• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

C# tuning help

I

Iheartreverb

Oct 31, 2013
173
67
#1
Hi all,

My band has got back together and to stop us falling into old ways (or playing pre existing stuff. We are sort of starting from scratch) the guitarists are going to play in drop C#.
This would leave me tuned
..C#, G#, C#, F#
Which I'm not a fan of. For me the pre is too much of a difference between the low string and all the others, I'm just having trouble playing in it.
I would rather be in C#, F#, B, E which to me sounds better but one of the guirost says it will be too low.
Other than us playing (at times the same note) in different places on the fretboard am I going to encounter any problems playing in this tuning against two guitars in a different tuning?

Any and all advice appreciated. This is alien territory to me

Cheers
 
#2
Is the C# you're talking about two half steps up from a standard 5 string low B?

If so that's not too low.

Playing in different tunings than your guitarists isn't a problem as long as you all three are using your ears more than your eyes.
 
#4
Iheartreverb said:
Thanks for jumping in.
I'm using a 4 string
Click to expand...

Good for you, but number of strings wasn't the question.

If your lowest note is C# = 34.6hz in both tunings, how would that be too low? Too low for what?
Comparing "C#, F#, B, E" and "C#, G#, C#, F#" your lowest note in both tunings is the same and is higher than the lowest note on a standard 5 or a 4 tuned BEAD.
 
#5
lz4005 said:
Good for you, but number of strings wasn't the question.

If your lowest note is C# = 34.6hz in both tunings, how would that be too low? Too low for what?
Comparing "C#, F#, B, E" and "C#, G#, C#, F#" your lowest note in both tunings is the same and is higher than the lowest note on a standard 5 or a 4 tuned BEAD.
Click to expand...

Ah, right.
Pay too low I assume he meant the other strings, maybe in comparison to what he's playing, maybe in general.

I just enjoy C# standard more than drop C# and wanted advice as to any issues playing in a (slightly) different tuning might give me
 
#6
I'll speak to the issues. Anytime you change from standard tuning all your old patterns, fills, licks, etc. no longer work. You have to relearn all of them for the new tuning the other guys have forced you into. If you have a keyboard in the band ask him/her how they are going to work with this C# tuning and then do like wise.

Most times non-standard tunings are done for some reason. Seems like the guitar guys have made it easy on themselves, or found a new sound, with no thought how that decision affect the rest of the members of the band.

I'd have to have a talk and find what is so great about a C# tuning.
 
Last edited:
#7
So basically drop D tuning down a semitone?

You can tune down or up and I have done both in C#.

A B string tuned up a step will be pretty tight but won't kill your bass or break strings from over tightening.

Detuning an E string by 1 1/2 steps will be pretty damned floppy so I would recommend heavy strings. I did this for a few songs at dozens of gigs and it was fine.

Or just play in 440 (or your standard tuning) and play in a different position if it is comfortable for you.

Not a big deal either way.
 
#8
All depends what genre you're playing. Normally lower tunings like this are for metal, so I'm going to assume you're playing something heavy and fast.
Your best bet is to tune to whatever your guitarists are tuning to. There will be no complications or confusions as to where to play. If anyone suggests to get a 5 string and just play those lower notes on the B string, don't even bother contemplating it. All those fast open top strings combined with a shift in notes isn't gonna be easy. Take it from my experience, if your band is playing some fast and tough stuff, just do whatever it takes to tune to match them. It can be done with ANY bass, you just have to learn to do your own adjustments to get it playable.

Since it's a 4 string, I'd just get a set of balanced tension strings from Circle K. You're going to need about a .124 for the C#. So your nut will have to be able to accept it (may require some filing down to get it to accept it).
For the record, my band tunes to C# standard. I have 2x 5 strings tuned UP to C# (C#F#BEA), and I have my 4 strings tuned DOWN (C#F#BE). The 4 strings took the .124 top string fine with no filing of the nut. But you will need to tweak the truss rod to make it playable. All of my basses are very playable with super low action.

Dropping from E standard to drop C# won't need too much work because your other 3 strings will still have some tension. Tuning to C# standard takes more work because all 4 strings are lower and tend to be floppy. This is where a balanced tension set of strings comes in handy. Adjust your truss rod and bridge height to be playable, and the new gauges will have the same tension as E standard.

And to save you some trouble, here's the strings you should go with. Link Removed
Or mix and match a set to get something similar/close to .124 .082 .061 .045
 
  • Like
Reactions: 40YearOldBassVirgin
#9
AciDBatH666 said:
All depends what genre you're playing. Normally lower tunings like this are for metal, so I'm going to assume you're playing something heavy and fast.
Your best bet is to tune to whatever your guitarists are tuning to. There will be no complications or confusions as to where to play. If anyone suggests to get a 5 string and just play those lower notes on the B string, don't even bother contemplating it. All those fast open top strings combined with a shift in notes isn't gonna be easy. Take it from my experience, if your band is playing some fast and tough stuff, just do whatever it takes to tune to match them. It can be done with ANY bass, you just have to learn to do your own adjustments to get it playable.

Since it's a 4 string, I'd just get a set of balanced tension strings from Circle K. You're going to need about a .124 for the C#. So your nut will have to be able to accept it (may require some filing down to get it to accept it).
For the record, my band tunes to C# standard. I have 2x 5 strings tuned UP to C# (C#F#BEA), and I have my 4 strings tuned DOWN (C#F#BE). The 4 strings took the .124 top string fine with no filing of the nut. But you will need to tweak the truss rod to make it playable. All of my basses are very playable with super low action.

Dropping from E standard to drop C# won't need too much work because your other 3 strings will still have some tension. Tuning to C# standard takes more work because all 4 strings are lower and tend to be floppy. This is where a balanced tension set of strings comes in handy. Adjust your truss rod and bridge height to be playable, and the new gauges will have the same tension as E standard.

And to save you some trouble, here's the strings you should go with. Link Removed
Or mix and match a set to get something similar/close to .124 .082 .061 .045
Click to expand...

Thanks. I won't be getting a 5 string, just not my thing. I have already had my bass set up professionally for drop c# with the right strings and stuff.
My issue is only that I would prefer to be in C# standard where my guitarists would prefer to be in drop c#.
From what's being said above I think I'll just match their tuning and get on with it .
For those that mentioned, we don't play metal. We play post rock and ambient stuff. If anything, really slow music. The tuning is just because one of the guitarists thought it sounded good.
 
#11
Iheartreverb said:
Hi all,

My band has got back together and to stop us falling into old ways (or playing pre existing stuff. We are sort of starting from scratch) the guitarists are going to play in drop C#.
This would leave me tuned
..C#, G#, C#, F#
Which I'm not a fan of. For me the pre is too much of a difference between the low string and all the others, I'm just having trouble playing in it.
I would rather be in C#, F#, B, E which to me sounds better but one of the guirost says it will be too low.
Other than us playing (at times the same note) in different places on the fretboard am I going to encounter any problems playing in this tuning against two guitars in a different tuning?

Any and all advice appreciated. This is alien territory to me

Cheers
Click to expand...
I would play in the tuning you like better, as long as your E. string stays in C# .
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back