What are some cool tuning options for a 4 string.....

[de la mocha]

.......beside EADG, and BEAD? What are other cool tunings?

[jadesmar]

DADG is pretty standard drop D

These could be fun:
ADGC (Tenor guitar ) (potentially more options for nice sounding bass chords)
CGDA (Cello tuning - down 1 octave) (need to figure string gauges though - probaby a B string, A string, D string, G string)

[MeYHymN]

I've been fiddling with this for sometime now, I finally may have it, but not sure yet. Basically I was trying to make my 4string HammerHead have the range of a 6 string. I had to enlarge the groove in my nut to accommodate the low B. I have yet to find the right strings to maintain an even tension and feel across all four strings, but I'm working on it.
B G D# B/C (It should be a High C, but the B has a more symmetrical feel with being 8) 1/2 steps away from D#)

[pklima]

Originally Posted by jadesmar

CGDA (Cello tuning - down 1 octave) (need to figure string gauges though - probaby a B string, A string, D string, G string)

This is how I tune. I use a a B string for the C, light-gauge E for the G, regular D for the D, and a light-gauge G for the A.

I do have one neck on my Hembry tuned EADG but I haven't used it in months. And I play a good variety of styles from accompanying a children's choir to black metal.

[KSDbass]

I play EADG, but the Children of Bodom bassist tunes something like FCDG for his four string, and AFCDG for his fiver.

[zazz]

unless your going for the drop cool tunings are usually the domain of chords.... so unless its a baritone shortscale playing say two string chords ..whats the point?

[WillBuckingham]

Originally Posted by MeYHymN

I've been fiddling with this for sometime now, I finally may have it, but not sure yet. Basically I was trying to make my 4string HammerHead have the range of a 6 string. I had to enlarge the groove in my nut to accommodate the low B. I have yet to find the right strings to maintain an even tension and feel across all four strings, but I'm working on it.
B G D# B/C (It should be a High C, but the B has a more symmetrical feel with being 8) 1/2 steps away from D#)

Tritone tuning . . . very cool. Let us know how it works out. Definitely stirck with the B string for the highest string.

EDIT: Gahh, not tritone tuning . . . augmented 5th tuning. Still very cool

[Yvon]

I used DADA for a while, not very hard to get used to it and give a little more range in one position.

[steveksux]

I've been working on BEADG tuning, and recently on BEADGC tuning. They're pretty cool. I need more time to really master them before trying other exotic tunings.

Question: Are there additional notes you can play with these alternate tunings that are not possible on a normally tuned bass? If the answer is no: Then what's the point?

Randy

[Yvon]

Originally Posted by steveksux

I've been working on BEADG tuning, and recently on BEADGC tuning. They're pretty cool. I need more time to really master them before trying other exotic tunings.

Question: Are there additional notes you can play with these alternate tunings that are not possible on a normally tuned bass? If the answer is no: Then what's the point?

Randy

You should tell that to Micheal Manring!

[Michael Henson]

Originally Posted by steveksux

Question: Are there additional notes you can play with these alternate tunings that are not possible on a normally tuned bass? If the answer is no: Then what's the point?

Randy

I don't think the point is getting different notes I think that the point is inspiring creativity by taking a totally different look at the fretboard and the notes and fingerings available to you. It's somewhat similar to Eric Clapton getting so good at improvising that he would force himself to make a mistake in order to take his improvisations in another direction.

[All_¥our_Bass]

I've heard of people getting the range of a sixer on a four by tuning BEGC. It's like a six with the middle strings (A and D) removed, wierd, but interesting. There's alos people who tune in Fifths.

[Clay_Bass]

Originally Posted by steveksux

Question: Are there additional notes you can play with these alternate tunings that are not possible on a normally tuned bass? If the answer is no: Then what's the point?

Randy

Yeah theres a whole new set of natural harmonics and easier chord fingerings available with new tunings.

[pklima]

Originally Posted by steveksux

Question: Are there additional notes you can play with these alternate tunings that are not possible on a normally tuned bass? If the answer is no: Then what's the point?

Randy

Basically, yes. Tuning in fifths gives you more notes. Plus it's more convenient to finger chords or arpeggios using wider intervals which makes them sound clearer. It's especially useful on DB where the whole instrument resonates better and more evenly and it's a whole lot cheaper than a five-string or an extension of any sort.

[jadesmar]

Originally Posted by zazz

unless your going for the drop cool tunings are usually the domain of chords.... so unless its a baritone shortscale playing say two string chords ..whats the point?

The other cool thing I find about alternate tunings is that it helps you break away from pattern playing and concentrate more on the notes you are trying to communicate.

Kinda like switching the n and m keys on the typewriter keyboard, with a proper technique, the change will be unnoticable, but with poor keyboard technique the change will be quite confusing.

Changing the tuning of your instrument, with poor (pattern based) technique could wreak havok with your personal style and note-choice, but with a note-based technique, the change could be overcome quite rapidly.

I think...

maybe...

[driver800]

a whole step down on every string:

DGEF

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Simply tuning the G string up to A to make EADA is great one for me- it makes all the regular harmonics on the G string fit into the key of A (which I seem to play in a lot), and makes for some nice harmonic chords.