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Being able to hear yourself when your guitarist is playing in Dropped D tuning

Discussion in 'Technique [BG]' started by nzscott, Dec 21, 2014.

  1. Dec 21, 2014 #1
    nzscott

    nzscott

    Oct 27, 2014
    Timaru, New Zealand
    Hi TB'ers . I am having trouble being able to hear myself when my guitarist is playing in dropped D tuning.
    I never drop my bass tuning as I find it too muddy for my liking ,and therefor I base most of my bass lines when my guitarist is in dropped D tuning with either the root on open d string or ,rooted on the A string 5th fret d .
    I have found if I play my bass line on a melodic ,rather than a rhythm based run/line it is easer to hear my self ,but I do find that I need to be playing a rhythm styled run/line more often than not as we don't have a drummer, and the other guys seem to leave it up to me to keep us in time .

    we are a folk rock band with guitar , violin and bass , with 3 part vocal harmonies . if you would like to have a listen we are on reverbnation/blackseasirens live recorded studio tracks "TOO MUCH" and "NO Cliché" are the ones to listen to .

    "anyway I digress , so back to the subject"

    any thoughts on how to go about cutting through a bass sounding guitar ? I cringe every time I hear the guitar DDDDDrop to D. happy xmas to all TB'ers
     
  2. Dec 21, 2014 #2
    lz4005

    lz4005

    Oct 22, 2013
    Turn your amp up a little.
     
  3. Dec 21, 2014 #3
    hdracer

    hdracer

    Feb 15, 2009
    Elk River, MN.
    What amp and cab are you using?
    What are your amp settings?
     
  4. Dec 21, 2014 #4
    BioWeapon

    BioWeapon

    Feb 16, 2013
    Calgary, Alberta
    Dial in more mids?
     
  5. Dec 21, 2014 #5
    MalcolmAmos

    MalcolmAmos

    Jul 18, 2009
    Deep East Texas Piney Woods
    Here is where an ear bud or one ear head phone of your sound will help. One piece head phone so you can hear yourself in one ear and the rest of the band in the other ear will help.

    We all have one of these. http://www.aviom.com/ I can adjust the volume of everyone, to where I want it, i.e. you could lower your guitarist if you wanted to or increase the voice mike output of the lead vocalist, etc. They do not give them away, so cost enters into the picture.

    But, you gotta hear yourself and an in your ear "something or other" is my recommendation.

    In my experience dropped D tuning helps the guitar people with power chords, so I would think he would be reluctant to change. Win the war with an ear bud of your sound in one ear.

    Good luck.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2014
    nzscott likes this.
  6. Dec 21, 2014 #6
    nzscott

    nzscott

    Oct 27, 2014
    Timaru, New Zealand
    I use a phil jones briefcase di'ed intp the power amp side Warwick profet 3.3 with a Warwick with a 410 cabinet and then into a pa if we are playing a gig , or just the briefcase di'ed into a pa for practice .
    I have heaps of power and can hear myself fine ,except for songs we do in dropped D tunings . I think I will try my headphones next practice see if it helps and maybe ask my guitarist to cut his low frequencies . as for my settings ,I have my mid frequencies up and I cut my lows and highs .
    I also play a fender American deluxe 4 string bass guitar which has a good on board EQ , bass, mid and treble controls
     
  7. Dec 22, 2014 #7
    Mushroo

    Mushroo Guest

    Apr 2, 2007
    In my experience, most guitarists who tune Drop D don't actually want to hear the bass as a separate part; they want the bass in Drop D as well to double/thicken their riff.
     
  8. Dec 22, 2014 #8
    Bill Whitehurst

    Bill Whitehurst

    Sep 25, 2010
    Fort Worth, Texas
    I would just use my 5 string with a nice clear tone and plenty of power.
    That would keep you well below him and let you be heard.