B standard under Drop B guitar tuning

[basswave]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

I honestly think you should leave your 5 string in standard BEADG tuning. There really isn't any reason to change it.

+1 to this.

Honestly I do not like detunning as well...and avoid it at all costs, unless I'm playing for a bigger artist and the money is there.

The stings have a less of dynamic for my playing style and prefer standard.

When I do play with someone that is a droped or detunned instrument I just learn the 'actual' notes of what they are playing. Trust your ears over any over any visual.

[Massimo636]

Originally Posted by basswave

+1 to this.

Honestly I do not like detunning as well...and avoid it at all costs, unless I'm playing for a bigger artist and the money is there.

The stings have a less of dynamic for my playing style and prefer standard.

When I do play with someone that is a droped or detunned instrument I just learn the 'actual' notes of what they are playing. Trust your ears over any over any visual.

It's not really detuning in this case though. The notes are actually lower in standard 5-string tuning than in drop B. (You have to tune all the other strings UP a step and leave the B.)

[basswave]

Originally Posted by Massimo636

It's not really detuning in this case though. The notes are actually lower in standard 5-string tuning than in drop B. (You have to tune all the other strings UP a step and leave the B.)

This is an honest response...

I actually have no desire to play anything lower then a low B with my bass. If there is some kind of real heavy music that needs me to chug on a B-flat that low...Then its not the the right choice for me. (and yes I have been there and asked but worked around it with higher note).

[oniman7]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Um, drop anything tuning is when the Top string ONLY is dropped.

That is to say that the remaining strings are tuned relatively.

Not necessarily true. Drop B it's easier to remember than drop D 3 semi tones down. This is what they are now. If, for Some crazy reason, I want someone to tune the low string down to B, I'll just say that

[BREWTAL]

Im experiencing the same issues in a band now. Im trying to convince the guitarists to tune to drop B (drop D one and a half steps down) so that i can play in standard B on my P Bass. trying to get an A to intonate correctly and keep proper tension is a nightmare on a 34in scale bass in my experience. Plus, i just hate drop tuning in general, but i still haven't met a guitar player that wants to play metal in anything other than drop tuning, so this is my only option. my old guitar player also switched to a seven string, the first thing they did was tune it to drop A...

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by BREWTAL

Im experiencing the same issues in a band now. Im trying to convince the guitarists to tune to drop B (drop D one and a half steps down) so that i can play in standard B on my P Bass. trying to get an A to intonate correctly and keep proper tension is a nightmare on a 34in scale bass in my experience. Plus, i just hate drop tuning in general, but i still haven't met a guitar player that wants to play metal in anything other than drop tuning, so this is my only option. my old guitar player also switched to a seven string, the first thing they did was tune it to drop A...

Well if you have problems with tension, don't you think a guitarist is going to have the same problems tuning down to "B". That's ridiculous tuning for the average guitar. I play in Drop D for certain songs (for technical reasons), but any lower than that, I'd have to change the 6th string to something heavier. I'd never do it, as I think that's bass territory. Your guitarist could always buy a 7 string, but it'll be very expensive firewood in a few years because he won't be playing it, and nobody will buy it (those things are are stupid gimmicks which is why no really great guitarists play them - they just come in and out of fashion - mostly out). Leave those low notes for the bass where they belong.

[BassOrdinaire]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

those things are are stupid gimmicks which is why no really great guitarists play them - they just come in and out of fashion - mostly out

Like Steve Vai?

OT: Joe Lester does this to do great effect in Intronaut.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by BassOrdinaire

Like Steve Vai?

OT: Joe Lester does this to do great effect in Intronaut.

I said "great guitarists". Steve Vai doesn't qualify in that category; not even close.

I don't know about Joe Lester as I'm not familiar with him.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

Your guitarist could always buy a 7 string, but it'll be very expensive firewood in a few years because he won't be playing it, and nobody will buy it (those things are are stupid gimmicks which is why no really great guitarists play them - they just come in and out of fashion - mostly out). Leave those low notes for the bass where they belong.

Mark, curious what kind of music to you play and listen to most often? (Please don't say everything...)

I would like to know whey you think they are just gimmicks.
(Note: not being antagonistic, but serious)

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by basswave

Mark, curious what kind of music to you play and listen to most often? (Please don't say everything...)

I would like to know whey you think they are just gimmicks.
(Note: not being antagonistic, but serious)

60's and 70's Rock and Blues is what I play most often. I'm a guitarist by trade, and I've never understood 7 stings. I think anything below "D" starts sounding very muddy, and what's the point anyway? That's why we have bass players.

I've never really heard them used in anything but metal, and in every case, a 6 string would have done the job just as well IMO. I've known a couple of guitarists who bought 7 strings, but not one ever played them for any length of time. They just seem like one of those things that rear up their head from time to time, buy never make much of an impact.

It's all a matter of taste though, but I don't think they'll ever be more than a fringe thing. They've been around for a hell of a long time now and they've never really caught on except to very small minority of players (very small). Most of all though, I've never really heard anything played on them that couldn't have been done on a 6 string (even if you detuned the hell out it), so I see that they add anything new.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

60's and 70's Rock and Blues is what I play most often. I'm a guitarist by trade, and I've never understood 7 stings. I think anything below "D" starts sounding very muddy, and what's the point anyway? That's why we have bass players.

I've never really heard them used in anything but metal, and in every case, a 6 string would have done the job just as well IMO. I've known a couple of guitarists who bought 7 strings, but not one ever played them for any length of time. They just seem like one of those things that rear up their head from time to time, buy never make much of an impact.

It's all a matter of taste though, but I don't think they'll ever be more than a fringe thing.

Gotcha, I hear you.
Let me turn you on to this guy (you might dig him).
http://www.charliehunter.com/
He commonly plays 8 string Jazz-Groove thing and does it well IMHO.
There is a whole scene outside of metal that are using the extended instruments in a cool way (PS that is no way a dig to metal).

It comes to a point where there can be to much, but I don't feel its in the 7 string guitar (for me anyways).

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by basswave

Gotcha, I hear you.
Let me turn you on to this guy (you might dig him).
http://www.charliehunter.com/
He commonly plays 8 string Jazz-Groove thing and does it well IMHO.
There is a whole scene outside of metal that are using the extended instruments in a cool way (PS that is no way a dig to metal).

I there there comes to a point where there can be to much, but I don't feel its in the 7 string guitar (for me anyways).

Cheers, I'll certainly have a listen.