Drop Tuning

Plissken · #1 09-14-2009, 06:37 PM

If you drop tune, especially if you constantly play in drop tuning, don't you pretty much have to learn a new fretboard map? Sure notes may have shifted down or up by 1 but you still kind of have to learn a new fret map, even with universal fingering (2,4,1,2,4,1,3,5) when playing in a key.

I was looking through Bass Tab White Pages looking for some new songs to learn. I wanted to learn Nirvana's "Come as You Are" but I noticed it was in drop tuning. I wonder when this song was made did Chris N. know the freboard or just kind of screwed around and came up with the line?

Just a beginning bass player wondering about drop tuning...

MusicBokonon · #2 09-15-2009, 01:32 PM

Yes, your locations of notes on the fretboard are going to change, but finger formations won't i.e. if you're playing a GMaj triad on the third fret of the E in standard (EADG), and you drop it down to drop-D (DGCF), you'll be on the fifth fret of the D, but you'll still use your index, middle, and pinky fingers.

Sorry if it's clear as mud, it's kinda hard to explain without showing

Ric5 · #3 09-15-2009, 01:36 PM

To me a DGCF tuning for a 4 string bass seems much more logical than EADG. And BEADG beats them both.

snapple · #4 09-15-2009, 01:42 PM

Come As You Are is in E standard.

And MusicBokonon, Drop D is DADG. DGCF is D Standard.

Yes fingerings change if you drop one string down a step, but I think it would be easier to grasp with some music theory under your belt. Go find a teacher who can teach you the songs you want to learn and the theory behind them.

Twobass · #5 09-15-2009, 01:43 PM

Come As You Are is a whole step down.

wetzelman1 · #6 09-15-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapple

Come As You Are is in E standard.

And MusicBokonon, Drop D is DADG. DGCF is D Standard.

Yes fingerings change if you drop one string down a step, but I think it would be easier to grasp with some music theory under your belt. Go find a teacher who can teach you the songs you want to learn and the theory behind them.

correcto, or u could just be like me. I only know my fingerboard in drop c tuning.

levis76 · #7 09-19-2009, 07:22 AM

One of my basses is standard E and the other is drop A#. Think BEAD, but drop the B one half step and raise the others one half step. I'm not a huge fan of drop tuning, but my guitard player is stubborn and won't change for anything.

**Pacman** · #8 09-19-2009, 09:05 AM

How is this technique related?

Moved to General Instruction.