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BEAD tuning...

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
With one of the new bands I play in, there is an awful lot of drop D tuning, and even on the ones that aren't I'm finding I use the low B string of my 5 string quite a bit to carry some of the lower notes, or just for positional ease. I REALLY hate drop tuning. It's always messed with my head. ;)

I had been using my 5 string almost exclusively, but I really dig the light weight and tone of my Ibanez SR400 4 string. So I wondered about stringing it up BEAD instead of the standard EADG 4 string tuning.

I went through the song list and found that almost every song that I do use the G string on, is on runs where I can easily that play higher up on the D string. Not only is it just as easy, it actually sounds better anyway because it sounds "meatier" and carries that part better with the other two guitars. This music is for the most part, harder rock so it fits perfectly with what I'm after.

I've been playing my 4 stringer strung up BEAD for a few days now and I am REALLY digging it. Of course I had to file the nut (no biggee) and give it a new setup, but I'm actually finding that thin little SR400 neck to be more stable in this tuning. It settled in nicely and no matter the temp or environment has kept the tuning better than when it was EADG.

I think (not sure) that BEAD actually has less tension than EADG, which I base on the fact that I had to loosen the truss rod to get the action where I wanted it (which is super low with just the slightest fret buzz and clank...think Squire).

With my other two bands, I just use my 5 string where I do use the G string a bit more (one where I use more chords and another where there seems to be more octaves at play).

I know this tuning is nothing new, although it's new to me and having played a 5 stringer for so long, it's easy to get used to not having the G string.
 
#2
I have an sr485 but I like the neck on my old blazer better. I strung it bead and haven't looked back since. We only do 1 song where I need the g so I work around that if I'm playing the blazer. Rock on.
 
#3
When I've had a spare 4-string bass that wasn't getting much use,I've converted them to BEAD tuning. I really prefer swapping over and using the BEAD bass to using a 5-er,personally. But most of the time,i don't really find i need those 5 extra lower notes,and i never really "got" how a 5 -string allows for "better"playing postions. (Guess I'm just so used to playing in a certain way..). When you do find a use for those lower notes,they can really sound glorious....
 
#5
Fair Warning said:
BEAD tension is virtually the same as standard. Rock on with the BEAD, and I have several 4 stringers tuned that way and never had to do anything drastic in the setups to make it work.
Click to expand...

Could just be the gauges I use with either my 4 or 5 stringed basses too. Also, the SR400 has a really little, slim, thin neck. That thing is so damn fast playing, it almost feels like a 3 string neck. It does exhibit shifting moreso than any other bass I've owned. It's not terrible, but I almost always had to make sure to tune it every time before playing as all the strings would go a tad sharp if it sat. Not that I don't tune up every time. ;)

I've had this strung up BEAD for 3 days now and it's held the tuning the entire time.

One thing that was a bit drastic was I absolutely must use an exposed core B string as all of my other standard B strings are too thick to pass through the Ibby's bridge (even though it top loads). Fortunately I had a couple of those style low B strings.
 
#6
I got a Geddy Lee J, and modded it right away. Nothing like drilling the bridge on a brand new J to make you a little nervous. But all went well, filed the nut a dab, and we're good to go. Now I watch other low-end guys, and get a little smug when they go up the neck, and out of the you-feel-'em, not-hear-'em frequencies. It's even more fun to let some GDAE guys play my J, and tell them to go low, instead of up high. And watch them get all discombobulated.
 
#7
I've never been into 5 stringers or the low B just for the use of 5 extra notes that go lower than low E so I can play heavy.

I seldom use those low notes except as accents when needed, or to provide some heft for songs in like C or D so the root note is not too thin on those notes on the A string. Mostly I prefer the convenience of playing more efficient "economy of motion" positions offered by it.

Utilizing my 4 stringer now tuned BEAD allows me to play it like a 5 stringer for those reasons mentioned. There are a few melodic things I use the G string for that obviously now must use my 5 string for, but overall I now have two basses that will both get equal play.

One side benefit I realized only today, is that my 5 stringer is heavier and the SR400 is feather light, so I will be able to play my 5 stringer earlier on the gig and switch to the BEAD tuned SR400 later in the gig (when normally fatigue starts creeping in on me. The SR400 feels almost like I'm not wearing a bass.
 
#9
Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse used to play in B-E-A-D. I wanted to learn older cannibal corpse so I took a cheap bass and put B-E-A-D on it. It works fine and sounds like a 5. Its FAR easier for me to play their music on it without having to stretch over another string to reach.

TIP: If you do this, you are going to need to file the nut to match the larger gauges of strings. Id suggest either getting the file ahead of time or taking it to a tech to do it. Maybe buy a new nut and just switch in between them whenever you want to change the strings. I had no file and ended up using the actual strings and a lot of elbow grease to file mine down.... thank god it wasnt brass.
 
#12
FJBass82 said:
Ross Vallory, Journey's bassist, has been using basses strung BEAD for several years as well.

I've thought about stringing one bass BEAD, since I'm old school and not into 5 strings. I've tried playing a 5'er but have been unable to get used to it.
Click to expand...

You get lost in the strings when your not looking dont you? I STARTED to get used to an Ibanez 305 but my Peavey Grind kills me. Im always having my left ingers hold the wrong strings. Im trying to make myself play the peavey more "which I love the bass anyway" to make myself get used to them more.

Lamb of God's bassist John Campbell had a 4 string bass and the top string broke off, so he just kept it with 3 strings for a whole tour.
 
#13
I've been playing 5 stringers for the last 10 years or more, almost exclusively. Also played some nice 6 stringers. None of them were as confusing to me as 4 stringer with a drop D tuning. I mean, I get the drop D and know where the notes are when dropped.

Still, when I'm really into the music (which is pretty much always) I do NOT want to be thinking about it...I just want to be interacting with the other musicians spontaneously. I already know the music so I don't want to re-learn parts because one string is at an altered tuning some of the time and not at others.

For as used to 5 stringers as I am (and I LOVE my 5 string ESP-LTD B-205SM), I also love my fast playing, lightweight SR400. I can get a meatier, grindy, bright, clanky tone that just kills on many songs I play with one of my new bands. It suits the music better. But it's a 4 string, and tuning it BEAD has allowed me to use it more with that band now.

I just spent the last three hours going over our set lists with it and I'm really digging it. Don't miss the G string one bit with that music (all originals...quite varied genre, but mostly harder rock with some pretty interesting and fun bass lines)
 
#14
I also have an SR400 - really nice basses for the price point. Were you the guy that got it in that beautiful trans purple over quilt?

My guess on tension is that generallya B-G will have a tad less tension than E-G.
You can look up the D'Addario string tension chart to get an idea where you're at.
 
#15
Solarmist said:
I also have an SR400 - really nice basses for the price point. Were you the guy that got it in that beautiful trans purple over quilt?

My guess on tension is that generallya B-G will have a tad less tension than E-G.
You can look up the D'Addario string tension chart to get an idea where you're at.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that would be me...:D

SR400.jpg


I also dig my ESP-LTD. Both sound crazy good through my rig. Now I'll be able to use both as I see fit with my newest band...

basses.jpg
 

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