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04-01-2010, 09:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nelson, B.C., Canada | | | Tuning up a half step, is it wrong?
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So I have a solo spot in my high school jazz band, and lately I've been experimenting with tuning up a half step to exploit the wealth of harmonics at the twelfth and twenty fourth fret. I am really, really liking it, so much I am actually thinking of having my bass set up to accommodate this tuning, as having the Bb works beautifully in a big band setting, and I kind of dig the extra string tension. Before I start making any decisions like that, however, I was wondering if there are some unknowns I should be looking out for. I rarely hear of tuning upwards, so this has got me a bit spooked. Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated by me and my loyal test subject. 
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Last edited by JohnnyNacho : 04-01-2010 at 09:45 PM.
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04-01-2010, 10:19 PM
|  | I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize! | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada | | | Never heard of anybody tuning up. What strings are you using? |
04-01-2010, 10:22 PM
|  | Regal User | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Orange County, CA | | | you'll be fine. nobody does it because people mostly droptune to sound heavier. tuning up...sounds lighter? I dunno if this is the only reason, but go for it. A half step won't hurt your bass or anything, unless your strings are already ungodly tense at standard tuning. Watch the neck I guess. |
04-01-2010, 11:04 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nelson, B.C., Canada | | | Yeah, I've been using EB Hybrids, but they are due for a change, so I might grab a lighter set. Playing with horns often, I find myself in the key of Bb a lot, and so it's not a huge deal to lose the low E, and it's nice to be able to use all of the major harmonic nodes in that key. I would actually say that as opposed than sounding lighter, it seems to sound tighter, due to the added tension. I think I rather like it, but after thinking a bit, I might just stick to doing it when needed, rather than setting it up specifically like this. Thanks for the reassurance!
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04-01-2010, 11:08 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kolkata (Calcutta), India | | | Yes it IS wrong. You shall burn in hell for this sin of sins!!! How dare you tune your bass up a half step?????
I'm sure tuning up a measly half step couldn't do any harm. I know of at least one guy who does that: Dick Lovgren of Meshuggah.
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Last edited by champbassist : 04-01-2010 at 11:22 PM.
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04-01-2010, 11:13 PM
| | I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize! | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada | | | Nice! Flat keys! I almost never get to play in flat keys, guitar players seem to hate them.
If you do decide to go back to standard, maybe switch to higher tension strings? Flats tend to be higher tension. As do larger gauges.... all things being equal. |
04-01-2010, 11:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nelson, B.C., Canada | | | Hehe, father forgive me...
Actually, that is quite interesting about Dick Lovgren. Honestly, I had him pegged as the downtuning sort, but they are a progressive enough band that I suppose it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.
Guitar players also love their E chords, don't they? We might have some connection issues there. Ah well, I'll give it a go anyway. The most harm I can do is to force some of my guitar buddies to transpose, and they could all use a bit of practice at that, IME, anyway...
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Last edited by JohnnyNacho : 04-01-2010 at 11:22 PM.
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04-01-2010, 11:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mossy Point NSW Australia | | | Maybe a Capo on the first fret (F) would give the same result??
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04-01-2010, 11:21 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kolkata (Calcutta), India | | Quote:
Originally Posted by fenderfunker Maybe a Capo on the first fret (F) would give the same result?? | I did that and the string buzz was awful. I must admit I did use a pretty crappy capo.
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Originally Posted by elavate7 people walk up to me and say "play some Joni hindrix" | Acoustic Bass Club #128, Zoom Owners' Club Founder, Vegetarian Club #54
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04-01-2010, 11:24 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nelson, B.C., Canada | | | I've actually done that with reasonable success, but at the end of the day, it's just really nice to not have to rely on another piece of gear, you know? It's not the most comfortable thing to have to work around sometimes, either. THough that is probably more a mental barricade on my part.
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04-01-2010, 11:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Anasleim, CA | | You want to set up your bass for F-tuning...to facilitate easier harmonic-playing...in a big band? 
Okay, you may want to consider lighter strings. |
04-01-2010, 11:27 PM
|  | Real Basses Have 5 Strings! | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Colorado | | | Tuning up a half step, is it wrong?
not wrong ... just unusual |
04-02-2010, 01:28 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nelson, B.C., Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by elgecko You want to set up your bass for F-tuning...to facilitate easier harmonic-playing...in a big band?
Okay, you may want to consider lighter strings. | Haha, I know it's unusual, but like I said, I really want to kill this solo spot, and I've got a few tricks worked out that I'd like to use. It's not just for harmonics, either, it just seems to mesh better with the tuning of the horns for some songs, and I like the added punch. Like I said, no certainties yet, I'm just playing around, and wanted to make sure I don't do any harm to my 'Wick.
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04-02-2010, 01:48 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Portland oregon | | | A half step shouldnt do any damage, but one of my neighbor kids got a bass because he heard me making noise all the time. and i heard that he tuned the bass up where the strings were really tight and the headstock actually snapped off
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04-02-2010, 05:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mossy Point NSW Australia | | | ^ That's funny.. I think some parents would be relieved.....ahhh, peace and quiet.
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