5 string tuning 1/2 step down?

[MichiganMadDog]

Well, I have a guitar player who wants to play a half step down from E with his six string. He might be getting a seven string also.
Do I stay with standard tuning low B and playing a fret off or drop and have floppier strings which I don't like.
What do you guys do in this case?
Thanks!

 

[Disco Batman]

Just play a half step down, and use your B String when you need that E flat.

 

[smeet]

I play with a guitarist that tunes down a whole step. I choose standard tuning and play two frets off. However, I can see how tuning down might sound better for some types of music.

 

[bassbenj]

I play with a guitarist that tunes down a whole step. I choose standard tuning and play two frets off. However, I can see how tuning down might sound better for some types of music.

I play guitar too and I can say that tuning a guitar down often gives you a nice deep resonant tone that guitarists love.

The same thing is not true for bass. The length of the strings on most basses are just long enough to work and tuning them down usually makes them sound and play worse. As Smeet says for some types of music there can be exceptions.

Unfortunately it seems down-tuning guitarists have made some bass players think they need to tune down too. Well, if you play a 4 string and you've got a bunch of bass lines memorized for all the songs your band plays, then the thought of reworking all your bass parts to play with a down-tuned guitarist may not be very appealing.

But for the 5 string player, let the guitarist down-tune all he wants. He can't tune down enough to get out of your range and still play his instrument. Of course it's best if you have 5 string basses where the higher frets of the B string actually play and sound pretty decently.

The beauty of a 5er is you can move your starting point to any fret or even sideways to other strings to play in any down-tuning or any key a singer demands. Love it.

 

[blendermassacre]

I'm in a doom metal / stoner metal band (as a guiar player) who tunes to B standard. I can say that tonally it's really awesome, although a huge pain in the ass to keep different guitars in different tunings.

I would say do what's most comfortable for you. Personally, I'd downtune a half step so i wouldn't have to transpose the notes, but that's me.

 

[Dave W]

I'd rather tune 1/2 step down than transpose everything. For certain types of music it may be very difficult to do anyways, like pedal tones in rock/metal type stuff.

 

[stingray2112]

I tune a whole step-down for one of my current bands. Any lower and I would transpose the notes, but I've gotten used to playing that way.

 

[Solarmist]

Get your guitar player to purchase a 7-string instead; I know Ibanez makes them (8-string too). I think it would work better in the longrun, but if you did go down a half step; I'd up the string gauges to 50/70/90/110/135.

 

[evanatch]

If you need an open Eb, why not just capo the 5-string at the 4th fret?

 

[blendermassacre]

Get your guitar player to purchase a 7-string instead; I know Ibanez makes them (8-string too). I think it would work better in the longrun, but if you did go down a half step; I'd up the string gauges to 50/70/90/110/135.

Being a guitar player as well in a band that downtunes, I HATE those guitars. They feel awkward, and the pickups really bother me.

 

[sumgruuvz]

well, we play the clincher by chevelle, and you have to tune a 1/2 step down. Bb. yep!

 

[blendermassacre]

well, we play the clincher by chevelle, and you have to tune a 1/2 step down. Bb. yep!

"Have to" is sort of a stretch. that's what it's recorded in, but you can change the key if you want.

 

[sumgruuvz]

not have to, but for the sake of the song, yes. it was recorded that way, so keep it that way if you dont, that's your problem

 

[Wallace320]

I don't even change my strings gauge to put the tuning down a full step.
I play ordinary tuning in a cover band of mine, but a full step down in my main thrash metal, original songs, band.
Just a trussrod, and sometimes action/intonation, adjustments Are required...
I switched to a 5er when our guitarists switched to 7 stringers. Now I'm back on 4 string (with detuners everywhere) and happy like that.
But I play deeply downtuned...


Anybody recalls mighty Pantera and Dimebag/Rex weird tunings?

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[blendermassacre]

not have to, but for the sake of the song, yes. it was recorded that way, so keep it that way if you dont, that's your problem

Having changed the keys in a ton of covers that my band did, dollars to doughnuts no one would notice a half step up, especially if you just do it for one song.

 

[Mushroo]

Tuning a half step up or down shouldn't make a big difference to the playability of your bass. I'd say go with the altered tuning so you can play the same riffs in the same position as the guitarist.

 

[sumgruuvz]

look my friend, this is where just you and i differ. all shapes and sizes.

 

[BigOkie]

If you need an open Eb, why not just capo the 5-string at the 4th fret?

Cool idea. I'm going to try that.

 

[Justybuddy]

When my guitarists went to drop C, I tuned down to A standard on a Warwick Thumb 5. String tension was an issue so I played heavier strings. That 'wick wasn't missing any tone. Just find out if your bass is still articulate in Bb.

Think SRV. Play heavy strings and tune down.

 

[mikezimmerman]

If the band is tuned down a half step for everything, I tune my 5 down to Bb--I've done this with about 3 bands. If it's just one or two songs and the guitarists are switching guitars to get the Eb, I just play down one fret.