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5-6 string basses

D

dolphin_wank

Mar 15, 2006
44
0
southsea, england
#1
hello, having played a 4 string for quite some time now, i'm considering upgrading to a 5 or 6 string bass, but having never played on one or seen one in the flesh, i'm confused as to how the tuning would work

when i checked some websites i was told the normal tuning for a 6 string bass would be c-e-a-d-g-b, and as a guitarist as well, that sort of tuning would toss my head right up. are 6 string basses (namely the warwick thumb) able to be tuned to the standard e-a-d-g-b-e so that i could get the higher notes? or are strings available/will the bass be able to take it, or do i need a special one or something

and also, if i was to go for a 5 string, most of them seem to be c-e-a-d-g, is e-a-d-g-b possible? do you need a certain type of bass to do this or will any 5 string support this?

hope someone can understand what i'm ranting about and apologies in advance if it sounds stupid as ****, i'm just rather clueless on such matters

cheers, bren
 
#2
dolphin_wank said:
when i checked some websites i was told the normal tuning for a 6 string bass would be c-e-a-d-g-b, and as a guitarist as well, that sort of tuning would toss my head right up. are 6 string basses (namely the warwick thumb) able to be tuned to the standard e-a-d-g-b-e so that i could get the higher notes? or are strings available/will the bass be able to take it, or do i need a special one or something

and also, if i was to go for a 5 string, most of them seem to be c-e-a-d-g, is e-a-d-g-b possible? do you need a certain type of bass to do this or will any 5 string support this?

hope someone can understand what i'm ranting about and apologies in advance if it sounds stupid as ****, i'm just rather clueless on such matters

cheers, bren
Click to expand...

Interesting tunings. :eyebrow: Most 5 strings are BEADG, and some are EADGC. I imagine that you can tune a bass any way you desire.
 
#4
dolphin_wank said:
hello, having played a 4 string for quite some time now, i'm considering upgrading to a 5 or 6 string bass, but having never played on one or seen one in the flesh, i'm confused as to how the tuning would work

when i checked some websites i was told the normal tuning for a 6 string bass would be c-e-a-d-g-b, and as a guitarist as well, that sort of tuning would toss my head right up. are 6 string basses (namely the warwick thumb) able to be tuned to the standard e-a-d-g-b-e so that i could get the higher notes? or are strings available/will the bass be able to take it, or do i need a special one or something

and also, if i was to go for a 5 string, most of them seem to be c-e-a-d-g, is e-a-d-g-b possible? do you need a certain type of bass to do this or will any 5 string support this?

hope someone can understand what i'm ranting about and apologies in advance if it sounds stupid as ****, i'm just rather clueless on such matters

cheers, bren
Click to expand...


OK, Thats is some interesting tuning.

I play both 5 string and six string. Personally I tune my 5 string BEADG and the 6 String BEADGC. It seems to work in all applications for me. IMO what ever work for ya.:D
 
#5
Yeah, you've got it backwards I think. The standard tuning for a 5-string bass is with a low B. BEADG. If you want to put a higher string on instead, then it's usually a high C. EADGC. And for a 6-string you would normally put on both. BEADGC.

If you want to tune to EADGB, well you could. But people will probably make fun of you for being a 'failed guitarist" :p . Most bassists stick to tuning in straight 4ths, makes more sense when you're not doing full chords all the time like a guitar would. It's up to you though ;)
 
#8
Normally, the 5 string adds one lower string tuned to B, a 4th lower than the low E string, so the intervals between the strings are still all the same (5 frets). That would be BEADG. Pretty much any 5 you run across in a show will be tuned that way.

Some people prefer to have the extra string be a higher one, so they have a high C (again, 5 frets up) instead of a low B--EADGC.

6 strings normally add both an extra low string and an extra high string, so that would be BEADGC. There are a few instruments like the Fender Bass VI, which are more like guitars tuned down an octave (EADGBE), but those are usually though of more like "baritone guitars" than extended range basses.

Obviously, though, you can tune a bass however you like if you put the right strings on it!

Mike
 
#12
dolphin_wank said:
yeah i got those mixed up..

ok i'll just rephrase my question

would i be able to get a warwick thumb 6 string and tune it like a guitar
Click to expand...
not sure how clear it was but yes you can string it this way. DO NOT tighten a BEADGC bass up to E-E. You need to purchase new strings. Easiest is to just but a 4 sting set, then purchase a high C and high F. You can still tune them to B E. Might need to mess with the nut if the strings wiggle around to much, but it's case by case basis.
 
#14
dolphin_wank said:
so essentially, its down to the strings and not the bass?
Click to expand...
Yeah, this is the same on a guitar tho too, humidity and changing the strings (string tension, different tunings change tension of course) will cause your bass neck to bow one way or another typically. Most basses (read 98%) have truss rods so that you can adjust this rod so your bass neck doesn't bend a way u don't want it too. So when u change the strings, u'll most likely need to adjust the truss rod too. I also can't tell u how many times this topic has been covered, check the search button here, in the strings forum, and in setup; you'll find a rediculous number of posts on this. Good luck.
 
#16
You could tune your 6 stringer that way. It would probably increase the tension on the neck quite a bit. Warwick necks are like oars (as opposed to something like an Ibanez) so maybe you dont have much to worry about.
 

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