What's your bass tuned to? - Page 3

klejst · #41 01-23-2013, 07:49 AM

EADG or DGCF usually

**cfsporn** · #42 01-23-2013, 09:17 AM

All of my basses are tuned to standard tuning right now.

In the near future though, I would like to string one of my 6ers to EADGBE and maybe tune one of my 4s to NST.

grendle · #43 01-23-2013, 09:20 AM

dropped C# with roto 45-105's

**Astreaux** · #44 01-23-2013, 10:21 AM

3 out of 4 tuned EADG
1 out of 4 tuned BEAD

TapyTap · #45 01-23-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kirkdickinson

Is that cello tuning, or is it an octave lower. And why?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakob

Cello tuning for bass?

I dig.

Would sound dope if your guitarist was in NST.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuntieBeeb

So did you decide to tune in 5ths because you played a stringed instrument previously (other than DB, of course)? Or was it just for the extended range?

I can see the appeal of having the extra range, though I think after 13(?) years of playing EADG it would screw with my head!

It's the same tuning as a traditional cello, only one octave lower.

Prior to bass guitar, I played a classical/Spanish guitar in traditional tuning...which is now tuned C2 G2 D3 A3 E4 E4 (almost NST

).

Why am I tuning this way? Well, the main reasons are as follows:

1) Extended range on 4 strings tuned in 5ths rather than 5+ strings tuned in 4ths (although I like instruments with 5+ strings

).

2) "Less is more"...forces me to be creative with those 4 strings.

3) Economy of muting 4 strings.

4) Great for sight reading cello scores without transposing.

5) I love the chordal inversions available in fifths tuning.

6) It's just plain interesting to me...and fun!

Quote:

Originally Posted by khutch

Best answer!!

I'm not in a death metal band though so I have one fiver tuned:

C1 G1 D2 A2 E3

and three fours tuned the same except for the E3. For the person who asked that is indeed an octave below the standard cello tuning on the four lowest strings.

Before I got the fiver I had one of my fours tuned:

G1 D2 A2 E3

which is two octaves below a violin. That is a nice baritone tuning for a four string bass and the higher voice is nice for chording too. I liked it enough to get the fiver so I could have both tunings at once. When I got the fiver I moved the GDAE strings plus a spare C string to it and put some spare CGDA strings on the four. Now that I have the fiver and seem to be adapting to this one (it is the second fiver I have tried) my baritone four has kinda become surplus. Maybe I will sell it, maybe I will turn it into a contra-bass violin again. In any event I have become a fifths tuned convert!

Ken

C1 G1 D2 A2 E3 is definitely what I would be going for if I owned a 5-string. The top 4 strings would be great for chordal playing.

E1 B1 F#2 C#3 is also on the horizon for a future 32" scale bass...also great for a chordal approach.

skwee · #46 01-23-2013, 07:30 PM

Jane is tuned to GDAE, Flosshilde is tuned to GDAD

Kmonk · #47 01-23-2013, 07:32 PM

4 String EADG
5 String BEADG

theduke1 · #48 01-23-2013, 07:32 PM

My 3 5 strings are
BEADG
My 4 banger p
EADG
is there any other way?
IMVHO NO!

facepalmmaster · #49 01-23-2013, 07:55 PM

EADG, DADG, and the occasional EbAbDbGb
Last one i dont use much, just cuz i dont use it for a lot of songs and its too much work to get it back to EADG again, but i like drop D a lot

Ben Lesser · #50 01-23-2013, 08:37 PM

I have my 6 string strung up in 5ths right now. It is an absolutely amazing tuning for melodic playing, chordal work, among other things. 5ths are very logical once you figure out the way the chords are shaped.

A - E - B - F# - C# - G#

My gauges run from .158 to .013. It feels very different from playing "bass" but it's very rewarding musically.

oniman7 · #51 01-23-2013, 08:42 PM

I have two fivers and a four.

They all stay in standard tuning except when they're not. I tune the Ibanez BTB as low as ACGCF but the Musicman doesn't like any lower than a half step down (sometimes a whole, but no drop C). I also do whole step down or drop C on the 4 string. I just auditioned for a band in Eb standard.

dax21 · #52 01-23-2013, 08:44 PM

My 5 string is in standard and my 4 is in C#F#BE.

Showdown · #53 01-23-2013, 08:49 PM

I tune all my basses - 4, 5 & 6 - to standard tuning. If I'm playing with a guitar player that insists on tuning 1/2 step down I will do that. I have no reason or desire to tune to anything else.

DaRQsiDe · #54 01-23-2013, 09:27 PM

In addition to standard tuning...

A D G C F (One note down... Thanks to some vocalists...)
B E A D F# B (Guitar tuning, 4th down)
C G D A E (Stick tuning, bass part, inverted - down to up)

TapyTap · #55 01-23-2013, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Lesser

I have my 6 string strung up in 5ths right now. It is an absolutely amazing tuning for melodic playing, chordal work, among other things. 5ths are very logical once you figure out the way the chords are shaped.

A - E - B - F# - C# - G#

My gauges run from .158 to .013. It feels very different from playing "bass" but it's very rewarding musically.

How do you like the G# string? I am seriously contemplating adding a G#4 to the 32" scale bass build that I mentioned earlier.

khutch · #56 01-24-2013, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Lesser

I have my 6 string strung up in 5ths right now. It is an absolutely amazing tuning for melodic playing, chordal work, among other things. 5ths are very logical once you figure out the way the chords are shaped.

Cool, you are the first fifths tuned six string player I've heard of! Anyone who wants help with the chords should check out mandolin chords. They are tuned in fifths too so you just need to figure out where they are along the neck in your tuning. I use movable chords. If you want to use chords with open strings you need to use the mandolin tuning or make adjustments.

Ken

Ben Lesser · #57 01-24-2013, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TapyTap

How do you like the G# string? I am seriously contemplating adding a G#4 to the 32" scale bass build that I mentioned earlier.

I really, really like it. For chords, especially, it shines. Plus you can still use the B string to get those huge sounding voicings. It is a bit touchy, though, playing traditional fingerstyle with it; it took me a bit of time to learn to just not pluck as hard on that string, and I'm a fairly soft-touched player most of the time.

I'm using Circle K strings, btw. They're awesome strings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by khutch

Cool, you are the first fifths tuned six string player I've heard of! Anyone who wants help with the chords should check out mandolin chords. They are tuned in fifths too so you just need to figure out where they are along the neck in your tuning. I use movable chords. If you want to use chords with open strings you need to use the mandolin tuning or make adjustments.

Ken

I've always been a melodic player, and find bass extremely expressive for that. But I've never been able to play guitar, although it's an instrument that I've wished I could at least noodle on. I bought a tenor guitar (tuned in 5ths) figuring I'd be able to cope with the wider string spacing better, and I was just floored with how much sense playing in 5ths made. So I tuned my bass up like that out of curiosity and it stuck.