Anyone else tune their basses as I do?

[OhulahanBass]

I tune down a half step because I tried it a few years ago and dug the loose feel. I've tried on med-light and medium sets and dig it with both.

E > Eb
A > Ab
D > Db
G > Gb

 

[awilkie84]

i should add our guitarist plays a six string in the same tuning with the lightest gauge strings he can find as well... but he must be lying/defying reality too

You can't defy physics, man. If you've managed to get enough tension for a low A on a .100, that's awesome (I don't believe you, but that doesn't mean you're wrong). I'm simply telling you that when I tried earlier today to tune my .105 to a low A, it wasn't even seating in the saddle or nut anymore. There was literally not enough tension to hold the string in place.

 

[I am Soma]

You can't defy physics, man. If you've managed to get enough tension for a low A on a .100, that's awesome (I don't believe you, but that doesn't mean you're wrong). I'm simply telling you that when I tried earlier today to tune my .105 to a low A, it wasn't even seating in the saddle or nut anymore. There was literally not enough tension to hold the string in place.

mushroo also said he has recorded in that tuning/string gauge. why in the world would someone lie about their tuning and string gauge? i also play with a pick and play aggressively - def enough tension.

 

[awilkie84]

mushroo also said he has recorded in that tuning/string gauge. why in the world would someone lie about their tuning and string gauge? i also play with a pick and play aggressively - def enough tension.

ok...now I REALLY don't believe it. A .100 tuned to low A, and playing aggressively with a pick, is going to make you clack more than Fieldy and he plays with a .130 tuned to low A!

 

[Luke19Boarder]

But that serves no practical purpose unless you're playing chords or you tune in such a way to increase the range of the instrument.

There are plenty of reasons I can imagine someone would use (non-standard) alternate tuning. Being able to drone an open note, having different intervals readily available ... shoot, even if you consider it to be a "constraint," take a look at this: Invalid Link Removed

 

[tfer]

If I turn my string down to an A, it's not even holding tension in the saddle or nut slots. That's not even personal preference. That's physically unplayable.

Just tuned my E string down to C#, and was able to lift it 2 5/8" above the fingerboard at the 12th fret without effort. My E string is a 1.05 and my scale is 35". On a 34" bass it would be worse. You could set up the bass to get rid of the buzzing, but at that point, the bass would be more useful for shooting arrows.

 

[awilkie84]

Just tuned my E string down to C#, and was able to lift it 2 5/8" above the fingerboard at the 12th fret without effort. My E string is a 1.05 and my scale is 35". On a 34" bass it would be worse. You could set up the bass to get rid of the buzzing, but at that point, the bass would be more useful for shooting arrows.

Tune it to an A and you've definitely got more of a bow draw than a guitar string. lol

 

[I am Soma]

ok...now I REALLY don't believe it. A .100 tuned to low A, and playing aggressively with a pick, is going to make you clack more than Fieldy and he plays with a .130 tuned to low A!

also played with a micro pog at 100% dry, 75% high, 25% low along with a steel leather at about 25% response. this in addition to a fender 100t at 75% distortion volume/mix and the mids at about 75% make for the favorite tone ive ever had in my life. im not sure how to make you believe me other than hopefully you realizing you are being silly.

 

[awilkie84]

also played with a micro pog at 100% dry, 75% high, 25% low along with a steel leather at about 25% response. this in addition to a fender 100t at 75% distortion volume/mix and the mids at about 75% make for the favorite tone ive ever had in my life. im not sure how to make you believe me other than hopefully you realizing you are being silly.

I'm not being silly. The physics just doesn't support your claim. As has been pointed out above, you've got over 2.5" of travel for that string AT A C#. Your A is going to have over 3" of travel. NO WAY are you getting a clear and high tension note out of 3" of play, man. Not a bloody chance.

 

[tfer]

That's quite an exaggeration, don't you think?


Oh, I didn't realize we shouldn't do things that haven't been standardized by the "greats."

Give me a break. Tune your bass however you want. If it helps you make good music to do something (even if it doesn't have an objective advantage), who cares?

It's not an exaggeration. Lesson #1: know what the notes are. Going from 'Look At Me' turnings back into standard, you need to relearn the entire neck. So yes, you are starting over.


As for the greats; if alternate tuning were necessary, don't you think that they would have been using it? Drop D has become standardized because it made sense to extend the range of the instrument. Tuning in 5ths has transferred from classical training on other stringed instruments.

Prove the musical value of 5th-4th-5th tuning. You can't because it's only for attention seekers.


In my life, I have never started a thread that asks "I Tune E A D G - Who Else Here Does?" because all that matters is the notes I choose.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Maybe you have different definitions of 'Low-A'...
-which- 'Low-A' ? (e.g. - A0? A1? ... )

 

[tfer]

Maybe you have different definitions of 'Low-A'...
-which- 'Low-A' ? (e.g. - A0? A1? ... )

An octave below open A on a standard bass guitar tuning.

