5 string question

[LowActionHero]

K, I just bought my first 5 string, still bonding with it. Haven't had a band rehearsal since I got it. My question is - does anybody drop the E to a D for Drop D songs? My band has a few, and I know I COULD play D on the B string, but for songs where the riff rides the open D it would be awkward. And it would save me some 'relearning' songs I already know and don't want to relearn (and relearn again if I play my 4 string). Anybody do this? Just curious if it's weird or fairly common. Not that that's ever stopped me...

 

[two fingers]

I would absolutely play it the familiar way at first. But, after a while, the B string becomes "just another string". So you'll quit drop D tuning and hardly realize you've done it.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Try those riffs both ways & see what suits you best. I’ve no problem with ‘alternate tunings’, even on bass.

 

[socialleper]

Yes, I have done that. Before my last band decided to go to drop C tuning, they did drop D and B. A five was the perfect solution. Then they changed and I had to gig with two basses.
The tension on the dropped D might feel a little weird at first. Maybe use a stiffer hex core string for a while until you lighten your touch.

 

[James Collins]

What song? I've not come across the situation that I wanted to tune BDADG.

But you can tune however makes sense to you. I tune my 6 string BEADGbCb a fair amount. The key is to tune in a way that helps you play.

 

[Mushroo]

Yes, this is very common. And if the minor 3rd interval between the B and D throws you off, you can drop the B to A and tune ADADG.

 

[LowActionHero]

What song? I've not come across the situation that I wanted to tune BDADG.

But you can tune however makes sense to you. I tune my 6 string BEADGbCb a fair amount. The key is to tune in a way that helps you play.

Um, let me think. Down in a Hole, Sober are the ones that could be a problem.
Long Way to the Top, and a pretty cool version of Purple Rain I'm less worried about.

I'll take a look at our list and edit in more - we have several we rotate in and out, ya know.

Edit - Sure Got Cold is on the 'not worried about it' list.

 

[And I]

I never do this, but there are some songs where having the open string makes the riff much easier to play and there's no shame in that. I'd suggest you focus on practicing these tunes at home in BEADG and seeing if you can get the hang of it before rehearsal. If not, downtune.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

I'm going to go against everything I do as a lazy bassist and say you should certainly downtune your bass.
Fact of the matter is, unless your strings are new (and even then), the B string typically doesn't ring out as well as the E string does. A song that depends heavily on an open D string might not sound as good playing it on a standard tuned fiver.
Nonetheless, experiment some, you could find it sounds just fine!

 

[Element Zero]

Yes, this is very common. And if the minor 3rd interval between the B and D throws you off, you can drop the B to A and tune ADADG.

This!!!

 

[TheSeagoats]

I did that occasionally for awhile in my first band since I was still switching between a 4 and a 5 pretty consistently, but when they decided to throw in a third tuning (Eb standard) I decided enough was enough and learned everything in standard BEADG with the 5 string and called it a day. Too much tuning time on stage otherwise.

 

[James Collins]

Um, let me think. Down in a Hole, Sober are the ones that could be a problem.
Long Way to the Top, and a pretty cool version of Purple Rain I'm less worried about.

I'll take a look at our list and edit in more - we have several we rotate in and out, ya know.

Edit - Sure Got Cold is on the 'not worried about it' list.

I don't think Down in a Hole would be too much of a problem. The chords on sober might be challenging. You'd have to substitute something...

The issue is the chords like:
(DADG)
(D)---0--- ...D
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)---7--- ...D

You would have to change the chord to something else like:
(BEADG)
(B)---3--- ...D
(E)---5--- ...A
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)---2--- ...A
or if you find that stretch as you could just play:

(B)---3--- ...D
(E)---5--- ...A
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)------- ...

I think they would all sound fine, but it is whatever you and your audience likes at the end of the day.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I don't think Down in a Hole would be too much of a problem. The chords on sober might be challenging. You'd have to substitute something...

