5 string question

[Muttleybass]

I understand what you're saying, but the whole reason I went 5 string is to not have to drop the D.

 

[eriky4003]

Rather than re-learn a song that we rarely rehearse, let alone play live, I do drop my E to a D. Similarly, we have two songs with open-tuning that I re-tune one string at rehearsal or live with no consequences to the bass at all. I say go for it and re-learn on the five if you so desire. Some songs we play I can re-tune a four to achieve live but I have to rehearse like mad before that gig.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I do this ALL THE TIME, i.e. I literally keep two five-string basses tuned GCGCF for songs with six-string guitars tuned CGCFAD. I tune them up to ADGCF to play with seven-string guitars tuned ADGCFAD, haha. For metal with lots of open-string chugging in or near unison with the guitars, variants of drop D make perfect sense to me, but so does dropping that lowest string. For other styles of music where the bass and guitar parts are quite different, or <gasp!> without guitars at all, I would probably just tune BEADG. You'll find something that works for you, but I encourage you to at least try some variant of drop D on a 5—I wrote songs I never would have written if I hadn't tried it myself. Edited to add: I almost could not play these lines as written in any other tuning.

 

[Barticus]

Depends on the song... I used to have a detuner on the E string of one of my 5s just for this reason, when in a Tool tribute band about 10yrs ago (at the time I didn't have a good 4 for the heavier music so one of my 5s was the better option) Some songs I would just fret the D on the B string, but for songs where you need to drone the D or play open chords (H, 46&2, Sober, etc.) it was easier to just drop to the open D.

I'm putting a detuner on another 5 bass for this reason as well.

 

[Dincrest]

With one band I played in, I did tune to ADADG because the open D ringing out is what several songs needed and the closed D, while tonally sound, felt a little choked.

That being said, I feel more comfortable playing BEADG, because then my fingers automatically go the right places in terms of scalar positions. My brain has trouble wrapping itself around alternate tunings and adjusting, say, if I'm trying to play the 5th. In drop tunings, it's not where it's "supposed" to be as with a standard tuning.

 

[Ggaa]

Our stuff in D and C# I fret on the B.

 

[GreyBeard]

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.

Why I sold all my 4 string basses.

 

[Ric5]

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

yes

 

[Pings Bass]

It took me absolutely no time to get comfy with the low D on the B string. IMO doing drop D on a fiver makes no sense. Five strings tuned in fourths makes perfect sense and the sooner you get used to it the better. YMMV of course, and you should do what works for you.

 

[Charlzm]

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.

My band has a song that rides on an open D with accents jumping around to other notes. Fretting that D was just not working for me on a 5 string, so... I put a D-tuner on one of my 4 strings and use it for that song. I also use that bass for a song in F# since there's nothing that really calls for anything below a standard E. So yes, I bring two basses to gigs - a 4 string and 5 string.

In a pinch, I can easily play the second song I mentioned above on a 5 and have even worked up an alternate version for 5. But that drop tuned song... The riff alternates from A# to D, then A to D, then C to D, then B to D. Really a pain to play all notes fretted on that one.I'd have to drop the E string on my 5 string. Or install a D-tuner...

 

[mattj1stc]

I realize that I may be odd in this regard, but I purposely got a 5 string to avoid having to deal with drop or down tunings. That said, if your fingers are used to playing a certain tuning, it might be too hard to unlearn that. Also, I know there are people out there who drop the B down to A (and possibly the E down to D with it), so you can pretty much do whatever you want (string tension/playability and sound quality not withstanding).

 

[mrcbass]

I realize that I may be odd in this regard, but I purposely got a 5 string to avoid having to deal with drop or down tunings. That said, if your fingers are used to playing a certain tuning, it might be too hard to unlearn that. Also, I know there are people out there who drop the B down to A (and possibly the E down to D with it), so you can pretty much do whatever you want (string tension/playability and sound quality not withstanding).

No you're not alone. But some lines just require the open string to play correctly.

 

[crice31721]

I run a detuner on my E string on the 5 string bass for this specific reason. Lots of drop D songs are much easier to play with the open D rather than fretting on the B string. Soundgarden and Tool songs especially.

 

[anton72]

I may be in minority regarding the open strings but I just avoid them. After I switched to 5er I play E note fretted on the B string. Playing all fretted IMO makes all notes on all strings sound more even, that's one of the reason I switched to 5er. I play in two bands in one of which the guitarist downtunes E string to B but I have zero problems with it now cause I play 5er

 

[mrcbass]

I may be in minority regarding the open strings but I just avoid them. After I switched to 5er I play E note fretted on the B string. Playing all fretted IMO makes all notes on all strings sound more even, that's one of the reason I switched to 5er. I play in two bands in one of which the guitarist downtunes E string to B but I have zero problems with it now cause I play 5er

Yes, that is my approach 95% of the time as well - I like the control the fretted notes gives me.

But I find that some lines are smoother with open strings and some - like the one described by OP a few posts ago - need the open string. Take the run up in the bridge of Jailbreak - would be nearly impossible to play cleanly using the E on the B string, but is quite simple using the open E string. Slither is another song that pretty much requires and open string (in this case D) and it doesn't sound right on the normal D string without an octave pedal. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples, when you just need an open string.

 

[libanass]

Or take back your 4 strings, and drop the D

Take your 5 when you need to go lower

 

[trevcda]

Some songs I would just fret the D on the B string, but for songs where you need to drone the D or play open chords (H, 46&2, Sober, etc.) it was easier to just drop to the open D.

Not Tool, by any stretch of the imagination, but a Jimmy Johnson bass line from a live version of Mill Worker by James Taylor requires an open D on a detuned E string to play the line as written. It's just an alternate tuning. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[R Upsomegrub]

I play a 5 most of the time. There are a couple of tunes that I tune the E down to D because I'm looking for a drone effect and the open string will sustain longer.

 

[anton72]

Yes, that is my approach 95% of the time as well - I like the control the fretted notes gives me.

But I find that some lines are smoother with open strings and some - like the one described by OP a few posts ago - need the open string. Take the run up in the bridge of Jailbreak - would be nearly impossible to play cleanly using the E on the B string, but is quite simple using the open E string. Slither is another song that pretty much requires and open string (in this case D) and it doesn't sound right on the normal D string without an octave pedal. I'm sure there are plenty of other examples, when you just need an open string.

Agree, you need open string for some certain tunes, but my both bands play only original staff these days, no covers. Easier for me in this case, I don't have to follow some lines composed by smb else.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

I downtuned the E for Slither (Velvet Revolver) about 7 years ago cause at the time I had trouble playing the low D on the B string for that song. Haven't done it since.