Bass VI - standard tuning or all 4ths?

[Maxra]

I'm fixing to get a Bass VI of some kind soon. By that I mean a 30" scale 6 string (probably the 'big Jaguar' body 3 pickup type), and I have a set of 24-100 strings waiting for it. I figure to tune either EADGBE (standard guitar down an octave)) or EADGCF (all 4ths) - or maybe those tunings down a full step DGCFAD or DGCFBbEb. Lots of the tunes I play are in G and D, Gm and Dm, and relative keys and modes.

I already have a 6 string bass tuned EADGCF all 4ths, but I find it it's heavy and the 34" scale unweildy for my purpose. My idea is to be able to 1) busk bass accompaniments to folk tunes I know on fiddle, 2) play some chords to fit and 3) sometimes play those tunes up the top end (mostly higher strings) - I find I can already read treble clef fiddle tunes I either know or almost know, on bass.

So far, I find all 4ths makes playing tunes and learning the fretboard much easier, but I don't know what it does to chords - I suspect I'll only need 3 string chord shapes on the higher strings. Those should give a full sound at that pitch with the treble rolled off as needed. Question is, whether to use standard guitar intervals, or all 4ths - thoughts please, and does anyone already use all 4ths like this? Thanks, Max

 

[Bob_Ross]

The salient question: Do you already know how to play guitar in conventional EADGBE tuning?
If so, I think it makes a lot of sense to tune a Bass VI to EADGBE...everything you already know about chord shapes, scale patterns, where the "break" is, etc. will be applicable to the new instrument.
But if you don't already play guitar, and you're coming to the Bass VI as a bass player accustomed to N-string instruments tuned entirely in 4ths, than there is no reason to screw up what you already know by picking up a new instrument with a different tuning. So in that case I'd tune the Bass VI to EADGCF.

 

[DirtDog]

Concur w @Bob_Ross. As a guitar player, I keep my Bass VI in EADGBE. I’d find it confusing otherwise.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I've got mine currently in a hybrid, standard EA + piccolo EADG tuning (E1-A1-E2-A2-D3-G3).
Jury's still out, but it does seem decently easy to navigate.

 

[Greenman72]

I'm fixing to

For the record, I have no absolutely no opinion on your question.

But I'm a redneck from rural Texas, and this reminds me of when I was in Marine Boot Camp in San Diego. I was talking to somebody from Southern California.

Me: "I'm fixing to [do something]".
- Him: "What are you fixing?"
Me: "No, I'm fixing to [do something]."
- Him: "Huh? What are you talking about? What are you fixing?"

He looked at me like I was an idiot, and I'm sure I looked at him the same way.
We were both speaking English, but not the same language.

Since then, I always say "I'm about to....." I've never had that confusion since.

 

[monsterthompson]

This is a question I hadn’t considered but is worth thinking about in my quest for a bass vi. @Bob_Ross brings up good points. I started on a 6 string guitar so I suspect EADGBE might be where I start.

 

[GrayGoesBlack]

It's an interesting question, and I guess you just need to try and see what works. I got myself a Bass VI a few days ago, and I have it in EADGBe at the moment. I've played regular guitar for years, so you should think that's what I'm accustomed to, but it's a bit off actually. A few years ago I switched to bass completely, and (re)learned chords and scales in all 4ths. And in this regard the EADGBe tuning is actually a nuisance, since it breaks the forms I'm now used to coming from a bass perspective. At the moment it's still EADGBe, but I am on the fence about and I will try all fourths soon.

 

[vvvmmm]

Really, I think it kinda depends on yer use of the axe.

I mean, I often do a more-or-less Robt. Smith/G. Campbell/S. Kilbey thing where I'm playing bass and rhythm and lead, sometimes two of those at the same time.

Was I doing just bass and rhythm (or just bass), the fourth thing would sure be simpler.

 

[JTNuney]

Was having a similar discussion the other day with a guitarist friend who’s selling a knockoff VI… being used to EADGBE, that’s what he used on it. Having played only EADG my whole life, I’m glad to hear there’s precedent for 4ths… though it reignites my GAS for my buddy’s VI, of course.

Is it possible to do BEADGC on one of these (with the right strings, obviously), or is that just kooky?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Is it possible to do BEADGC on one of these (with the right strings, obviously), or is that just kooky?

It's been done.

Unless you're willing to perform surgery to the B and possibly E strings (unravel them to length, then solder or otherwise - superglue, heat-shrink tubing - secure them where the unravelling stops), you would
a) need a medium-scale 5-string set (La Bella, Dunlop, Warwick, Curt Mangan "short-scale") and either a single bass high C or a baritone-guitar string of comparable gauge (30-35; keeping the old "high" B of the bass VI and moving it up one slot would also do). Or
b) a custom order from Pyramid or Newtone. Or
c) to get a LONG-scale 6-string set of your choice, and thread the B and the E strings through pieces of stiff tubing so that, after installation, said tubing separates the ball end from the tailpiece and, at the other side, the string correctly tapers between nut and post. The needed length of the tubing for the B should be between 1" and 3.5", methinks, depending on the length of the string; for the E you'll need less (.5" to 1.5" will probably do).

Expect the strings to feel cramped in the lowest frets. As for tone, you'd have to hear and judge for yourself.

 

[cdef]

Coming from an EADGBE background (the B is ingenious for chording), that's how I'd naturally tune a 6-string.

 

[Bob_Ross]

the B is ingenious for chording

Is it? Or is it just culturally ingrained, something we are accustomed to through years of exposure? E.g., if guitars had been tuned EADGCF for the past ~600 years, would we (still, now) be bemoaning how awkward it is to form chords on that instrument?

Serious question.

