Tuning help? NOOB alert!

[SeanO34]

As a guy who has played bass for quite a long time, and only ever really used Tab, I've rarely ventured out of standard tuning and drop D, so I have a few questions? 1st thing I want to make clear is I play a 5 string bass and my band we're looking to down tune to either drop C or Drop B from Drop D. (Basically to open up a new register and make things HEAVIER lol)

So, my questions are;

1) exactly what notes would I need to tune each string to?

2) would anyone recommend sticking to the shape (for lack of a better term) I used to at the moment which is Drop D on a 5 string (BDADG)??

3)Any useful tips for remembering tuning? Notes etc?

4) or anything you think may be of use to me!

For moving to the lower tunings I have a thicker gauge string (moved from a 125 on the B to a 135, {is that enough?})

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Cheers TBers
SeanO

[angryclown5]

Why are you tuning down a 5 string in the first place? Is it helpful for specific songs?

I think it is not only unnecessary since you can reach low notes down to the B in standard tuning, and it makes everything from reading tabs to learning scales more complicated.

Highly recommend standard tuning for a 5 string.

[jmclearnon]

Yeah i don't understand the down-tuning of the E-string at all. Your low B is lower than a C so again i don't understand why you want to de-tune you don't need to.

Drop A on the low B-string is good fun however...

[SeanO34]

So u reckon if my guitarist drops to drop B, I shouldn't do anything? Other than tune my E string up to E (we currently play in drop D so I just drop that down)....makes the most amount of sense like! :-)

When I say "shape" I mean that when in drop D, having the B string 3rd fret the same as the open string above it has become "safe" for me, I know what fills will work where etc.

[SeanO34]

Basically I've gotten used to

BDADG (drop D)

if drop tuning it to C it would be...

ACGCF?? (That right?)

And Drop B just go back to standard for a 5

BEADG??

This is where I get confused lol

[seescottrock]

Originally Posted by jmclearnon

Yeah i don't understand the down-tuning of the E-string at all. Your low B is lower than a C so again i don't understand why you want to de-tune you don't need to.

Drop A on the low B-string is good fun however...

Lots of Drop C riffs require a ton of open C. It's not an easy stretch from Bstring fret 1 to E string fret 6. That's why people tune to C.

OP, tell your guitarist to get a 7 string and play in B standard.

[angryclown5]

That safe zone you talk about is kind of the problem. The more you get used to it the better for the songs you play now, but the harder it will be to adjust in the future.

Have you worked on scales at all yet? You will have to transpose all scale diagrams to the drop tuning.

There are valid reasons to de tune a 5 string. Low A as mentioned above is one. But if you are just starting out, you will be doing yourself a huge favor by getting used to standard tuning.

Hear me now, thank me later.

"It's not an easy stretch from Bstring fret 1 to E string fret 6. That's why people tune to C. " So that's low C and a high Bb? Couldn't one play that on first fret of B string and first fret on A string?

[SeanO34]

Originally Posted by seescottrock

Lots of Drop C riffs require a ton of open C. It's not an easy stretch from Bstring fret 1 to E string fret 6. That's why people tune to C.

OP, tell your guitarist to get a 7 string and play in B standard.

Yeah my thoughts exactly, thinking heavier stuff so exactly like u say, probably a lot of open notes! Bottom line is that the tunings match!

That's not a bad idea for him to get a 7 string! :-) might swing that one by him tonight lol

Thanks for the input btw guys!

[SeanO34]

Originally Posted by angryclown5

That safe zone you talk about is kind of the problem. The more you get used to it the better for the songs you play now, but the harder it will be to adjust in the future.

Have you worked on scales at all yet? You will have to transpose all scale diagrams to the drop tuning.

There are valid reasons to de tune a 5 string. Low A as mentioned above is one. But if you are just starting out, you will be doing yourself a huge favor by getting used to standard tuning.

Hear me now, thank me later.

Done a little work on scales, not too much, like I say I always learned from tab when younger, been playing long enough to be able to work out which notes work well/in key within songs! (Would like to think I'm not a TOTAL novice lol) would just like to be able to do it quicker! Without having to refer to the tuner to figure what note it needs to be lol

Could quite happily play in standard and drop tunings though (Drop ones being preferred cause I like it heavy lol)

[morgansterne]

I played a fender jazz 4 string in a heavier band for a while, tuned down to CGCF. This was to match the guitar which was already tuned similarly and parts written with those open strings in mind (some pretty complex riffs where I really relied on open strings).

Inventing your own weird tuning on the bass is likely to be a crutch that could take many moons of practice to Unlearn. don't do it.

[3l3phantstomp]

may not be helpful, but my 2 centavos amigos:

I was a rock/blues bassist, and have been playing with a metal band who rolls drop C. First practice, I was kinda lost on where to start for I had never drop tuned. The guitarist suggested I do my lines starting on the 10th fret on the E string. I haven't looked back since, and have written my first original basslines to their original songs. All based on my blues/rock instincts, but starting on 10th fret on E.

Played the first gig, was a multi-band show. ALL the other bands had amazing bassist, but they all dropped their bass tuning to match the guitars. I was watching one guy with those DR neon piink strings, and he was wailing...tapping on neck, crazy showman stuff. But i couldn't hear a thing he was playing. Next band, same thing: coudln't differentiate it from the guitars. Whereas mine all leap out of the music (sonically, not quality-wise...the people are the judge of that). Here's what I've decided: If the guitars are already dropping down into what I consider the "bass" territory (IE low low notes by design all the time), WHY would I want to hang out down there with them? Why increase the overall competetion? Thus when I bass the riffs off the tenth fret, I'm now "midrange" bass (or where guitars traditionially ARE outside of leads), and the sound is incredible and distinct as a whole. Not sure if its by design or accident, but I can't go back and I'll never detune.

[SeanO34]

I didn't think that any of my tuning thoughts were weird tunings? Are they?

In reply to playing on te 10th fret, funny you should say that because I once filled in for a band that played in a weird tuning (on reflection I don't even remember what it was) but it transposed to Open B (I think) and on the other 4 strings I played everything 2 frets up! How to easily confuse someone in my opinion if 2 members of the same band are playing in a different tuning!

[bassburton]

I played in a metal band for a while that alternated between Drop-B and C# Standard. I played a 4 string tuned BEAD to avoid down-tuning my Jazz bass. On the songs in the non-drop tuning I just transposed everything they did up two frets. It wasn't overly complex music though, and for the "higher" tuning it was nice having that open B for the seventh. I didn't mind transposing one bit either, as it gave the songs a different sound bass wise, and it opened up a few different options to "spice up" the music.

In my opinion, playing on a five string should eliminate the need for having to down-tune any strings on your bass, but that depends on the type of music. If the guitarist bases many of the riffs in the song around a pedal note, maybe drop tuning is the best answer. What you could also do is work the songs out without detuning and finding different ways to play around the riffs.

[SeanO34]

Yeah upon more research, dropping the B-string to G# isn't really a good idea! What are everyone's thoughts on tuning the top 4 (GDAE) strings UP 2 frets? I've heard some chat saying that this could cause weird problems with the neck but according to my tech, it's shouldn't cause too many problems! I've done that previously (transposed the riffs up 2 frets) but the guitarist just ISN'T for doing that, not sure what the big deal is to be honest....

We're sorted if we go to drop C, I have no queries or worries there! ACGCF

But drop B seems to causing all kinds of confusion! When it shouldn't as I have the string to accommodate!

Would like to say thanks again to everyone for their input by the way!

[phmike]

Weird is just that - weird. Twist them knobs and try it. Weird may suit what you play.