BDGC (high C), what's with this tuning?

[meev992]

Question: Am I wrong to think that BDGC isn't a viable way to tune a 4 string? I thought that perhaps some nice distorted solos on the high strings would be great, and perhaps some nice chords, but beyond that, I would no longer be able to play walking lines, or any other song besides this one.







~~~~preface~~~~~

My girlfriend and I are also posters on a Japanese Rock forum. I came across the tablature/band score for a band that we both enjoy, and wanted to learn a song for her. However, it took me a few seconds to realize that the bassist is using an awkward (absurd?) tuning. My thoughts:

1. Between the B and D string are 10 missing notes
2. To play the song in BEAD. the bassist would have to employ two handed tapping in/around the 20th fret.
3. Rather than play the song properly on a six-string bass, the bassist would rather be vain and play it on a four string, mostly around the first position.

[hunta]

I don't think you'd ever want to tune that way on your primary instrument, it would be to add a special color to a song or for soloing purposes. Maybe there's another way to play this than the tab implies. Post an example of what you're talking about?

[DocBop]

That's why many have a 5-string tuning E D A G C. Has C=string for soloing and cleaner chords, but still has E-string for regular bass lines.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by hunta

I don't think you'd ever want to tune that way on your primary instrument, it would be to add a special color to a song or for soloing purposes. Maybe there's another way to play this than the tab implies. Post an example of what you're talking about?

I suppose I could suck it up and two-hand tap the parts, or play the notes one octave down. But it just seems wrong to me that the band is selling these song-books and didn't care to provide some sort of explanation to the tuning.

I can only imagine how many teeny-boppers are running around, breaking strings.

for reference purposes, here's a diagram from www.studybass.com

as you can see, 10 notes are missing from the first 5 frets...a complete nightmare

[meev992]

Originally Posted by DocBop

That's why many have a 5-string tuning E D A G C. Has C=string for soloing and cleaner chords, but still has E-string for regular bass lines.

true, but I find it hard to justify the omission of so many strings on a 4 banger.

[meev992]

First two images, as intended to be played, by the artist:




Second two, as transcribed for a BEAD bass:

[Lalabadie]

Well the first version is really messed up in fingerings. There sure is a way to play this, but honestly, I would'nt use the 9 - 1 - 11 - 3 - 10 fingerings and wank the neck like that. The BEAD version is, IMO, more playable.

Or play the song a fourth higher

That's a tough case.

[stedtale]

Originally Posted by Lalabadie

Well the first version is really messed up in fingerings. There sure is a way to play this, but honestly, I would'nt use the 9 - 1 - 11 - 3 - 10 fingerings and wank the neck like that. The BEAD version is, IMO, more playable.

Or play the song a fourth higher

That's a tough case.

Yeah, the BEAD version is much more playable.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by Lalabadie

There sure is a way to play this, but honestly, I would'nt use the 9 - 1 - 11 - 3 - 10 fingerings and wank the neck like that. The BEAD version is, IMO, more playable.

Or play the song a fourth higher

That's a tough case.

Wank the neck like that, you should see the guy play other songs...that's his style: see how inefficient you can be with your fingering

Originally Posted by stedtale

Yeah, the BEAD version is much more playable.

thanks guys, I'll see what I can manage on my bass. Was wondering if this tuning (the wonky BDGC) could perhaps have usefulness beyond one song.

[HaVIC5]

I personally would do it BEAD, but you could also do BADG

[salcott]

5 strings-BEADG-everyone I know could sightread this. Less time spent figuring out alternate tunings and more time spent practising would probably be beneficial. You can't retune for every piece of music you encounter just because it's hard or has big leaps or whatever; learn to play your instrument. There are NO shortcuts.

[Koki]

just get a sixer

[Ampeg SVT]

I thought Reita played in CGCF?

[meev992]

Originally Posted by Ampeg SVT

I thought Reita played in CGCF?

Reita does a lot of things

like play bass with only 2 fingers, hahhaa.

...

and hide his nose.

[hunta]

I haven't used tab in a long time, is it standard practice these days to just jump octaves at will? I don't know the original, but it seems like this should either have some serious ledger lines or some 8va parts all over the place with the way that tab is. As notated, this line starts out C3, G3, C4, all notes in upward motion. The tab would seem to imply C4, G3, C4, going down from the C to the G and then up again.

Am I wrong? If not, it seems like a standard 5 string tuning would render all the wacky fingering jumps unnecessary...

[bassist324]

Actually after comparing the music to the tabs in the picture the C string is not the same as a high string on a 6-stringer, but tuned to the C that is played on the third fret of the standard A string. Sorry if this only makes things worse for that tuning (it makes little to no sense in my mind), but it was really bothering me that no one else has pointed that out.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by bassist324

C string is not the same as a high string on a 6-stringer, but tuned to the C that is played on the third fret of the standard A string.

Are you serious?

All hope is lost, this tuning is a nightmare

Edit: upon closer inspection bassist324 is right it's C3, not C4

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by meev992

Are you serious?

All hope is lost, this tuning is a nightmare

Edit: upon closer inspection bassist324 is right it's C3, not C4

C3 is the pitch of an open C string, is it not?



C4 = middle C

and the open C string being an octave below middle C would make it C3

[hunta]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

C3 is the pitch of an open C string, is it not?



C4 = middle C

and the open C string being an octave below middle C would make it C3

You know, you threw me for a loop with this question. I don't use scientific pitch notation very often, and I looked at some random website for a quick reference on the octave numbers when I posted. I'm just noticing that a LOT of websites have this issue very confused. Some places refer to middle C as C3, C4, or C5. Some places refer to the open C string on a 6 string bass as C3 or C4. Wow..

Now that I woke my brain up, I believe you're right. If middle C is C4 (which according to wikipedia is correct, I haven't got my theory books here), then the open C string should be C3. However, I know that many theory books don't make much of a distinction between the actual frequency of the pitch and where it's notated on the staff. It's often just said that the first ledger line above the bass staff, or below the treble staff, is C4. This is true on a piano but on bass it's actually an octave lower than it's written.

Further confusing is that I just read in Europe and Asia they refer to middle C as C3 (can anyone verify that?). And in MIDI terms middle C can be anything from C3-C5 depending on the software..

No wonder this is always confusing..

ps - so I think as notated (for bass) it would be C2, G2, C3. Right? Gah.. I'm never using pitch notation again

[meev992]

Added a poll about Middle C.