Why tune DGCF?

beyondat · #1 01-11-2009, 03:09 PM

I have been playing bass for about 14 months and i had a question about a D'angelo song with Pino on bass. This player on youtube says he tune to DGCF for the song. I was wondering how come you couldn't just play a whole step down as opposed to tuning all of your string that way. Does this tuning have a certain timbre that you can't acheive with EADG? Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nz_D_V0KnE

amimbari · #2 01-11-2009, 03:22 PM

a LOT of my youtube videos are also done in DGCF although your example is "mellow" music, many songs are written in D anyway, and having the low D is the same as CFA#D#, if the song is tuned in "drop-C".

for those who have 5stringers they already have a low D,C, and B anyway....

most people following tabs will just drop the E to D, but I'm like your example...all strings or none. Also, anything that is normally played in EADG, gets different fret positions now, and it is good challenge to transpose the fret positions since the bass is now de-tuned from standard, knowing I have to hit the different frets now.

mutedeity · #3 01-11-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyondat

I have been playing bass for about 14 months and i had a question about a D'angelo song with Pino on bass. This player on youtube says he tune to DGCF for the song. I was wondering how come you couldn't just play a whole step down as opposed to tuning all of your string that way. Does this tuning have a certain timbre that you can't acheive with EADG? Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nz_D_V0KnE

Well the answer to that is that you could just play down a "whole step" as long as the tuning accommodates the range.

As for timbre, the only thing that would affect that is the lowered tension of the strings which can be addressed by which gauge strings you use, anyway.

ErebusBass · #4 01-11-2009, 03:33 PM

Yes, it does have a different timbre. I also like the feel of really loose strings.

El-Bob · #5 01-11-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amimbari

...all strings or none.

I used to also be "all strings or none" however there will come a time when you find riffs written for drop tunings that are impossible to play tuned to 4ths.

Oric · #6 01-11-2009, 03:45 PM

goes one lower

amimbari · #7 01-11-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El-Bob

I used to also be "all strings or none" however there will come a time when you find riffs written for drop tunings that are impossible to play tuned to 4ths.

let me have a rebuttal on that thought... "impossible"?

that is what EVERYONE used to tell me about playing upside down..the typical, "It can't be done-It won't sound the same-It is too hard to fret that way".....naw total bull****, Anything you can play with one string detuned, I will play in 4ths. and play it upside down to boot.....

riffs,chords,single notes...it has nothing to do with string tuning, it is all about memorization...period!

El-Bob · #8 01-11-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amimbari

let me have a rebuttal on that thought... "impossible"?

that is what EVERYONE used to tell me about playing upside down..the typical, "It can't be done-It won't sound the same-It is too hard to fret that way".....naw total bull****, Anything you can play with one string detuned, I will play in 4ths. and play it upside down to boot.....

riffs,chords,single notes...it has nothing to do with string tuning, it is all about memorization...period!

Try matching the guitar part for the breakdown riff in "face of my innocence" by Arsis tuned in 4ths. I know the stretch is impossible for me, and the only way to not have to stretch is to skip a string, which most people will find incredibly difficult at 240 bpm. i guess i shouldn't say it's impossible, i just can't imagine it being done. and i'm sure there are more riffs like it.

Edit: I watched some of your videos on youtube, you're definitely a better player than i am, and i'm by no means trying to insult your playing.

amimbari · #9 01-11-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El-Bob

Try matching the guitar part for the breakdown riff in "face of my innocence" by Arsis tuned in 4ths. I know the stretch is impossible for me, and the only way to not have to stretch is to skip a string, which most people will find incredibly difficult at 240 bpm. i guess i shouldn't say it's impossible, i just can't imagine it being done. and i'm sure there are more riffs like it.

Edit: I watched some of your videos on youtube, you're definitely a better player than i am, and i'm by no means trying to insult your playing.

no insult or offense to me or anyone Bob, except when I hear "impossible"

El-Bob · #10 01-11-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amimbari

no insult or offense to me or anyone Bob, except when I hear "impossible"

Arpeggiator · #11 01-11-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amimbari

let me have a rebuttal on that thought... "impossible"?

that is what EVERYONE used to tell me about playing upside down..the typical, "It can't be done-It won't sound the same-It is too hard to fret that way".....naw total bull****, Anything you can play with one string detuned, I will play in 4ths. and play it upside down to boot.....

riffs,chords,single notes...it has nothing to do with string tuning, it is all about memorization...period!

