BL wants us to down tune half a step for next gig

[el murdoque]

Depends. In my reggae Band, I'd simply put my first finger in the right position to play the first note and simply take it from there.

In my metal band, there's zero chance of having fun when you don't tune down accordingly. Half of the time, you'll be bouncing notes
off the open string in that band.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

Youre overthinking this. Tune down a half step, play in the exact same positions you did before. If you hit an open string before, hit an open string now. It will all just be a half step down.

 

[FullumMusic]

Don't overthink it. Down-tuning every string a half step is just an easy way to play everything exactly the same but be a little lower pitch so the singer doesn't have to strain to hit the notes.

Just down-tune and play everything exactly how you've been playing it in the exact same positions.

 

[Goatrope]

Ive had to tune down a half step for one band I subbed with regularly. I didn't like the low tension, especially when I had songs where I needed to drop further for a drop-D tuning.

Fortunately, that band is no more, but had it persisted, I would have dedicated a bass to a drop tuning setup. I suppose higher tension strings and redo all my adjustments.

 

[monkeyland]

Mostly just pretend it's still in the same key and play as you always have, but then hope no one calls out an impromptu jam like "Okay everyone, blues in E!"

The thing is, that jam wouldn't be affected. When the whole band is tuned down, if someone calls something in E just play it like you normally would. It will sound in Eb but that's the whole point of tuning down.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

If you tune your bass 1/2 step lower (Eb, Ab, Db, Gb), nothing changes as far as playing the tunes you've always played.
But, I refuse to tune down. Tuning down 1/2 step reduces the string tension by 20%. This means the strings feel floppy and you loose the punch.
One of the bands I play in plays a half step down so I swithched to a 5 string for this band. It does take some relearning of fingering positions, but you can get used to it. I've found I like 5s better. There are some fingering advantages.

 

[Steve Cooke]

I used be in a band where we played a lot of Van Halen, so we just stayed tuned down 1/2 step for everything.

I would typically:

Learn the songs as normal, tune down 1/2 step when playing with the band, play the songs on the fret-board they way you learned them.

Fret or capo the 1st fret, then tune to standard pitch, when you release the capo you will be down 1/2 step.

 

[Pings Bass]

I don't get how a half step will buy your singer much relief, but the singer calls the key in my book. You could be a purist and do the gymnastics of transposing everything in your head, or you could just tune down and cruise.

I guess you don't have a keyboardist?

I play a lot of standards with a singer/pianist, and we change keys all the time. Since we play twelve key instruments, we just ... play them in other keys. We're usually in flat-side keys. Eb is her favorite, and it's a comfortable position to play upright bass.

But I know down-tuning is common in guitar bands for various reasons, and it's easy enough on a bass guitar. Don't sweat it.

 

[trseal]

The whole point is shifting everything a half (or whole or whatever) step lower for the benefit of the singer. It changes NOTHING in the way you play it on your fretted instruments. Harps will have to change the key and keyboards will have to transpose but guitar players won't know the difference except the ACTUAL pitch will be lower. Your strings MAY be a bit flabby but for a half step you may not even notice. Upsize a bit if it's a problem.

I know some folks just can't wrap their head around the concept. My band had a lead guitar player who could not. We went this route for awhile to aid the singer but the lead guitar player whined INCESSANTLY about it until we abandoned the approach.

Tim

 

[BigJohnAZ]

No biggie, I bought my Affinity PJ for that reason, to be able to play Kiss, Thin Lizzy, etc tunes. d

I remember Rush tuned a half step down for 2112 (The Temples of Syrinx) and one other tune their last few tours to help Geddy out. It's normal.

 

[JMacBass65]

This. I should have been more precise about open strings. Was mostly thinking of those times I need to hit the low E, for example, and remembering that will now be at the first fret instead of the open E.

Great input, all. Thanks!

No. If you tune down, but then play everything at the same relative pitch as you did before, it won't help the singer. The point is to bring everything down. So if a song is in D, for example, tuned down it's going to be in Db, but your fingering will be "as if" it's still in D. If there was a point in a song that called for the open E string, you'll still play the open string, it will just produce an Eb. You all will "pretend" like nothing has changed.

 

[JMacBass65]

The thing is, that jam wouldn't be affected. When the whole band is tuned down, if someone calls something in E just play it like you normally would. It will sound in Eb but that's the whole point of tuning down.

Exactly

 

[Altitude]

I sub in a band that does this. Literally, as long as the band drops every song a half step, all you do is tune your bass that way and then forget about it. It’s a non-issue.

The challenges arise when people start wanting to keep certain songs in the original key and you have to retune or switch instruments on the fly. Or, if your band plays tunes with non-transposable instruments like harmonica, it gets hard to change keys easily without additional planning.

But generally, just tune it and forget it.

 

[SC Bassboy]

We've been playing together for 15 years, we're all in our 60s now and the high parts on the vocals are getting a little tougher to reach. Our BL wants us to down tune a half step for the entire gig.

Thoughts on this? I assume my fingering will stay the same (except for open strings). Any advice on how to become accustomed to this approach.

You shouldn't notice much difference, really. Your ears will acclimate pretty quick. You will need to do a setup on your bass and the strings will have a little less tension. My band has been dealing with the same issues. We are getting older so changing our tuning made sense.

 

[Sam Evans]

The thing is, that jam wouldn't be affected. When the whole band is tuned down, if someone calls something in E just play it like you normally would. It will sound in Eb but that's the whole point of tuning down.

Unless they really meant E, like one of those filthy keyboard players. . (Yes, I know about the transpose key; I play keys too.). If nothing else, you'd want to clarify. "Do you actually mean E? ... "

I get what the OP is asking. Objectively it doesn't change anything if you're all on the same page, but it might throw you off while you're playing if you're thinking about it the wrong way.

 

[coy garcia]

I've done it both ways transposing and de-tuning. Tuning down a 1/2 step is no problem on most instruments and it's much easier with less thinking on stage.

 

[CloserTonyDanza]

Half step is barely anything if the high notes are hurting.

Tell him to think of the next five years and just go down a whole step now, or even lower.

New tighter strings all around.



Let the drummer stay for now, but instead of bringing pizza in from work, he’s gotta bring tea & honey.

It's less about the high notes "hurting" and more about vocal stamina. If you have to play 3 - 4 hours worth of material in a night and you're consistently at the top of your natural register it helps to have a little bit of breathing room. I'm a high tenor that can _consistently_ hit Bb4 but depending upon hydration, sleep, etc. I can usually push it several semitones higher. My band tunes down a half-step to account for this range of inconsistency as many of the songs that we do would otherwise be in D or E which puts the notes in the melody right in this proverbial "danger zone".

It should be noted that I'm far from a professionally-trained vocalist and that this is a bit of a crutch. IMHO tuning down any lower than a half-step is quite noticeable - years ago a band in my area took this to an extreme and played everything in C standard and it sounded kinda hokey.

 

[Core Creek]

We do this all the time. I just keep most of my basses tuned down half a step. There is a difference in tension but it’s hardly noticeable.

 

[Chrisk-K]

??? You will tune your bass a half step down and play exactly the same as before.

 

[mikezimmerman]

I've done this for several bands. It's no big deal, except being a bit of a pain practicing with recordings (except when the recordings are also tuned down a half step, of course...)