 

[sevdog]

In my life, I have never started a thread that asks "I Tune E A D G - Who Else Here Does?" because all that matters is the notes I choose.

You've never started one. But you sure have trolled one.

 

[tfer]

You've never started one. But you sure have trolled one.

Pointing out facts isn't trolling.

 

[I am Soma]

I'm not being silly. The physics just doesn't support your claim. As has been pointed out above, you've got over 2.5" of travel for that string AT A C#. Your A is going to have over 3" of travel. NO WAY are you getting a clear and high tension note out of 3" of play, man. Not a bloody chance.

how are you defining clear/high tension note? just want to make sure we are talking the same thing here. standard tuning: e-a-d-g my down tuning using light gauge strings: a-g-c-f. i'm using light strings found Link Removed. this is what you are saying is impossible correct?

 

[Luke19Boarder]

It's not an exaggeration. Lesson #1: know what the notes are. Going from 'Look At Me' turnings back into standard, you need to relearn the entire neck. So yes, you are starting over.

As for the greats; if alternate tuning were necessary, don't you think that they would have been using it? Drop D has become standardized because it made sense to extend the range of the instrument. Tuning in 5ths has transferred from classical training on other stringed instruments.

Prove the musical value of 5th-4th-5th tuning. You can't because it's only for attention seekers.

In my life, I have never started a thread that asks "I Tune E A D G - Who Else Here Does?" because all that matters is the notes I choose.

Ok, so if you are someone who would forget the notes in standard tuning as soon as you start using an alternate tuning, maybe you should stick to standard. There have been months where I haven't touched a bass for one reason or another, but whenever I come back, I still remember where all the notes are.

As for the greats; I'm not pretending to say alternate tuning is necessary by any means ... not sure where you got that from.

I gave a couple reasons as to why someone might prefer alternate tuning in post 85. Pretending to know someone's motivation for something and acting condescending toward them for it is a d-bag move, by the way.

 

[tfer]

how are you defining clear/high tension note? just want to make sure we are talking the same thing here. standard tuning: e-a-d-g my down tuning using light gauge strings: a-g-c-f. i'm using light strings found Link Removed. this is what you are saying is impossible correct?

You aren't tuning down - you're tuning up. That's very possible - almost a Piccolo Bass.

 

[awilkie84]

how are you defining clear/high tension note? just want to make sure we are talking the same thing here. standard tuning: e-a-d-g my down tuning using light gauge strings: a-g-c-f. i'm using light strings found Link Removed. this is what you are saying is impossible correct?

There's a reason that down tuning involved HIGHER gauge strings. It's to compensate for the lower tension you get when using a standard gauge (in your case, a .100) to tune lower.

Are you confusing down tuning for up tuning? Is your A on your lowest string the A below a low B of a 5 string, or the A above the E on a standard tuned bass?

If it's the A above the standard E, then you're UP tuning, not down tuning, and that will give you VERY high tension.

If you are talking about the A below low B, then you're out to lunch. You're talking about tuning a string intended to tune to E down over a 5th to a low A. There is absolutely no way that using a .100 will give you enough tension for that.

Also, why would you tune AGCF? That G is only 2 steps above what the A is doing.

 

[tfer]

Ok, so if you are someone who would forget the notes in standard tuning as soon as you start using an alternate tuning, maybe you should stick to standard. There have been months where I haven't touched a bass for one reason or another, but whenever I come back, I still remember where all the notes are.

As for the greats; I'm not pretending to say alternate tuning is necessary by any means ... not sure where you got that from.

I gave a couple reasons as to why someone might prefer alternate tuning in post 85. Pretending to know someone's motivation for something and acting condescending toward them for it is a d-bag move, by the way.

I'm not trying to be condescending - I seriously have no idea why hundreds of years worth of tradition isn't good enough...?

Your reasons in post #85 made no sense; you don't need an alternate tuning to pedal a different note.

Oh - and I remember well enough where the notes are: I can even read them on manuscript.

 

[I am Soma]

There's a reason that down tuning involved HIGHER gauge strings. It's to compensate for the lower tension you get when using a standard gauge (in your case, a .100) to tune lower.

Are you confusing down tuning for up tuning? Is your A on your lowest string the A below a low B of a 5 string, or the A above the E on a standard tuned bass?

If it's the A above the standard E, then you're UP tuning, not down tuning, and that will give you VERY high tension.

If you are talking about the A below low B, then you're out to lunch. You're talking about tuning a string intended to tune to E down over a 5th to a low A. There is absolutely no way that using a .100 will give you enough tension for that.

def talking down tuning. so im going to try and put together a video this weekend. all i ask is that you admit you are wrong once you see it