Anyone out there who tunes his bass this way?

[schnigges]

HI

I've recentlly jammed with 2 guitards, and we somehow came across the topic of 6 string basses. Both of them were positive that it would be tuned BEADGB instead of C, so you can play you octaves, and CHORDS with 2 open B strings...
I then told them that no bass player would EVER play such a chord. They became stubborn and began making jokes about how stupid bass players are.
I really like them, but in a way they are just guitards.

Anyway, if there are people that tune their bass this way, please correct me and I'll go apologize

[G00D+~VIBES]

Well, there may be people, but it just doesn't make good sence...kind of ruins the whole tuned in 5ths thing...

[schnigges]

? isn't a bass tuned in 4ths?

[lousybassplayer]

Actually, I always hated the fact that guitars are tuned with a B instead of a C. I understand why, it just annoys me.

[MikeBass]

Tim Bogart tunes his 6 to high B.
not sure why, but he does.

[lousybassplayer]

if you arent doing a lot of chords, I don't see the sense in it, but I guess you can tune your instrument any way you like.

[COOL AND DEADLY]

Bass chords should only have three notes anyway. Playing them like guitar chords becomes a muddy mess. B E A D C is the standard for bass. I'm thinking of getting one.

[jacofan12609]

Originally Posted by schnigges

? isn't a bass tuned in 4ths?

Yes. I am guessing that he was referring to frets. Actually some bassists do tune in 5ths, but I think that it is more common on double bass than bass guitar. I think that tuning a six string bass guitar BEADGB is understandable. A seven string guitar is tuned BEADGBE.

[G00D+~VIBES]

I imagine you could think of it like that, but from the top string i.e. G...and working down (sonically) it is 5th's. In classical instrumentation specifically the viola family everything is tuned in 4th's violin, viola etc. the upright/double/contra bass was the only classical tuned in 5th's...or this may all be backward...either way it is the same result just a different name for reference depending on where you start.

[bassteban]

The statement *it should be tuned/played/held thusly: _______* is to me completely idiotic. Tune it how you like, unless you are being paid to tune/play it a certain way. Arguing w/someone about it is equally absurd. If you can back up your decisions w/good playing, isn't that all that matters?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I sometimes tune my 6er that way.

For me it's just a natural alternative tuning when playing guitar melodies and such.

Regards
Sam

[ric stave]

Last week I was talking to a friend of mine - a fellow bassist - I was showing off my new 6 string to him, and he showed me his. Then he told me how he's been tuning it lately:

B E A D F# B

...basically, like a guitar down a 4th (well, an octave and a 4th).


The OP's guitards would be proud......

[schnigges]

I'll tell them... anyway, I can live with all these answers

[bkbirge]

I tune my 6 string bass (tic tac) EADGBE, my baritone BEADF#B, it's not much of a stretch to imagine that if I had one of those big plank 6 strings I wouldn't tune it like my baritone just an octave lower. Tuning is an individual thing. Go ask Sonic Youth how they tune stuff. Or John Cage.

[James Hart]

Originally Posted by schnigges

Anyway, if there are people that tune their bass this way, please correct me and I'll go apologize

Please do...

I ordered a 5 string in 1990 so I could have a high B for chords. Today I play a 7 string tuned BEADGBE.

[BassMastern8]

Originally Posted by COOL AND DEADLY

Bass chords should only have three notes anyway. Playing them like guitar chords becomes a muddy mess. B E A D C is the standard for bass. I'm thinking of getting one.

You forgot about G....it should be tuned BEADGC

[kb9wyz]

Two words:

Michael Manring Zon Hyperbass

Set tuning? What the hell is that for?

And if you don't know who Michael Manring is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY4Ra2KOyas

[Swift713]

Having played guitar as well as bass for quite a while I could easily see tuning an ERB with that goofy major 3rd just to orient myself.

[ehque]

Pah. I am of the opinion that even guitars should be tuned to EADGCF.

BEADGC on my 6er for me.

[Master Blaster]

Originally Posted by ehque

Pah. I am of the opinion that even guitars should be tuned to EADGCF.

BEADGC on my 6er for me.

Guitar tapping legend Stanley Jordan tunes in fourths this way... (EADGCF). Seems sensible to me. That G to B major third in normal guitar tuning would throw my bassist's sense of symmetry way off!