Am I taking the easy way out by drop tuning?

[Wasnex]

It's not just the timbre of an open string, or muting. A fretted notes pitch can be varied subtly to great effect musically, while the open string cannot, using vibrato, subtle bends and similar.

True, but IMHO these are things you do higher on the neck rather than at the first fret.

 

[crazyBassClown]

I find vibrato is great for getting a fat tone lower on the neck, and yes it is harder at the first fret, but usually the choice is an open string, or the 5th fret.

 

[mambo4]

The standard tuned bass guitar is almost built for E minor (specific riff depending)
Tune to Eb to play E minor, to make up for muting shortcomings
sounds like the hard way out to me.

 

[White Beard]

If I've go this right, you want to change the tuning of the bass guitar so that you don't have to learn the physical left hand movements of the song in a different key, correct? Then, yes, I would say that you're taking the easy way out.

If you're going to be working with singers, a lot of times they're going to say, "Oh, I sing this song in this key, so you guys need to get that figured out in the next five seconds ("All Blues" in Eb, anybody?)." This is a great opportunity to get that skillset started.

 

[bigboy_78]

Yes.

 

[dreamadream99]

I would encourage you to, eventually, become equally comfortable with all 12 major keys and all 12 minor keys

Best advice so far. Whether you play a 2, 4, 5, 6, or 54 string instrument, every musician should be versatile in all keys.

This is the perfect excuse to get a five string.

That would certainly allow for low Eb's and such.

Tune to Eb to play E minor, to make up for muting shortcomings? sounds like the hard way out to me.

I have to agree.