Ok... Play Redneck by Lamb Of God in full D. Iv tried since i hate drop tuning one string, but i cant do it. In 4ths the streches would be monster and with the fast tempo it doesnt help matters

El-Bob · #12 01-11-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arpeggiator

Ok... Play Redneck by Lamb Of God in full D. Iv tried since i hate drop tuning one string, but i cant do it. In 4ths the streches would be monster and with the fast tempo it doesnt help matters

the Arsis song i mentioned is harder, IMO

amimbari · #13 01-11-2009, 07:05 PM

FOLKS --- my point was that if a fret is reachable to me it is a finger on a string hitting a fret producing a note, and don't forget..my G string is on the top, which makes some patterns easier than you think since they are reversed now.

this is not a cop-out, but LOG tunes are not on my computer, or in my brain, and I would have to actually "LEARN" it from scratch for a one time video ....

my point being it is NOT impossible, and may not be easier to play 17 times a month on tour, but it is do-able.

let's see a TB'er post it, and I'll do it in full D after them-- just give me incentive to be challenged, and it may be worth the time, as I just saved redneck as a favorite, and i'll throw the audio on my computer tonight in preparation of a new jam to throw on my channel with the rest of the speedmetal.

SteveC · #14 01-11-2009, 08:23 PM

I've never understood alternate tunings. A D is a D is a D on a detuned 4 string or a normal 5 string.

amimbari · #15 01-11-2009, 08:31 PM

now that a few people have expressed their opinion, I think I understand the whole point of the OP.

let's forget about what type of songs it is for a moment. He asked if it was to change the "timbre" due to the alternate tuning.

it would change the way your bass sounds, and the way you now have to play the same strings, due to the strings being looser. Does this now force you to play differently to achieve the same sound? IMO...yes.

amimbari · #16 01-11-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I've never understood alternate tunings. A D is a D is a D on a detuned 4 string or a normal 5 string.

oh steve you hit it ---5 string basses do not need any "drop" tuning because you already have those lower notes at your disposal, with all the strings tuned to 4ths.

Jazz Ad · #17 01-11-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amimbari

Anything you can play with one string detuned, I will play in 4ths. and play it upside down to boot

Did you grow a 3rd hand to play drones ?
Why exactly would you bother making things awfully difficult for yourself when detuning takes 5 seconds ?
Why refusing to approach different feelings and timbres through detuning ? It sounds a lot like limiting yourself for the sake of principles.

Low Main · #18 01-11-2009, 09:52 PM

I, too, love the different timbre and the looser strings when I tune DGCF.

I don't do it all the time because it doesn't sound good on every bass or every string set.

I don't have a 5 string with a low B string that can give me a fretted D (3rd fret) that sounds as good as the low open D of a DGCF 4 string.

I also haven't found a flatwound B string that I like yet, but I've got several sets of flats tuned to DGCF that sound great.

To me, where the keys fall on the bass given the tuning is very important. D and Eb are used a lot, and tuning DGCF puts them right down in the lowest range of the bass, which is great.

It also means that C and Db are positioned up higher where D and Eb used to be, which is OK with me. I actually don't use C all that much and Db not much at all. I'd much rather have access to D and Eb down low than have C and Db where they would normally be on the A string in EADG.

Gawd · #19 01-11-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amimbari

oh steve you hit it ---5 string basses do not need any "drop" tuning because you already have those lower notes at your disposal, with all the strings tuned to 4ths.

Not always true. I play a 6 string and I come across songs all the time where I still need to drop the E to a D because of the fingerings.

beelzelboss · #20 01-11-2009, 11:33 PM

Well, i'm trying to learn schism by tool, (got the start down) and everything they play, they play it in Dropped D, i got to go backstage one fatefull night.

and found that out

but in my opinion i Don't have a B string, so i have to tune to drop D if i want to get those Ds.

Thats why some people do it! ( i think)