Cover Band Tunings / Multiple Basses / Etiquette

[Turtle71]

OK, so a short (or long) question…Advance Sorry to the TL;DR folks.

So, I just landed my first cover band position a few weeks back (established act, with great musicians), we don’t have anything on the books until late spring, so I have some time to get up to speed with the songs and gear needed…which segues into the questions.

Those of you that gig regularly in cover bands, do you bring multiple basses for different tunings? Or do you bring something like the Digitech Drop pedal to accomplish this? Both guitar players in this band use the Drop pedal, and “suggested” I get one, but I have no experience with those pedals to “simulate” a lowered tuning.

I have multiple basses, so that’s not a worry, but what’s the etiquette for switching basses for different tunings? All of the songs we play are in one of four tunings…either standard (or standard w/ drop D), then ½ step down (or ½ step w/ drop Db).

Basically I’ve been using 2 basses, one in standard, and one a ½ step down, then use Hipshot Xtenders for dropping the E's. I’m pretty fast making the switch between basses, and I’m pretty sure I can accomplish it in less than 30 seconds (while the BL entertains the crowd).

In my original band it was easy, we'd just cluster the same tunings on the set list to facilitate fewer guitar swaps...with the cover band, that isn't quite as easy, some songs just simply don't go together despite the same tuning.

So what do you veterans do?? Multiple basses?? FX pedal for alternate tuning??

 

[ArtechnikA]

5(+) string basses. Until you start dropping below B, you're covered.
All my basses have at least 5 strings - even the electric upright...

 

[mrcbass]

+1 on the 5 string approach. I'm not a fan of instrument switching between songs unless the set list is well coordinated to permit the time. My guitar player brings 4 guitars (2 for tonal reasons, 1 in open G and one in open E) to a gig and about every third song we have to wait for him to swap out. It really interrupts the flow of a set.

Learning a 5 string will make your life a lot easier. (I do bring a second bass as a backup, but don't swap it out unless there is need.)

 

[thekyle55]

5 strings are not really an appropriate way to do it on every song.

I use my Helix for tuning changes. We tune down 1/2 step normally, but some songs we do in standard. It's easy to step on a switch and be in a different tuning. It's also easy to forget to turn it off, which is a big issue with my guitar player. He uses a Digitech Whammy, which is has the Drop built in, along with the ability to shift tuning up.

 

[Turtle71]

Thanks for the 5er suggestions, yeah it's not a matter of "learning a 5er" as I already have 2, and I play them fine, It's more a matter of personal preference, I just like how my 4's feel, don't get me wrong, my 5's play great, I'm just happier on a 4 if that makes sense?

If however we landed a big corporate event (or something similar) I'd totally play a 5er, if for no other reason to keep things flowing better, but the bulk of the gigs are going to be bar gigs, or other small(ish) events, and probably a few beer tents next summer.

 

[Al Rivera]

This is why I play a 5 string bass.....I don't care for the drop pedals or detuners.

 

[Reno Guy]

5 strings are not really an appropriate way to do it on every song.

Why not? I use a 5-string in standard tuning for everything. The guitar player swaps between 3 guitars, one regular tuning, one Eb tuning, and one in open G (I think).

I used to have a 4-string with a Hipshot for a low D but no longer play it because I have the 5-string.

 

[seedokebass]

I would inquire about clustering songs to whatever tunings you and the guitarist(s) would use so you can use the instruments you have. That's what I did, and got a 5 string later on to cut it down to one or two changes tops per set.

Otherwise, a drop pedal or Whammy might cut it. It changes the tonality a feel (latency) a little but it would definitely be the fastest with 4 string basses.

 

[GrapeBass]

Personally, I like to keep it as simple as possible. Most gigs I'd bring one bass but it's nice to have a back up. When I use a back up I try to use two that are different but compliment each other. Swamping basses during a set is cumbersome but doable depending on what's going on at that particular time. We're used to waiting for guitar swamps but I've noticed less patience w/bass swaps.

 

[Turtle71]

This is why I play a 5 string bass.....I don't care for the drop pedals or detuners.

I totally get what you're saying, and this is the exact reason I spent the last 5+ years playing a 5er, but I still keep coming back to the ol' 4 string, it just feels like home.

