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Bass String Suggestions/Options/Possibilities

S

Swingville

Oct 21, 2012
11
0
Northern California
#1
Hi. I'm new to the bass guitar but have played six string guitar for years. Interested in Blues, Classic Rock, Hard Rock & Rockabilly music. Never played bass before.

Just purchased a five string Schecter Damien-5 bass guitar with two EMG-40hz pickups and a 35" scale. I believe the five string bass guitar will arrive tuned to BEADG.

What's the advantage to BEADG?

I'm thinking of tuning to "one octave below" the six string guitar's tuning to EADGB(E). Is there a problem for this as a bass player? Since I'm a guitar player, it seems EADGB(e) would be easy to follow watching or playing bass with other guitarists. I know I'd need to get proper strings and have them intonated correctly.

What do you think? Thanks. Swingville :)
 
#2
It's more about what register you want to pay in Han ease of following a guitarist, which you normally would be doing by ear to some degree, but it depends on what your musical situation.

Will you be playing parts where the bass drops down to low D or further? What if the guitarists tune down?

One of the main uses of a fiver is to be able to play in different keys without moving up and down the neck; it gives you more flexibility choosing positions and fingerings

Finally, what will you be doing all the way up in the register? Will you be soloing a lot, or chording, is there a reason you want the top string.

Let the music dictate your choice, not some barely relevant detail like following the guitarist. Your a bassist, you should be driving the band, anyway!
 
#3
I'm gathering from your comment, ultimately, the BEADG should handle it all as well as the four string counters BEAD or EADG. Just need to learn and adapt.

Guessing that from your comments that tuning one octave below the six-string guitar is not normal.

Thanks for responding. I will investigate further.
All new to me :)
 
#4
Swingville said:
I'm gathering from your comment, ultimately, the BEADG should handle it all as well as the four string counters BEAD or EADG. Just need to learn and adapt.

Guessing that from your comments that tuning one octave below the six-string guitar is not normal.

Thanks for responding. I will investigate further.
All new to me :)
Click to expand...

Not common, at least on a 5 string. BEAD is not commonly used on either, though probably a lot more common on four strings than AEDGB is on fivers..
 

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