Alternate tuning, why?

[bullshark]

I realise if you need to go lower than the low E on a 4 strings you can downtune, but is there other reasons to divert from regular tuning?

I'm asking because we started to play a cover of a U2 tune, and I only realized after watching the original band on youtube that the bass player downtuned half a step to play it. Frankly, I don't get what the reason could be for doing that has it plays fine using regular tuning.

[Dave Muscato]

There are many reasons to change your tuning. String tension is one, vocal range is one, instrumentation is one (if you are playing with horns, you'd want that lower Eb), etc. Some people also tune differently just to give themselves different access to scale degrees in specific positions, or to change chord shapes without changing voicings. Guitar players use alternate tunings all the time to be able to play different chord voicings in the same positions. Tuning stringed instruments in fourths or fifths was pretty much arbitrary to begin with, and so was deciding which notes the open strings would be tuned to. It's all a matter of preference.

[soong]

I think, for exmaple, drop d tuning allows for a greater pitch range which a reason why alternate tunings are sometimes used.

Also, you'll find drop d with guitarists allows them to play chords (i'm thinking power chords here) with exceptional ease.

[Asa Samuel]

My gruitarist only really want to play in drop C

i might be able to bring him round to standard or at least only drop D

[lobey]

My guitarist only plays drop A, so I'm pretty much stuck with AEADG. I don't mind really...mostly cause I can be lower than him

[soong]

Originally Posted by Bass_Junkie

My gruitarist only really want to play in drop C

Find a new guitarist. lol jokes.
drop c on a bass is stupid unless you have a 5 string though =\

[Festus]

Detuning also changes the tonal quality of the notes. A looser strign makes a spongier sound. Initially this will be at a lower volume through your amp but aAll it takes is a little more volume and off you go. I quite like the vibration of C tuning (CFBbEb) it's almost drone like and feels really nice to play. It's great to play with a guitarist who is in standard tuning as well. The 2 instruments have a bit more space sonically because of the difference in response to the thing that strikes the string (pick/finger/thumb etc) I find 5 strings don't quite have the right vibe when a low C is required....they sound all uptight....a bit like playing an F on the E string.

[CallieBum73]

Use to be back in the day bands would use alternate tuning so folks couldnt copy thier songs. We play all of our songs tuned down 1/2 step because of our singers limited range...I think it takes away from alot of our songs....but hey..Im just the bass player!

[troy mcclure]

I believe U2 uses Eb tuning in concert... It is done for Bono not for the the Edge or Adam. many bands play down 1/2 step to help the vocalist touring night after night. My band drops a full step to help out our singer, use to drive our guitarist nuts til I suggested he get thicker strings.... good thing one of us had brains

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by bullshark

I realise if you need to go lower than the low E on a 4 strings you can downtune, but is there other reasons to divert from regular tuning?

I'm asking because we started to play a cover of a U2 tune, and I only realized after watching the original band on youtube that the bass player downtuned half a step to play it. Frankly, I don't get what the reason could be for doing that has it plays fine using regular tuning.

Isn't it "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", by any chance? My only "downtuned" experience happened because of that song since the guitar riff is based on an open D chord but it sounds in Db, so the guitarist asked me to downtune my Rickenbacker since the overall feel on his guitar was so different to him, so he wanted to hear what happened adding the bass to the recipe.

We rehearsed that song for a gig and we ended playing the whole thing with the guitar and bass downtuned a half step (instruments are then transposed to B, not to Eb as many people say). I will never forget how "Purple Haze" sounded. It was awesome to play it that way. The looser strings give an "ominous" quality to the music, which is perfect for songs like that. That day I understood why bands like Black Sabbath sound the way they do.

Another reason why guitarists like to downtune their instruments is because the reduced tension makes string bending easier. In the case of Stevie Ray Vaughan, he used it to compensate his heavy strings' tension (it's been reported that he used a .018 set on one occasion).

Drop D tuning is also used by some guitarists so they can play power chords with just one finger (and move the fretting hand along the whole fingerboard, BTW).

[Aged_Clayman]

many bands play down 1/2 step to help the vocalist touring night after night

Does this really helps that much? I mean, well, that`s just a half-step...

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Aged_Clayman

Does this really helps that much? I mean, well, that`s just a half-step...

That doesn't make sense, if a vocalist needs another key, then just change keys. Most singers when changing keys want more than a 1/2 step change.

I understand guitarists going down a half-step to make bending strings easier or playing with heavier gauge strings. I knew a band that because the guitarist tuned up a half-step in an open tuning the bass player did to, to make following guitarist easier. Keyboard player was none to happy.

[mutedeity]

Doesn't tuning down to release the tension on heavier gauge strings defeat the purpose? Why not just use lighter gauges? People use different tuning for all kinds of reasons some have to do with chord and arpeggio positions. Some people like different note choices and so on.

The main things to think about when choosing to play in a certain tuning are;

-Practicality. Can you use this tuning in one or many situations and how difficult is it for you to apply to a situation?

-String tension in terms of both sound the way it affects your set up. Do you need to use lighter or heavier gauge strings to accomodate an increased or lack of tension? Do you need to adjust your technique to accomodate looser or tighter tensioned strings? Do you need to adjust your bass's setup to accomodate more or less tension on the neck and so on?

One thing some people don't understand is that as long as you are using chromatic tempering it doesn't matter what tuning you use. The C major scale is still the C major scale no matter what shape you need to play. I once astounded a guitarist I auditioned who couldn't figure out why I didn't need to tune down to "drop C" to play along to his riff he prepared.

By the way I have tuned my Musicman CADG on certain pieces I have written and recorded. I used a .105 "E" string too. It meant that I had to slightly adjust the amount of attack I used, but trust me, I didn't feel at all stupid for doing it.

[Deluge Of Sound]

I tune down to C standard because I once listened to my We Sold Our Soul To Rock And Roll vinyl backward and Geezer's voice came echoing out of the speakers.

[seanm]

Another reason for alternate tunings is to break out of a rut. You will tend to play different with an alternate tuning.

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

Doesn't tuning down to release the tension on heavier gauge strings defeat the purpose? Why not just use lighter gauges?

I guess its a bit like the difference between playing G at the 15th fret and an open g string