Using different tuning then guitars question

[IbanezBass69]

Ok, first off, sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this, but it is my best guess.

Now, my question. I have joined a new band. It is a band drawing influences from some American Hardcore bands like For the Fallen Dreams and The Ghost Inside. This new band tunes guitars to A#. I tried drop tuning my Warwick Corvette 5 to A,but wow were the strings floppy and unplayable. And it was all tone, no note. So my choices are play my 5er in standard, or file out the nut to fit enormous strings. I don't want to file. Any hints or tips on how to approach this from a theory standpoint, especially for when they are playing open strings? If they play an A# and I play a B, that may sound a bit odd.

Thanks guys!

[Chrisk-K]

You play notes, not positions.

If they play an A# and I play a B, that may sound a bit odd.

Do you mean "they play a guitar tuned to A# and you play a bass tuned to B"? Again, tuning doesn't matter. When they play an A# note, you play an A# on your bass.

P.S. Because they tune down, the correct way to say is they tune to Bb.

[BKBassDude]

Originally Posted by IbanezBass69

Ok, first off, sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this, but it is my best guess.

Now, my question. I have joined a new band. It is a band drawing influences from some American Hardcore bands like For the Fallen Dreams and The Ghost Inside. This new band tunes guitars to A#. I tried drop tuning my Warwick Corvette 5 to A,but wow were the strings floppy and unplayable. And it was all tone, no note. So my choices are play my 5er in standard, or file out the nut to fit enormous strings. I don't want to file. Any hints or tips on how to approach this from a theory standpoint, especially for when they are playing open strings? If they play an A# and I play a B, that may sound a bit odd.

Thanks guys!

I'm in an original band that plays in C# standard. I tune my 5 string down 1/2 step to Bb standard. I do this because it allows me to play most of the time in the middle position, where I'm most comfortable. I also prefer the slightly lower string tension of a flat tuning.

Our riffs are not very open string based, so I don't have any problems when I need to do unison type stuff.

My suggestion would be use the tuning that you like the best, and find fingerings that work in that tuning. Even if they are doing lots of unison type riffs based on that low A, you probably would be better off playing it an octave up in most cases anyway, if you want definition in your notes at least. I essentially never use a note below C (my b string second fret), with the exception of one time where I play a B (B string first fret).

For strings, I use the DDR drop tune sets, in a standard gauge. They play amazing in half step down, no floppiness at all, and no giant wires to deal with either.

[rockstarbassist]

A#=Bb, so why would you tune your low string down to open A? It should just be a half-step down. And even then, your string shouldn't be flopping around as that's really not that much detuned. I used to have a 'Vette 5 and when I'd drop D and drop A I never had that issue.

The "transposing" method is usually thrown around by people who don't really play heavier stuff and don't understand unison runs/lines and the requirements for hammer ons/offs and open-string tunings that match the guitars.

I took the plunge and had my NS-5XL adjusted and the nut widened (proper nut adjustments to accommodate larger strings should only go wider, not deeper) so I could properly set it up to drop C which is what we play in, and have some proper strings thrown on there (custom Circle K double-drop set) and it's a dream. Makes all the difference in the world. The DDT strings are mmkay if you're alright with higher string tension. To me I didn't like them and they felt artificial and too tight, where as the C.K.'s have a natural string feel b/c they're made to be played that way. But they do work.

Then just tune your bass down to match the guitars. However if they're playing in standard A#, that's something else altogether and you will more than likely need a serious setup. Drop Bb/A# isnt' that bad though.

Btw there are a lot of drop tuning threads in the Strings and Hardware/Setup forums; probably more than here.

[IbanezBass69]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

A#=Bb, so why would you tune your low string down to open A? It should just be a half-step down. And even then, your string shouldn't be flopping around as that's really not that much detuned. I used to have a 'Vette 5 and when I'd drop D and drop A I never had that issue.

I suppose I could have done that, musta been thinking of playin Korn for a minute there... Anyway, did you have to set up your Corvette any differently to get a not floppy string when tuned down? Maybe it's just because I play a little harder, but my A (B) string felt terrible. I'll give the DDT's a shot, maybe the higher tension is the answer. And I will fix my idiot mistake and try just tuning down a half step tonight.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by IbanezBass69

I suppose I could have done that, musta been thinking of playin Korn for a minute there... Anyway, did you have to set up your Corvette any differently to get a not floppy string when tuned down? Maybe it's just because I play a little harder, but my A (B) string felt terrible. I'll give the DDT's a shot, maybe the higher tension is the answer. And I will fix my idiot mistake and try just tuning down a half step tonight.

Ha well even though we are in drop C and I play a 5'er, my low B stays at low A, so ACGCF b/c the low G while workable b/c I have it specifically set up that way, just isn't musical enough for me.
But yeah for drop Bb/A# (I'm pretty sure they're in drop, but you might wanna ask to make sure as like I said in Bb/A# standard, that's a whole-nother ballgame) you should for a 5'er be B♭-F-B♭-E♭-G (or A♯-F-A♯-D♯-G). However, the problem you're going to run into with a standard 5 string set is, the E thru D strings, you're going to have to tune up to match.
The reason for that is, is that technically for a dropped 5 string setup, your low B is actually going to be that low F. And it be F-Bb-F-Bb-Eb. But since nowadays guitards are tuning lower than B, you can just use a 5 string starting w/ their lowest string and it work out. Still, I would actually just buy a DDT 6 string set, and lose the low E, and then tune down the A-C to match. But if you can only get a 5'er set, the E-D strings tuned just one-half step up may not be too tight.

[IbanezBass69]

Alrighty, that is the kind of answer I need! I am asking one of the guitarists now exactly what notes he is tuned to. While we are on the subject, I would need to file out the bridge on my Corvette to fit the DDT's, yes? I don't think they are tapered.

[rockstarbassist]

When I used the DDT's (I think they were the .135 set) I didn't need to file my nut for them on my NS5.