low D

thumbzilla · #1 08-18-2006, 05:23 AM

Is there any way to play the "low D"? That is, the second space below the bass clef, below E. Some of my music at church has this note and I have been playing the octave, D string open. It sounds fine but the progressions would be neater if I could play that low D. Thanks.

ChenNuts44 · #2 08-18-2006, 05:42 AM

The simplest option for you is to tune down (either drop the E to a D or tune DGCF). Others require monetary expenditure.

**WillPlay4Food** · #3 08-18-2006, 05:43 AM

Just tune your E string to D instead. Or you could install a Hipshot D-tuner for your E string so you can switch between D and E tunings with ease.

IanStephenson · #4 08-18-2006, 05:56 AM

Kubicki's have an extended E string thats two frets longer than the other strings - a lever holds it down at the E, so it plays normally, or you can flip the lever over and teh open string becomes a D WITHOUT CHANGING THE OTHER NOTES.

Obviously getting a new bass just to get a low D is a bit excessive, but I find it totally invaluable, and would find it frustrating to play a set without it. It's by far the most elegant solution.

Ian

lemur821 · #5 08-18-2006, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

Kubicki's have an extended E string thats two frets longer than the other strings - a lever holds it down at the E, so it plays normally, or you can flip the lever over and teh open string becomes a D WITHOUT CHANGING THE OTHER NOTES.

That's so cool. I was wondering if there were any BGs with DB style extensions, and now I know.

slackerdefined · #6 08-19-2006, 01:31 PM

well you could either tune down the E string to a D, or you could get a 5 string bass.

tplyons · #7 08-19-2006, 06:10 PM

If you like playing four string, I would suggest you learn how to play in drop D tuning (DADG) which comes in a lot of handy, especially dealing with church music. Church music bass lines are often derived from organ music, who's bass pedals usually reach low C.

thumbzilla · #8 08-20-2006, 11:02 AM

So, if I tune the E string to D, then all of the regular notes are in the same order just two frets lower on the neck?? I'll try it. Will take some re-learning. I can also play Eb (D#) then, too.

tplyons · #9 08-20-2006, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbzilla

So, if I tune the E string to D, then all of the regular notes are in the same order just two frets lower on the neck?? I'll try it. Will take some re-learning. I can also play Eb (D#) then, too.

Yes. Your G will now be at the fifth fret instead of the fourth and so on. It will take some relearning, but I bounce between standard tuning and drop D tuning without thinking after a while.

thumbzilla · #10 08-30-2006, 07:59 AM

Having played my down-tuned E string for a while, I am getting a lot of fret buzz. I am squeezing right on the fret and trying not to dig in. The string seems pretty slack although it sounds fine. It tends to go flat faster than it used to. I am learning the new fretting for that string but the "smearing" of first and second positions is the most challenging part.

My other three strings don't buzz, just the one. Is this something that the bass "gets used to" or do I just live with it?

jadesmar · #11 08-30-2006, 08:22 AM

Buy a fatter string?

phxlbrmpf · #12 08-30-2006, 08:27 AM

Glad it's working for you, dropped D tuning drives me nuts, to be honest.

Getting a heavier string gauge usually helps, but it's difficult to find string sets that have a fatter E string and "normal" ADG strings to acommodate dropped D tuning, I know the Billy Sheehan signature strings are made like this but don't know of any others.
Alternatively, you can buy a single E string that's heavier than the one you're currently using and replace your old one with it.

The overall cheapest way is probably to get a heavier set if you don't mind the fact that all four strings will be thicker, not just the E string.

Nedmundo · #13 08-30-2006, 09:22 AM

I switched to heavier gauge E strings when I installed drop-D tuners on my basses, and it helps. I'm now using .110 E strings after using .100 for years. And it might be worth seeking high tension strings, and trying some flatwounds. You may also raise the E string saddle a bit. The action will be higher, but even a subtle adjustment can make a difference.

IanStephenson · #14 08-30-2006, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phxlbrmpf

Getting a heavier string gauge usually helps, but it's difficult to find string sets that have a fatter E string... I know the Billy Sheehan signature strings are made like this but don't know of any others.

I'm a fan of Status Hotwires (http://www.status-graphite.com/), primarily for their groundwounds. However in the roundwounds you can order any combination of strings to make up your set - there's no signifigant surchage either - sometimes a custom set works out cheaper than a regular set.

Ian

thumbzilla · #15 09-11-2006, 07:29 PM

I've playing my down tuned E string for awhile now and am doing OK. Talking to another bassist about it and he said there was a thing called an octave pedal. It will sound a note an octave higher or lower at the touch of a toe, he says. I tried a search in "effects" but got 500 hits of not much help.

If I had such a pedal, does it sound just the note struck? So if I played D open with the pedal would I get that low D? Same if I played B (A string, 2nd fret) with the pedal would I get low B? Or with a C? I am tempted... that way I have standard tuning and can get those low notes.

EADG mx · #16 09-11-2006, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbzilla

I've playing my down tuned E string for awhile now and am doing OK. Talking to another bassist about it and he said there was a thing called an octave pedal. It will sound a note an octave higher or lower at the touch of a toe, he says. I tried a search in "effects" but got 500 hits of not much help.

If I had such a pedal, does it sound just the note struck? So if I played D open with the pedal would I get that low D? Same if I played B (A string, 2nd fret) with the pedal would I get low B? Or with a C? I am tempted... that way I have standard tuning and can get those low notes.

Usually in octave generator pedals (search POG and Digitech Whammy) it sounds the note you're playing, and a note an octave higher or lower with it. Some bass multi-effects and even amps have a sub-octave built into them (sub-octave seems to be a lot more popular than higher octave).

I've never heard of a pedal that could produce notes of a different pitch without sounding the original note besides the Digitech Whammy. The bass version of this pedal is discontinued, however.

If you can't find one, you're pretty much stuck downtuning or getting a 5 string.

IanStephenson · #17 09-12-2006, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumbzilla

If I had such a pedal, does it sound just the note struck? So if I played D open with the pedal would I get that low D? Same if I played B (A string, 2nd fret) with the pedal would I get low B? Or with a C? I am tempted... that way I have standard tuning and can get those low notes.

The Boss VF-1 claims you can use it to simulate downtunings, so you can play in E, and ask it to transpose everything down to sound as B (or anything else). The specifically say it can be used to avoid downtuning by transposing the whole instrument signal on the fly.

I've never tried it (I mainly use mine as a tuner, a bit of compression, and occasionally some chorus or flange), so I'm not sure how good it sounds when used in this mode, but it's a pretty good unit otherwise, so maybe it does work...

Ian

thumbzilla · #18 09-13-2006, 11:20 AM

Having read up on octave pedals, they seem to sound a second note in addition to and simultaneously with the note struck, an octave apart. I was hoping it would sound the octave note instead of the one struck. Prolly would sound fine but I get the feeling that my toe would be working almost as hard as my fretting fingers. I think I'll pass...