The issue is the chords like:
(DADG)
(D)---0--- ...D
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)---7--- ...D

You would have to change the chord to something else like:
(BEADG)
(B)---3--- ...D
(E)---5--- ...A
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)---2--- ...A
or if you find that stretch as you could just play:

(B)---3--- ...D
(E)---5--- ...A
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)------- ...

I think they would all sound fine, but it is whatever you and your audience likes at the end of the day.

So what's the story with tuning like this? Is it about the sound you get, or is it easier to play certain songs with alt tuning?

 

[Razman]

Yes, you should absolutely tune down. If the song can be played cleanly and as efficiently without it (after you've practiced it) then don't worry about it, but my band has three covers that I MUST tune down to D for because they are just impossible to play without doing so:

Creed's "What If" (the bridge is impossible to play without detuning)
Otherwise' "Full Circle" (sounds sloppy if not detuned)
Avenged Sevenfold's "Afterlife" (another practically impossible one like What If)

These require super fast transitions to D that I just physically can't make without detuning. If someone can and play them cleanly, I'd like to see that.

Some of our other D songs I can play either way and do so depending on our set order (whether I need to swap basses or have time to tune).

Side note: as much as a Kubicki X-Factor bass has been on my GAS list for ages, I would TOTALLY have to reset my muscle memory to play these D songs on it because it shifts the note placement on the E (D) string down two frets. Like you OP, I'm used to playing drop-D on a detuned 'normal' bass! But, if the right opportunity came along and I had the $$, I'd buy one.

As always, YMMV...

Raz

 

[mrcbass]

It depends. I don't like detuning for a song or two and try to just find another way to get things done. Most of the time, I can just use the B string to get things done. But, yes there are some songs that really need the open D to play correctly. We have one such song (Slither) and I opted to just use an octave pedal and play the line on the normal D string. In this case it works really well, but I'm sure there are situations where this solution won't work.

Try it, if it works for you, then it's a solution, if it doesn't need to find another way to get things done. You could always carry a second bass tuned for those songs and just do a quick swap.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I don't normally, but I have done that before when the riff worked better with drop D. Sometimes it's down to how the part feels, and if it feels better in drop-D, then do it that way, even if you have a B-string right there.

 

[pellomoco14]

I would absolutely play it the familiar way at first. But, after a while, the B string becomes "just another string". So you'll quit drop D tuning and hardly realize you've done it.

That's the real advantage of a 5 string. Retuning is one less thing to worry about. After your fingers learn where the notes are.

 

[James Collins]

So what's the story with tuning like this? Is it about the sound you get, or is it easier to play certain songs with alt tuning?

I'm sorry, I think my post was confusing. The first was supposed to be the chord with Drop D tuning, all of the strings are playing a D note.

The other two were some alternate chords I was considering to play instead of the original chord on a standard 5 string tuned BEADG. There is no way to play all strings with a D note, and I can't play the D on the B string with the original notes even if muting. So I thought the next best thing might be to play an A in place of some of the Ds since that is the 5th. Also, just be aware, the last notes I have listed are the notes being fretted. I thought it would be more clear for people that don't know the fingerboard well.

(B)---3--- ...D
(E)---x--- ...x
(A)---5--- ...D
(D)---0--- ...D
(G)---7--- ...D

I can't play that chord which is what the original chord would look like if you played the D on the B string.

 

[Ric5]

K, I just bought my first 5 string, still bonding with it. Haven't had a band rehearsal since I got it. My question is - does anybody drop the E to a D for Drop D songs? My band has a few, and I know I COULD play D on the B string, but for songs where the riff rides the open D it would be awkward. And it would save me some 'relearning' songs I already know and don't want to relearn (and relearn again if I play my 4 string). Anybody do this? Just curious if it's weird or fairly common. Not that that's ever stopped me...

Some people do that ...

others tune ADGCF

I play the D fretted on the B string ...

the choice is yours

 

[iammr2]

I use the 5'er so I don't have to drop tune. Works fine. I also get a few lower notes so...