Tuning down a half-step is awesome!

[lowphatbass]

I started tuning my basses down a half step years ago when was playing a lot of Gospel music in church. Sure, a lot of the material was in flat keys, but playing a 5 string it wasn't really necessary from a range point of view. Other cats were doing it so I thought I'd give it a try.
It's a matter of feel and tension. The strings are more responsive, they dance a little more, it just sounds and feels funkier. It's a huge advantage to be able to get more string action with a lighter touch, it works well for me. Also, there's nothing like dropping a low Bb bomb in just the right spot with my Dingwall, it's pretty special.

All my BG's are tuned down, my DB remains in standard tuning.

[pinz]

Myself and the guitard have been tuned to E flat for over 20 years,and we play covers.
We think its great,so do all the vocalists we have had over the years, and dont really care about any perfect pitch types who may be in the audience griping about how we choose to tune our instruments.The average punter would never notice.
Each to their own I say.

[steelbed45]

Originally Posted by DuShauh

Am I missing something here? I totally get the concept of how downtuning changes the sound and tension...I actually prefer D rather than a semitone to Eb. However, how does that make anything easier for a singer? If a key change is needed for the singer, which is valid, simply change the key. An "E" is an "E" whenever or wherever it is played, right?

Yeah, I'm from that camp as well. A key is a key. Whenever I meet a new guitarist or vocalist and they want me to tune to __, what they are really saying is, "every song will now be in that key, and played on that root." I'm thinking that all the people who are detuning enthusiasts are interacting with more developed musicians.

[jabsys]

I like half step down, for some songs you need simply that open Eb, even on a 5 string.

[hgiles]

I don't get the whole down tuning thing either. If you want the tune in Eb to go easy on the singer then just play it in Eb or whatever... Or play it in D or Db...

Talk about a floppy B string! Geez. Why would one voluntarily induce flop to all their strings?

[wolfmancharlie]

I totally agree with the OP . I have been playing in my band for the last 10 years by tuning down to e#. I happen to like the feel ,the sound , and it is easier on the vocalists. I use chromes on all my basses and my strings aren't flopping around. I really don't care if anybody else likes or dislikes this or not. We play our own songs and covers our way, customers keep coming back, we keep the club owners and patrons happy. If your perfect pitch is being insulted go somewhere else.We are out having fun playing and at 55 and being a bass player for 40 years , I have learned to be me and play it my way.IMHO. At last count we had 145 songs on the list and no way am I going to transpose and try to remember all those songs. Just enjoy playing in whatever tuning , on whatever bass, thru whatever amp. JUST PLAY.

[Floyd Eye]

All the floppy string comments tell me that some people are passing judgment on something they know little about.

Anyone want to tell me why floppy strings are not an issue? It's worth 5 bonus points. lol

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by hgiles

I don't get the whole down tuning thing either. If you want the tune in Eb to go easy on the singer then just play it in Eb or whatever... Or play it in D or Db...

Talk about a floppy B string! Geez. Why would one voluntarily induce flop to all their strings?

One that would voluntarily tune down their strings would also probably change the gauge of strings and set up the bass for the lower tuning, thereby eliminating the "flop."

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

One that would voluntarily tune down their strings would also probably change the gauge of strings and set up the bass for the lower tuning, thereby eliminating the "flop."

We have a winner.

[Razzpukin]

Originally Posted by TheRealKong

I liked the tones below E since I had a Haeusel 6-string- bass in B-E-A-D-G-C. But the neck was too wide for fast licks. So I changed my Warwick Streamer Stage I to H-E-A-D - tuning - and it soundet sweet!

H-E-A-D? So, tuning your G string down to an H?

[Shakin-Slim]

I believe Pino tuned his basses down a whole step to DGCF on those neo-soul recordings (D'Angelo, Erykah Badu etc). I tuned my fretless jazz down to that, to see how it sounded when playing to Badu's 'Didn't Cha Know'. It's another tone altogether really. I didn't keep it there for long, but when I get a set of tapes I'm gonna give it another go.

[khutch]

Originally Posted by morgansterne

if your guitarist is tuning down, it's a heck of a lot easier to just go with it and tune down as well. Otherwise it's a little difficult to have a conversation

guitarist: "can you hit that F# harder in the bridge"
bassist: "your F# or my F#?"

Uh, this one I don't get. I play with several different guitarists at church and none of them knows how I tune my bass. If they ask me to play an F# I play an F#. I don't care how you tune your bass or your guitar, you had better know where the notes are. The piano player and the worship leader will not be amused if you don't! If you are not playing a cello you should not be watching my fingers....

Ken

[khutch]

Originally Posted by Razzpukin

H-E-A-D? So, tuning your G string down to an H?

Could be a typo, could be adopting the German practice of calling Bb a B and B natural an H. But then he says his six string is tuned BEADGC and his four string HEAD so is the low string on his six tuned to Bb or is he just being inconsistent?

Ken

[hgiles]

Originally Posted by guy n. cognito

One that would voluntarily tune down their strings would also probably change the gauge of strings and set up the bass for the lower tuning, thereby eliminating the "flop."

Thanks for the tip. That sounds like a lot of effort and expense. Even as a beginning bass player, it seems much easier to just play in a lower key. Even better, I think it would benefit more my musicianship.

Cmon, were talking about a bass guitar. Try transposing a half step on saxophone. I guarantee bassists have it much easier.

[Ben Rose]

Anybody here tune down and play with keys more than guitar? I'm interested in tuning down from the tension/sound aspect, but 90% of my gigs have piano on them, so I think I would just be making things more difficult for myself.

[claytitan]

I'm pretty surprised at the reluctance to tune down a half step by some on this thread. Especially for cover bands. Major artist do this all the time for live music. I sing about 1/3 of the songs in my band and I can tell you 1/2 step can make a huge difference. If the singer can do a lot more songs well 1/2 step down isn't that better for everyone. The vocals are quite a bit more important than a floppy E string. I've played 5 string a step lower before instead of tuning down and didn't like it. Just didn't feel or play right. I've played in bands tuned down and standard. The only person who fussed about tuning down was an anal guitar player who was hard to get along with in general. Don't be that guy....get one bass set up for E and one for Eb if you really have problems with this.

[wolfmancharlie]

If they are electric keys they can probably adjust their keys down, our keyboard player just turns a knob and it is there.Straight up piano isn't going to work .The piano player would have to transpose the songs. By the way I have found dropping into E# and staying there seems to be easier on the necks of my basses also.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by hgiles

Thanks for the tip. That sounds like a lot of effort and expense. Even as a beginning bass player, it seems much easier to just play in a lower key. Even better, I think it would benefit more my musicianship.

Cmon, were talking about a bass guitar. Try transposing a half step on saxophone. I guarantee bassists have it much easier.

It's not, unless you're completely incapable of performing a basic setup. If you are, like me, playing in a dedicated band where every song is tuned down, then it makes sense. It especially makes sense when you are playing old standards. The "effort" needed to set up the bass is more than eclipsed in transcribing dozens of songs I can play from memory.

[DrSpunkwater]

I don't know what the big deal is for some people here. If you need to tune down, tune down. It's good for the singer's voice, it makes playing in a dropped key a lot easier because you have open strings, and it's easier for horns and such to play with you. It's that simple.

[mizedog]

I Was in a cover band that did alot of Journey and Boston. Tuning down helped us get through five hours of gig. Plus, i think it helped offset the higher tempos we tended to.