment.

I do have to say though I think Drop D is quite different from standard tuning. It's not a big change, but at least on guitar it totally changes the harmonic soundscape available with chords. I know you can do the one finger power chords in drop D, but if you explore beyond that you can get some really nice rich & deep sounding chords that are not possible to fret in standard tuning. The most powerful thing about drop D to me is that it changes the intervals you can readily access within a given finger position on the fretboard. Works great for doing solo counterpoint stuff with a low bass and a higher melody line and such.

[Lurker79]

As long as other strings are tuned in fourths the scale patterns stay the same. I like 'em loose and floppy sometimes. I actually like playing with guitarists who play in drop D or C, I sound the same and work less.