A fairly urgent question...

Seb Peters · #1 10-29-2011, 06:13 AM

Hey everyone,

I have a 5 string on the way to me, but what I had over looked is that as a band, we play in D standard (DGCF for a four string)
and I was wondering which of two things should be done with the 5 string.

Option 1: Tune it like my guitarist's Dstandard, so it'll be DGCFA, but I don't know if the new low string will be able to go to a D,

option 2: What else would I be able to tune what is usually a low B to that would fit with DGCF?

Please give you opinions, I'm Stuck and need to know soon.

Thanks in advance!

mdogs · #2 10-29-2011, 06:26 AM

Can't you just leave it tuned BEADG and be fine???

thehess · #3 10-29-2011, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdogs

Can't you just leave it tuned BEADG and be fine???

+1 on this. Guitars tune down or capo to get those open string chord shapes to ring in alternate keys. For bass, you should be able to work against those keys and progressions. The low D on a normally-tuned 5er (3rd fret) sounds really good, and you have the C for D minor, and C# for D major, below it.

If you want to try a D tuning, you could try A on the first string (the 5 of the D scale). Might get a little floppy, but it is an option.

Good luck!

WorshipBassist · #4 10-29-2011, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehess

+1 on this. Guitars tune down or capo to get those open string chord shapes to ring in alternate keys. For bass, you should be able to work against those keys and progressions. The low D on a normally-tuned 5er (3rd fret) sounds really good, and you have the C for D minor, and C# for D major, below it.

If you want to try a D tuning, you could try A on the first string (the 5 of the D scale). Might get a little floppy, but it is an option.

Good luck!

+1

SLaPiNFuNK · #5 10-29-2011, 06:52 AM

A D G C F w/ a .145 B string?

Something along the lines of...

50-105/110 w .145

Or you can always do D G C F Bb

45 50-105/110

RickenBoogie · #6 10-29-2011, 08:00 AM

I'd leave it as is, as explained above. That 3rd fret D is massive. When I owned my one and only 5 string, I rarely played an open B, but the low D was useful. Now I use a 4 string tuned D standard, but normal 5 string tuning works for D just fine.

Liam Wald · #7 10-29-2011, 08:11 AM

I guess I really don't understand the question. If someone is tuning in quarter tones it matters otherwise just use standard tuning and play in key.
If you are playing with tenor sax do you tune to Bflat? I don't.

Kitsapbass · #8 10-29-2011, 08:17 AM

Id go with the ADGCF tuning, so you can keep playing songs like you are currently used to. What 5 did you end up getting anyways?

georgestrings · #9 10-29-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdogs

Can't you just leave it tuned BEADG and be fine???

Depends on the situation - for example, my band covers everything from 80s to current rock, some of which is extremely difficult to play in BEADG, if not impossible(and sound right, that is)... For some of our songs, I use a 4 string in drop D: Killing In The Name Of, Sound Of Madness, Diamond Eyes, Lies Of The Beautiful People, etc... because they're a breeze to play in drop D... *Some* songs, you need that open low D to play against other notes - depending on the genre being played...

A little more info from the OP would be helpful - covers, or originals, for example... It's entirely possible that a 5er just isn't practical for his current situation...

- georgestrings

GeoffByrne · #10 10-29-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liam Wald

I guess I really don't understand the question. If someone is tuning in quarter tones it matters otherwise just use standard tuning and play in key.
If you are playing with tenor sax do you tune to Bflat? I don't.

What's a quarter tone?

Liam Wald · #11 10-29-2011, 10:07 AM

Quarter tones are used in Eastern Music (India, China).
It is a sound that is difficult for the western ear to be comfortable with.

Seb Peters · #12 10-29-2011, 05:30 PM

In reply to A number of questions,

The bass I've gone for Is a Yamaha RBX375, I tried it in a shop in a horrible colour, but loved it, so I've ordered one in black.

We do mostly Originals, and our guitarist plays In D Standard, and sings to fit with that, And I personally love playing in D standard, but that 5 string felt right so I was wondering what I could do with it.

I'm tied between using A-D-G-C-F or D-G-C-F-Bb

Oh and mdogs, Why don't I just play out of tune, and more importantly stop using the tuning I prefer

Kitsapbass · #13 10-29-2011, 05:38 PM

I did one of my 5s in a ADGCF tuning (I play in a cover band and sometimes we play some stuff which benefits from the low A) - it worked well, just keep in mind not to hit the strings too hard, or just adjust your truss rod and action accordingly...

bongomania · #14 10-29-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandaInTheSky

Oh and mdogs, Why don't I just play out of tune, and more importantly stop using the tuning I prefer

Out of tune? You don't actually think the note choice of the open strings would cause you to play out of tune, do you?

mdogs · #15 10-29-2011, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Out of tune? You don't actually think the note choice of the open strings would cause you to play out of tune, do you?

Ya, this is my question too...

Stilettoprefer · #16 10-29-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Out of tune? You don't actually think the note choice of the open strings would cause you to play out of tune, do you?

I think he meant "wrong notes" instead of out of tune.

And if you take everything that you play in D standard and played it all in the same position while tuned to E standard (without the guitarist tuning up as well) it would sound horrendous.

I think that is where the OP was going with their statement, I could be wrong.

Seb Peters · #17 10-30-2011, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stilettoprefer

I think he meant "wrong notes" instead of out of tune.

And if you take everything that you play in D standard and played it all in the same position while tuned to E standard (without the guitarist tuning up as well) it would sound horrendous.

I think that is where the OP was going with their statement, I could be wrong.

Thank you, i'm surprised you worked out what I meant, Considering I wrote that in the very early hours of the morning.

I'll try and clearer next time, sorry

J. Crawford · #18 10-30-2011, 09:38 AM

Go BEADG, but throw a drop D tuner on the E string. I've seen that done on TB before, depending on your headstock.

Stilettoprefer · #19 10-30-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Go BEADG, but throw a drop D tuner on the E string. I've seen that done on TB before, depending on your headstock.

That is a REALLY good idea!

mech · #20 10-30-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

Go BEADG, but throw a drop D tuner on the E string. I've seen that done on TB before, depending on your headstock.

^^^^^This. Lever and adjustment screw had to be modified to miss the B and D tuners. Use a heavy string set with a .110 E for best result.

mech