Too Many Tunings?

[mike nyce]

The band I am currently in uses five different tunings in one night. This really angers me because:

1)To stop and retune between songs is un professional
2) I bring four basses when I could get away with two
3) I learn the song one way then they change and I have to relearn or change
4)sometimes I have to figure it out and adjust "on the fly"
5) It leaves no room for improvisation

This frustrates me to no end. I used to be a "groove" player where you play with the band and learn the groove together, Now its a "homework" band where you learn your part at home, practice once together, then hit the show.
When I say something, they say its the way you're supposed to do it. I'm 42 and apparently this old dog is'nt into the new tricks. (I think they do it to mask a limited singer) either way, I am asking for some input/advice from bass players

Thanks

[PilbaraBass]

a band that needs 5 tunings needs to be dropped like a bad habit.

Nothing wrong with homework, but leave room for the improv, too...

IF your band insists that you learn a song a certain way, then they better be prepared to give you the correct key to begin with.

do you play a 5-string? if you don't, time to learn...

[steelhead2]

doesn't sound right at all(whatever happened to playing music to dance to?) do they serve liquor where you play?(and do the patrons know or realize all the `fine tunings')or= wouldn't it be better to play what is simple for the crowd?(`bootie shaking music' come to mind here)

maybe i'm old school,no,make that yes i am;i could care less about the bands tunings if i ate dinner,had a dwink and asked my wife for a waltz before heading home,,well`nuff said!

[sloasdaylight]

5 tunings is a lot. My band uses 3 predominantly, though 2 are basically identical (Standard and Drop D, with Drop B being the third).

[sloasdaylight]

Then again there's Michael Manring who will go through 5 different tunings during a single piece of music.

[89JazzMan]

Just play it all in standard!!!!! There is no need for that many tunings. I can see Drop D...but learn to transpose. Tell your guitar player that he doesn't need to tune to J flat to be metal.

[mike nyce]

Thanks everyone! I do feel better. I actually play a six string, but I tune it up to CGCFAB when I tune it down, the strings get too sloppy. The other tunings are:

D#G#C#F#
DGCF
CGCF
C#F#BE
C#F#G#D#

AHHHHH I can't take it any more!