Is This right?

zao144 · #1 09-24-2009, 03:51 AM

I recently saw a video saying that i could tune my 5 string to drop B by plugging into my chromatic tuner, hitting the flat button 3 times and then tuning the bass standard. So instead haveing the B starting on the E string its on the low b string, thus giving better tone. But then when i plug back into my tuner without using the flat button it shows up as C.

So is this correct?

ehque · #2 09-24-2009, 03:54 AM

In short, probably not.

zao144 · #3 09-24-2009, 04:28 AM

If its not right, any ideas on how i can achieve this? Drop B on a 5 string

Disappear · #4 09-24-2009, 04:31 AM

I'm confused...
What I read is,

You have a 5-string. 5-strings are commonly tuned BEADG. You want to drop your B an octave?

Vincent P · #5 09-24-2009, 04:38 AM

I'm really not following this too, if you could repost the question.

Perhaps you mean Bb Eb Ab Db Gb???

GaryM · #6 09-24-2009, 04:49 AM

Drop B on a guitar is B-F♯-B-E-G♯-C♯. I'd imagine Drop B on a 5-string bass would be B-F#-B-E-A, which would involve tuning four of your strings up a tone. I can't figure out why anyone would want to do this though.

zao144 · #7 09-24-2009, 04:55 AM

ok well i tune to drop b usually like F#B-F#B-E But the strings are really loose. So instead having the F# on my low b I want to have the B in the tuning there. So it would be like B-F#-B-E-G# .. something like that.

I play Death Metal I need it low..

GaryM · #8 09-24-2009, 05:00 AM

Try B-E-A-D-G a go. You'll have a low B and your strings will be at a decent tension as well.

zao144 · #9 09-24-2009, 05:02 AM

Yes but this wouldn't match the guitar which is tuned to Drop B

Mrdak · #10 09-24-2009, 05:05 AM

Tuning a B on a 5 string down a whole step? Probably won't have much punch to it eh?
Maybe a 35" scale, but dang that's low bro .... and rubbery sounding I bet.

GaryM · #11 09-24-2009, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zao144

Yes but this wouldn't match the guitar which is tuned to Brop B

I don't see the problem. The guitar can go down to a B on its lowest string, and you can go down to a B an ocatave below that on your lowest string.

GaryM · #12 09-24-2009, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrdak

Tuning a B on a 5 string down a whole step? Probably won't have much punch to it eh?
Maybe a 35" scale, but dang that's low bro .... and rubbery sounding I bet.

Whole step? He was tuning his B string down to F# - a fourth

ThatGermanDude · #13 09-24-2009, 05:19 AM

Just put a capo over the higher 4 strings if you want to play open strings.

Mark Perry · #14 09-24-2009, 05:21 AM

Could he be talking about going down a whole step, as you would when drop tuning a four string? So E - D on 4 string, therefore B - A on a 5 string. Thats 2 flats on your chromatic tuner. So B-E-A-D-G = Standard and A-E-A-D-G = drop tuning.

Jazz Ad · #15 09-24-2009, 05:27 AM

Anyone understood OP's question? I didn't.

zao144 · #16 09-24-2009, 05:29 AM

Basically what im trying to do is tune from F#B-F#B-E to B-F#-B-E-G# so the string arent so loose. I heard some people say to raise the action and get thicker strings so the F#B-F#B-E tuning isn't so loose. I thought maybe this could be done by tweaking the tuning a little.

Mark Perry · #17 09-24-2009, 05:41 AM

First of all i'd reccomend buying the thickest set of strings you can find.
Basses are usually tuned in fourths, meaning A is the 4th of E, D is the fourth of A etc. Drop tuning (usually meaning dropping the lowest string a whole step (2 flats) means that (in drop D an a 4string for example) your A string will now be a fifth above your D (the string formerly known as E).
Your bass is tuned: F#, B , F#, B , E . Thats a: 4th, 5th, 4th, 4th between each string. Your strings are: 5 flats, 5 flats, 3 flats, 3 flats, 3 flats below standard tuning.
Your talking about going down another 5th

?

Mark Perry · #18 09-24-2009, 05:50 AM

B-F#-B-E-G# - 5th, 4th, 4th, 3rd. You may as well tune it to B-E-A-D-G (standard) or A-E-A-D-G (drop tuning) imo. There is such a thing as a F# string (designed to be played a 4th below your B) and a C# string (another 4th below that). Have a look on the members list for John Turner or Jauquo IIIx.

zao144 · #19 09-24-2009, 06:00 AM

i meant it like instead of using thicker strings just bring everything up a string. b would be where the low F# would be, ect... but nevermind

There is a bassist Ryan Martinie of Mudvayne whose sound is just awesome and massive at F#B-F#B-E. Just dont know how he gets it. Thanks for the help anyway

73jbass · #20 09-24-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zao144

Yes but this wouldn't match the guitar which is tuned to Drop B

There is no rule that says you have to match the guitar.As long as you have the low range covered,don't worry about it.I'd tune it to B standard and be done with it.