CGCFA#

[OOZMAN]

Can we get back to discussing the topic of the thread guys? thanks.

 

[dystopiate]

To the OP:

The easiest route for your tuning is probably to use a 6 string set, and not use the E-string. Tune the B up to C, tune all the remaining strings (minus the E) down a whole step. This will give you fairly uniform tension from string to string, much more so than a standard set tuned standard. You may need to loosen your truss rod a hair as there will probably be slightly lower tension overall. This is not like taking a standard set of strings and tuning them way down. You will still get plenty of tension and it won't become a slop-fest.

You can also go to daddario.com, download their string tension guide, and buy individual strings direct from them. This will allow you to very uniform tension from string to string, and isn't much more than buying a regular set. It takes a minute, but is absolutely worth it IMO.

There's a bunch of guys chiming in with wrong information about what you must do with your strings or your total tuning at the beginning of the thread. It's a shame, but seems to be the way these things go.

There are plenty of good reasons to use alternate tunings. Using alternate tuning to extend the range of the instrument is the most obvious and then one that is probably most applicable to the bass. Many of the advantages to certain open tunings, however, relate to playing chords, and specifically to being able to take use open strings either as drone notes or to achieve voicings that would not be possible when voicing those chords in closed positions in a conventional tuning system.

There are some significant advantages to using a tuning that maintains a specific, consistent interval from string to string. For example, whether I play my 4 string bass or a 5 string, or pick up my friend's six string, in standard fourths tuning, the octave is always in the same place relative to the root.

Many of the advantages of open tunings that exist on guitar and other chording instruments do not exist, or are significantly diminished, on bass. I think too often, inexperienced players use alternate tunings because they mistakenly believe that they need to play in lockstep with their guitarists, when then the guitarists may be deriving a benefit from the open tuning that the bassist is not getting. It also frequently seems to be the case that less experienced players mistakenly believe that they need to be able to change their tuning to be able to play in a different key, which is certainly not true. In those instances, alternate tunings do not necessarily make sense.

It would be nice to be able to have a reasonable conversation about the topic. Maybe if you were a little less defensive, you would see that not every question about a specific alternate tuning is an indictment of alternate tunings in general.

Here's the primary argument for drop tuning:
Sometimes you want to be able to play in lockstep with the guitar. Drop tuning can give you that ability. Not all songs can be played without the drop tuning unless you A) have hands that can comfortably stretch frets 1-7, or B) can two hand tap and make it sound like you are plucking. So, by drop tuning, you've increased your options over standard tuning. It is nice to have your octaves always in the same place, and it takes some work to get comfortable with drop tuning, and with going back and forth between tunings, but there are some significant advantages.

 

[OOZMAN]

+1

 

[kelto]

i have my bass tuned CGCDA# and it is a five string, you do have to tun everything up with the low b strin up a half step and everything up a step and a half and the tension is kinda crazy but the moment you get used to it you have a really nice (especcialy if your a fan of Steve Digiorgio) and i personally enjoy it alot, im thinkin of grabbing a 6er and going GCGCDA# to have a bottom to play aroudn with.

 

[raykramer]

has anyone tried doing this with a spider capo?

 

[Beginner Bass]

I'm still confused about the OPs original statement. I GET IT that some individuals may want to use alternate tunings (though I welcome all of the comments that have been made), but what I'm confused about is that he says "my band plays in dropped C tuning....they are all crying because I wasn't....." (paraphrase).

So, as I said above, I get it that individuals want to use alternate tuning schemes for various personal reasons, but I DON'T understand why this guy's bandmates would care how he tuned....I feel like I'm missing something (cultural rather than musical???)

Can anyone enlighten me?

bigtiny

It's a tone thing. Many feel that the open string has an exceptionally different tone than the closed strings. They feel it has a stronger tone. So to keep it consistent, every body gets the same tone. Also, musch of the time, the bands use whatever the lowest string is as a tonic for most of their songs, in my experience, so I guess it makes he tonic stand out or something.

Also, finally, often it's so the singer can hit the notes he needs to in the key.