 

[B-Mac]

I'm fixing to get a Bass VI of some kind soon. By that I mean a 30" scale 6 string (probably the 'big Jaguar' body 3 pickup type), and I have a set of 24-100 strings waiting for it. I figure to tune either EADGBE (standard guitar down an octave)) or EADGCF (all 4ths) - or maybe those tunings down a full step DGCFAD or DGCFBbEb. Lots of the tunes I play are in G and D, Gm and Dm, and relative keys and modes.

I already have a 6 string bass tuned EADGCF all 4ths, but I find it it's heavy and the 34" scale unweildy for my purpose. My idea is to be able to 1) busk bass accompaniments to folk tunes I know on fiddle, 2) play some chords to fit and 3) sometimes play those tunes up the top end (mostly higher strings) - I find I can already read treble clef fiddle tunes I either know or almost know, on bass.

So far, I find all 4ths makes playing tunes and learning the fretboard much easier, but I don't know what it does to chords - I suspect I'll only need 3 string chord shapes on the higher strings. Those should give a full sound at that pitch with the treble rolled off as needed. Question is, whether to use standard guitar intervals, or all 4ths - thoughts please, and does anyone already use all 4ths like this? Thanks, Max

If you're already playing a 34" 6 string bass then it makes total sense to tune your Bass VI in 4ths.

 

[Greenman72]

let me clarify the question:

Are you wanting an instrument tuned BEADGC? Or an instrument tuned BEADGbB? Or an instrument tuned EADGFC? Or an instrument tuned EADGBbE?

As an attempt to answer the question: I am NOT a guitar player. I know the CAGED chords and that’s it. I am a bass player.

But in an attempt to experiment a little, I want to buy me a Big Lou guitar with an extra-wide neck, and I plan to have it tuned BEADGC, because that makes the most intuitive sense to me.

Why should we have one string that’s not like the other strings? Why can’t they all be uniform? Then job don’t have to re-learn your basic shapes. They apply all over the fretboard, not just the top half.

I declare war on the Bb! No Bb! No Bb!

 

[Jaco Taco]

The standard guitar tuning of EADGBE is totally set up for playing chords easily. If you are going to be doing a lot of chordal playing with your Bass VI, you should keep the standard tuning.

 

[Snert]

If you're already playing a 34" 6 string bass then it makes total sense to tune your Bass VI in 4ths.

Not necessarily...

The standard guitar tuning of EADGBE is totally set up for playing chords easily. If you are going to be doing a lot of chordal playing with your Bass VI, you should keep the standard tuning.

... for this reason. Tutorials and instruction on chords for bass is rare, but is as common as dirt for guitars.
One of my FS basses is E-E (the others are B-C}.

 

[B-Mac]

I'm fixing to get a Bass VI of some kind soon. By that I mean a 30" scale 6 string (probably the 'big Jaguar' body 3 pickup type), and I have a set of 24-100 strings waiting for it. I figure to tune either EADGBE (standard guitar down an octave)) or EADGCF (all 4ths) - or maybe those tunings down a full step DGCFAD or DGCFBbEb. Lots of the tunes I play are in G and D, Gm and Dm, and relative keys and modes.

I already have a 6 string bass tuned EADGCF all 4ths, but I find it it's heavy and the 34" scale unweildy for my purpose. My idea is to be able to 1) busk bass accompaniments to folk tunes I know on fiddle, 2) play some chords to fit and 3) sometimes play those tunes up the top end (mostly higher strings) - I find I can already read treble clef fiddle tunes I either know or almost know, on bass.

So far, I find all 4ths makes playing tunes and learning the fretboard much easier, but I don't know what it does to chords - I suspect I'll only need 3 string chord shapes on the higher strings. Those should give a full sound at that pitch with the treble rolled off as needed. Question is, whether to use standard guitar intervals, or all 4ths - thoughts please, and does anyone already use all 4ths like this? Thanks, Max

Here’s the thing: are you a bassist that wants or needs to play guitar?

Are you a guitarist that wants or needs to play bass?

You’ve already answered this above. If you just want to learn chords then I’d say just go get an inexpensive used Squier Strat and be done with it.

However, if you’re in a band and the guitarist skipped town and you need to temporarily fill in for both then it makes sense.

Remember, that on a bass the notes starting at the 12th fret are the same as the notes on a guitar starting from the first fret, so you can already play some chords on your existing basses.

[edit per @vvvmmm]
Meant to say same …as notes on a guitar starting at open string, so …

However, here’s a real cool example of doing both on a Bass VI on an Eastwood version of their sidejack.

 

[B-Mac]

Was having a similar discussion the other day with a guitarist friend who’s selling a knockoff VI… being used to EADGBE, that’s what he used on it. Having played only EADG my whole life, I’m glad to hear there’s precedent for 4ths… though it reignites my GAS for my buddy’s VI, of course.

Is it possible to do BEADGC on one of these (with the right strings, obviously), or is that just kooky?

Definitely possible and not kooky. However, string spacing is definitely closer to guitar string spacing, so that may be something for you to be aware of.

 

[vvvmmm]

Remember, that on a bass the notes starting at the 12th fret are the same as the notes on a guitar starting from the first fret, so you can already play some chords on your existing basses.

Uh, actually on a bass the notes starting at the 12th fret are the same as the notes on a guitar starting from the zero fret or nut.

IOW, on a bass the notes starting at the 13th fret are the same as the notes on a guitar starting from the first fret.

Assuming, of course, standard tunings.

 

[B-Mac]

Uh, actually on a bass the notes starting at the 12th fret are the same as the notes on a guitar starting from the zero fret or nut.

IOW, on a bass the notes starting at the 13th fret are the same as the notes on a guitar starting from the first fret.

Assuming, of course, standard tunings.

That’s what I meant but left out open string part.