I'm learning a somewhat tough song, need advice

[Busker]

Nothing Better To Do, Leann Rymes. Killer song but challenging for me.

Anyway, I'm learning it in the original key of F on a 4-string. I really could use the Eb below low F for an Eb to F hammer-on. I've experimented with using a weird tuning, Eb A D G, but I dunno. It just seems too off the wall. Anyone ever actually use this tuning?

I could tune Eb Ab Db Gb and play the song in the second position as if it were in F# but it would sound in F. I could reserve a second bass with that tuning, but that doesn't sound like a great idea either.

Its going to be way easier to just forget about the hammer-on and play it in E A D G but I wanted the hammer-on if possible.

What would you do?

[Matt R.]

If it's just one little hammer on, just stay tuned to standard and do it an octave higher. If you really want to play it like the record, tune down a half step. I'm saying this without being familiar with the song by the way... Just going by what you're asking. Good luck!

[Busker]

Thanks Matt

After listening to the song about 15 more times! I have heard that low Eb in there quite a bit. I need it for sure. I'm still fooling around with that Eb A D G tuning. I can play it with that tuning, so might as well work on it and see.

I don't mind using Drop D on some songs, but Drop Eb? I see a five-string in my future. I'm playing a lot of country these days and more and more of it uses a five string.

[j.a.e.r.i.p]

i use drop Eb all of the time, just to get the low Eb, it's not that weird of a tuning, and if the low Eb needs to be there, by all means, tune down.

[nsmar4211]

I ended up getting a 5 string because I don't want to retune or lug around two basses myself . Plus my group is tuned down and my 4 wasn't real happy about it... and we kept endin up with songs in Drop D... A 5 is not a bad idea, gives you more room to play around on ! I wouldn't detune one string just for one song myself.... detune the whole bass if you're gonna do that.

[Busker]

Thanks to all for your advice.

I ended up by playing the song in the tuning of Eb A D G. It actually works well for this song in the key of F, because the low Eb is used a lot in the song, much more than I originally thought. After a few days (and many times running through it) this tuning is almost like second nature, for this one song at least.

Yes, I could have tuned Eb Ab Db Gb and learned it that way, but I'm not changing it now!