Anyone here tune in fifths? (OR anything else really wierd/different)

[All_¥our_Bass]

I was pondering the idea of getting as much range as possible out of an instrument. I found that by tunning a six in perfect fifths you can get as much range as an eight in fourths.

Six in fifths (as it would appear in a tab)
F (one semitone above High E on a standard tuned six)
A#
D#
G#
C#
F# (low F# on an eight)

Seven in fifths
C (three semitones above High A on "High A" eights)
F (one semitone above High E on a standard tuned six)
A#
D#
G#
C#
F# (low F# on an eight)

I also found that by tunning a seven with fourths between the two lowest strings and in fifths everywhere above that you could get the range of both popular eight string tunning conventions.

A# (one semitone above High A on "High A" eights)
D#
G#
C#
F#
B
F# (low F# on an eight)

What do you think?
I originally started thinking of this because there is a six string guitar that I want, but I like the extra range of sevens and eights, so I decided to see how much more range I could get by tunning in fifths, and was amazed at how much extra range you could squeeze out of an instrument this way, it's truly amazing.

[theshadow2001]

Its a good idea. If you can put up with the position shifts and re learning all your songs/scales. Neither of which I could do. It took me long enough to learn what I have so far

[Benjamin Strange]

I've been tuning in CGDA for 9 years now. It's a pretty easy transition to make from EADG - I'd recommend giving it a try.

You will have to consider buying strings individually, though. My gauges are 135, 105, 75, 45. I have to get mine from Status in England.

[keb]

I considered trying it after reading about Robert Fripp's New Standard Tuning. (I tuned one of my guitars that way for awhile, but eventually I switched it back. Fripp would not have approved. )

[All_¥our_Bass]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

I've been tuning in CGDA for 9 years now. It's a pretty easy transition to make from EADG - I'd recommend giving it a try.

You will have to consider buying strings individually, though. My gauges are 135, 105, 75, 45. I have to get mine from Status in England.

I DID try it. I tuned my Bass to B F# C# G# (what you have a half-step down). It was fun, but as I expected, the strings were really floppy. I liked it, but I think I'd actually have more fun with tunning a guitar in fifths. Not trying to diss the bass in fifths idea (which I like), but doing this on a guitar would make those bigger stretches/shifts less of a pain.

I'm planning on buying this

(and different sized strings)

And then tunning to F# C# G# D# A# F (and ocassionally F C G D A E)

My string sizes will be based on the ones on this website.

[GassieBall]

If you do that, you can call yourself an electric cello player.

[Benjamin Strange]

Originally Posted by All_¥our_Bass

I DID try it. I tuned my Bass to B F# C# G# (what you have a half-step down). It was fun, but as I expected, the strings were really floppy. I liked it, but I think I'd actually have more fun with tunning a guitar in fifths. Not trying to diss the bass in fifths idea (which I like), but doing this on a guitar would make those bigger stretches/shifts less of a pain.

I'm planning on buying this

(and different sized strings)

And then tunning to F# C# G# D# A# F (and ocassionally F C G D A E)

My string sizes will be based on the ones on this website.

Are you kidding? I already have one of those:



I'm tuning it in 4ths - CFBbEbAbDb. I'm using a standard set of 13s on it.

I've also made a few slight mods - I refretted it for quarter tones in the lower octave, made it fretless in the upper octave, installed a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates, and added a Dead Hand System sticker from my old band.

[Mark Wilson]

Once I get my ass in gear, I have a project bass that is fretless and will be tuned CGDA, like a Cello.

I can't wait

[BlacksHole]

I've kept a bass tuned in 5ths (F, C, G, D) since the late 70's, but I really don't use it much (I tend to get confused switching back and forth). If you can visualize patterns backwards, all of your normal patterns will still be in key with some interesting results. String basses used to be tuned in 5ths quite often and I don't know if he still has some pieces to listen to as I haven't been there in a while, but do a search on Joel Quarrington; he plays some amazing solo classical pieces while tuned in 5ths.

[Benjamin Strange]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Once I get my ass in gear, I have a project bass that is fretless and will be tuned CGDA, like a Cello.

I can't wait

I already have one of those, too. Behold:

[All_¥our_Bass]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Are you kidding?

(Un?)Fortunetly, no.

[All_¥our_Bass]

Originally Posted by BlacksHole

I've kept a bass tuned in 5ths (F, C, G, D) since the late 70's, but I really don't use it much (I tend to get confused switching back and forth). If you can visualize patterns backwards, all of your normal patterns will still be in key with some interesting results. String basses used to be tuned in 5ths quite often and I don't know if he still has some pieces to listen to as I haven't been there in a while, but do a search on Joel Quarrington; he plays some amazing solo classical pieces while tuned in 5ths.

Yeah, I can do that. I don't get confuseed going back and forth, I just have to remember that it's different and I'm fine.