BEDG Tuning?

[Manticore]

There are basses made to address this conundrum: play a six-string...

 

[Les Fret]

The OP already answered this, Not that it's any of our business.... "So, I see some just-get-a-5 posts. I get it. Played exclusively 5 for a bit. But my hand just hurts. And I mean really hurts. For days. Like have to wear a brace type hurt. But I'm pain-free with a 4. So, while I totally agree "just play a 5", such a response does not really foster discussion & discovery, which is what a Forum is about, right?"

. He's specifically asked about alternative tunings for his 4 string. Suggesting he buys a 5 string doesn't answer his question at all so why keep doing it?

Yes, but he didn't say why his hands hurt. Maybe it's a matter of technique?
I didn't suggest he should play a 5 string. I suggested several other options. I am just curious what is causing the pain.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

You play a 4 string but sometimes want the low notes. One approach is BEAD tuning. But then you lose the high notes.

What about BEDG tuning? Dedicate 2 strings to the lows and 2 to the highs. I've not though through it but I bet fingering would be tough to adjust to.

Why not? I played with a dropped D for years before I got smart and just bought a 5 string.

IMO (and I fully expect to feel the wrath of the alternative tuning community at large), I don’t understand the aversion to getting the tool for the job as opposed to reinventing the wheel. Granted, there is the cost of a new bass to be considered, but that aside, I will say I found it’s is way easier to acclimate to a 5 string than acclimate to an alternative tuning. I’ll also say it’s worse yet moving back to standard tuning.

 

[Pings Bass]

With the perennial TB threads discussing how to get extended range without going to five strings, I wonder if anybody's tried to build a C extension on a bass guitar like most symphony players have.

How Double Bass Extensions Work – Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog

 

[Jefenator]

From my own string breakage misadventures, I have found that missing a middle string is much harder for me to deal with than most other things (such as missing - or adding - an outer string).
If you can make it work, more power to you!

 

[Cal03]

Fifths is logical, but requires stretches or shifts that you may not like. I used to play a guitar range instrument tuned in fifths - at a 22 inch scale it was still fairly tough to play (chords add to the challenge). There's a reason who 4ths is what you find on bigger stringed instruments (basses and guitars), but 5ths is used on violins and violas. A cello is the odd man out - 27 inches, but tuned in 5ths. If chords were a common thing on a cello, it'd probably be tuned in 4ths.

Funny enough, I find playing chords easier in fifths than in fourths! It might also be my preference for the open voicings for triads. The scale length is a real issue though. Two of my basses are tuned in fifths, and I find that I need to use a capo for playing up the neck comfortably.

Why not? I played with a dropped D for years before I got smart and just bought a 5 string.

IMO (and I fully expect to feel the wrath of the alternative tuning community at large), I don’t understand the aversion to getting the tool for the job as opposed to reinventing the wheel. Granted, there is the cost of a new bass to be considered, but that aside, I will say I found it’s is way easier to acclimate to a 5 string than acclimate to an alternative tuning. I’ll also say it’s worse yet moving back to standard tuning.

I have to admit that I also agree, as someone who originally wanted to try fifths tuning for more range. I love fifths tuning and play in it regularly, but for playing lower on a 4-string I hesitate to recommend it as a first choice due to the radically different tuning and the extra shifting involved. Case in point, I found it easier to acclimate to a sixer in standard tuning than on a 4-string in fifths.

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

Look for a used Yamaha BB5000. I’ve seen them recently between $1500-2000. It’s essentially a 4-string neck that they crammed a 5th string onto. The string spacing is crazy tight, something like 15mm IIRC, but you get full range and familiar muscle memory without a wide neck. Seems like it would be easier to adjust to a tighter spacing than an odd tuning. Not to mention those are just killer basses.
Good luck, hope you find a solution!

I have a MIJ BB5000A, and it may be my favorite bass. It's been modified with a Schaller roller bridge so the string spacing is now a "lofty" 16mm. Great sounding bass, super comfortable to play for extended periods of time.
String spacing is not something that we think about on 4-string basses, but it becomes important on 5s - and everybody has their preferences
There was a thread a while ago about basses with narrow string spacing (Recommend a 5-String with a narrow string spacing?) if you are willing to give it a try.

 

[MoWBass]

I play a Fender 4 string Precision and JB in BEAD tuning. I use 145 105 75 55 and a good tech.
It has the tension I need for hard picking

 

[bluehevy75]

I'm partial to my '78 p bass tuned to ADGC strung with DDTs including a .145 in the A slot. The bass weighs like 14 lbs. I hate it.

 

[ole Jason]

If you can grab the notes you need go for it. Some people seem to really enjoy doing stuff like using unusual tunings or modding gear. Try it out and see if it works for you.

 

[2strings2frets]

Just . . . play . . . what . . . works . . . best . . . for . . . you.[/QUOTE]

 

[bigjames]

How about tuning in 5th’s?

C G D A

Gets more range but consistent across strings. I have a guitar tuned this way and it’s been pretty intuitive for that. Keeping the basses EADG though. I don’t have the energy to relearn a lot of bass parts and am not carrying 2 basses

Don't quote me on this, but I believe some upright bassists in orchestras tune this way because classical runs are easier with 5ths tuning (to match violins, violas, cellos).

 

[2strings2frets]

Avoid GAS , use one of those octave thingies!

 

[DwaynieAD]

Some folks are determined not to use a five and I have lost interest trying to convince them of anything. Down tuning with a four will result in a loss of notes in other parts of the range. If they are good with that trade off, cool.

I mean in the hypothetical posted here you're not losing any notes.

But I get your point

 

[Les Fret]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe some upright bassists in orchestras tune this way because classical runs are easier with 5ths tuning (to match violins, violas, cellos).

I don’t think it is easier. It requires more shifting on upright. Most orchestra players use 4ths tuning. Probably 90% or so. Some more solo oriented upright players use 5ths tuning.

 

[Rocket Queen]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe some upright bassists in orchestras tune this way because classical runs are easier with 5ths tuning (to match violins, violas, cellos).

You're safe. In the blog post mentioned above in post #64 on double bass extensions, there's this quote:

"Most Americans play their own personal double bass for orchestral playing, traditionally keeping it in standard orchestral tuning (G D A E)."

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Funny enough, I find playing chords easier in fifths than in fourths! It might also be my preference for the open voicings for triads. The scale length is a real issue though. Two of my basses are tuned in fifths, and I find that I need to use a capo for playing up the neck comfortably.



I have to admit that I also agree, as someone who originally wanted to try fifths tuning for more range. I love fifths tuning and play in it regularly, but for playing lower on a 4-string I hesitate to recommend it as a first choice due to the radically different tuning and the extra shifting involved. Case in point, I found it easier to acclimate to a sixer in standard tuning than on a 4-string in fifths.

As a former guitarist, I can identify with that. But that was a long time ago, like half a century…

 

[2tonic]

I'm just going to stop tuning all together.

Stop?

 

[5StringBlues]

Hammer time!

Stop?

 

[2tonic]

With the perennial TB threads discussing how to get extended range without going to five strings, I wonder if anybody's tried to build a C extension on a bass guitar like most symphony players have.

Kubicki kinda went there in the 80's.