I understand I'm getting "paid for the job" but I'd still prefer to use the tools I want to use, and enjoy using, it's not really any different than when I was an auto technician, I bought and used the tools I preferred, if my employer said I had to use a different brand/type of tool, they would quickly be my previous employer.

As far as the detuners, I haven't had any real issues with them so far (trying desperately to find nearby wood to knock on).

 

[Medicine Man]

While there are a couple tunes that are recorded in drop tuning with open strings that are more difficult to play with no open strings on a five (looking at you, Slither), I mostly just learn to play em on a 5 without open strings. Otherwise, i recommend multiple basses with a switching system ala ABY to switch faster. Tuning change on stage is a nope. You probably have a couple seconds to switch if the guitarist is switching. Try to stack those tunes together on the set list so it isn't all the time.

 

[Ggaa]

I pared it down to 1 bass on stage, from 3. I was pretty quick on swaps because I was wireless and each bass had a transmitter-also good because each had a different output from the others, used the gain on xmitter to even them up. But that's crowded on stage...I use one fiver or the other depending on the gig.

 

[theduke1]

I play 5 string, but use a Digitech drop because it works best for me.
if you get one it must be first in your signal chain. You must change the pitch before adding any effects.
Duke

 

[eriky4003]

As this band hasn't gigged yet, consider the Digitech Drop just to be in sync with the other players. Although, 30 seconds doesn't sound long to swap out basses you probably want to keep those switches to a minimum.

 

[Kevorargh]

I'm for the multiple basses with extenders - some songs in drop D sound much better on. 4 with drop D tuning than on a 5 - it's also much better (imho) for your wrists, etc. I think of songs like Shot of Love, Spoonman, Freedom, etc.

I would say the same thing for Eb standard tuning songs - Stevie Ray and the like - I personally like the feel and the tone on a 4 string rather than a 5, and I say this as a guy that used to play 5's and simply play a half step down.

With an A/B pedal it won't take that long to change.

YMMV

kevorargh

 

[Goatrope]

4-strings only, here.

I try to stick with one bass all night. One band uses Eb tuning, so I pre-down tune for those gigs. The main band uses “normal” E tuning, and for some songs, I just twist the tuner down to D on the E string, if the song calls for it.

I always have a second bass in the bag, though.

I did go through years of having de-tuners, and using a fiver, but I got better.

 

[SoCal80s]

I minimize the need to switch tunings as much as possible - if you need to tune down a half-step for some songs, then just play them all a half-step down. The guitarist and I coordinate that, but it sounds like in this band they expect you to make the change, and it sounds like the expect you to get the pedal. And since it sounds like a great gig, you'll have to go along. Me, I would learn the songs tuned to drop-Db and just play things one fret up (or 3 frets on the Db string).

 

[iiipopes]

I am in a 10-piece party band that has been going for almost 30 years, although my tenure has not been for all thirty - a few years from the start and now for the past 10 years. We do not tune down because we have a 3-piece Chicago style horn section and play most of our repertoire at the original key of each song. But on the occasional song that does not use horns, the lead singer sometimes requests we take it down a step or two. So way back in 2012 I bought a five-string bass to accommodate taking songs to a lower key without having to retune. Since it is only a step or two, I do not need to worry about going below the low B string. I still play the same bass, albeit now with a replacement 33-inch scale neck to accommodate my aging hands. I only take another bass as a backup, not for different tuning.

 

[micguy]

I built a 5 string bass because…my pitch perception is strong enough that downtuning a 4 would mess with my head - I’d hear “C”, and…. C wasn’t where it should be. A 5 string fixed that. Then somehow, when I wasn’t looking, my herd turned into all 5 strings.

 

[Manticore]

I use a six all the time. Songs in drop D should typically be played in drop D, so I retune the E string. It's easier to play and sounds better. I have, and sometimes use a Digitech Drop pedal, but typically just play the song in a different key if the band changes the key. If you don't have or don't want an extended range bass, the Drop pedal is the way to go. I bring two basses, but one is there strictly as a spare. I don't care for switching basses mid-set. But this is just my preference.