Cover Band Tunings / Multiple Basses / Etiquette

[Hounddog409]

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??

I bring one bass. 4-string standard tuning. No pedals. Never an issue. 2 guitarists each bring 1 guitar as well.

Dont overthink it.

 

[bikeplate]

Should be fine. Make sure the band organizes the setlists to minimize guitar changes

 

[IamGroot]

5 String and a beater bass tuned to Eb.

 

[sawzalot]

I use a hipshot to drop the E to D. I can play most songs that way unless they require some kind of fingering requiring open strings. In that case I bring another bass. I put it on a stand next to me and I’m speedy about switching—usually I can get the bass switched out inside of 15 seconds, which is totally acceptable.

 

[Turtle71]

If the tune requires lots of pedaling on an open low D with accent notes elsewhere on the neck it can be very difficult to achieve the same thing when fretting a low D at the third fret of the B string as opposed to the intended open low D. If the tempo is quite high it can be impossible. I find this type of thing most common in modern hard rock and metal genres which may or may not apply to the OP's question.

More than a few of the songs on our set list do this exact thing....

 

[scott67]

There was a time I would bring 3 basses to a gig all set up with different tunings. We have now switched to playing everything in e flat and drop d and it has certainly simplified things. No guitar changing, just drop the e string when needed and a back up tuned to e flat. So much easier and less stuff to think about. We also save the drop d stuff for the end of the set so one drop and we are done.

 

[biobass]

Yep. It’s surprising how many tunes have “5 string bass” on the header. I have cheated and transposed up an octave some written bass charts in the past! Sometimes it’s actually sounded better. Most of the stuff I’ve played has been written out by a keys player, and their low notes ain’t like ours.
But yeah, using a 5 is failsafe.

Not only specifying 5-string, but Fun Home calls for 5-string fretted and fretless, P- bass, Hoeffneresque bass and upright. George Farmer, who created the bass book for both the Off-Broadway and the Broadway productions was very specific!! I cheated and used my Roscoe Beck 5 with the neck p/u in series mode for the P-bass and Hoffner sounds, my Ren fretless 5 and my old ‘39 Kay workhorse upright. Although, George certainly got a better arco sound on his bass on that looonnng legato pedal F than I did, the MD of my production was pleased. I sat about 4 seats away from George when I saw the Broadway production at Circle In the Square. He is a great player and a wonderful person.

 

[john_g]

Didnt read all the replies but, I suggested the drop pedal to my guitarist and for him it works great. More than half my basses are active and that pedal did not work with those basses. And a 5 string wouldnt work for alot of our songs either because i may need to "pedal" the low E or low D while playing others notes quickly. Maybe for other it works well for, likely depends on what songs you are doing. I do have a drop tuner on my Ric to get the low D, and we tend to group the songs that need alternate tunings together. E flats grouped, low D grouped, etc.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Not only specifying 5-string, but Fun Home calls for 5-string fretted and fretless, P- bass, Hoeffneresque bass and upright. George Farmer, who created the bass book for both the Off-Broadway and the Broadway productions was very specific!! I cheated and used my Roscoe Beck 5 with the neck p/u in series mode for the P-bass and Hoffner sounds, my Ren fretless 5 and my old ‘39 Kay workhorse upright. Although, George certainly got a better arco sound on his bass on that looonnng legato pedal F than I did, the MD of my production was pleased. I sat about 4 seats away from George when I saw the Broadway production at Circle In the Square. He is a great player and a wonderful person.

How very cool!
Like yourself, I rely on my Roscoe Beck V and technique to “cover some ground”!

 

[coy garcia]

I used to bring multiple basses, 1 standard, 1 Eb, and a 5er for low D. Then for a while I only played 5ers and would transpose anything other than standard. Now I bring only a 4st standard...I've found other creative options for a low D like harmonics or other things. The singers either learn the tune a half step higher or we drop the key. In one band we play Heaven and Hell by DIO, The singer didn't even notice we were playing in standard. Lovin touching by Journey we play whole step down.
Switching instruments became a negative on a good live performance for us and the audience don't care if it's standard or Eb.

 

[The Deep]

Shouldn’t be an issue whatsoever, as long as you can do it within a reasonable amount of time. No need for a “fiver”.

Did you see all the responses that mentioned guitar players swapping out their guitars for various tunings? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander and all of that……

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I'm really curious now if the Drop works well for bass. I would pick this up in a second if it tracked flawlessly. I never had high expectations for something like this, but it would be a game changer for me if it worked well.

I Have a TC Electronics Brainwaves - supposed to be able to do just exactly that. Need to check it out.

I find it compresses a tiny bit but allows good note definition if you don’t go more than a full step down. The farther you get from there, the more it compresses and you lose a little note definition. I don’t care for its tone when you set it to work as an octave pedal. Kinda warbly at that end of the settings. But for a half step down, I use it a lot. It’s a very quiet pedal and really doesn’t add any noise to my little chain. Again, at band levels, no one can hear whether it’s on or not when you’re only down a step or less.

 

[moon-bass]

Again, at band levels, no one can hear whether it’s on or not when you’re only down a step or less.

thanksan, this is what I was looking for. I don't know how many gigs I've done where one of the other players learned the song but decided to learn it a half step down. This will be a gig saver.

 

[BaltBass5]

2 basses to every gig.
Std tuning and Eb. Covers everything. Easy to change on the fly and keeps them locked into tuning by not swapping tunings on the same bass.
4 strings because if JPJ, Geezer and Geddy only needed 4 strings than that’s all I need.
Tried the Digitech drop and even though it’s close, it’s not dead on and I can feel/hear it.
Tried the Helix Poly Capo…see above.

 

[Real Soon]

Only advice I have here (skipping the 5 pages of replies heh)... if you wanna switch basses mid-set, have a musically relevant reason for it (and I read the OP, so agree that part's covered), and have a BL who's down for it, then I say go all in. But, and here's the actual advice: I'd drill on switching instruments so it takes a lot less than 30 seconds.

Like everything we do, changes need to be practiced (choreographed, even). Even with a quick tuning check, 15 sec is what I'd call a realistic goal for me if I'm playing a rehearsed set with an instrument switch.

Or if they really wanna have you rock the pedal, and you like the gig, well... maybe they'll help you score one (i.e. find a good deal or lend some $ if you're not sitting on much).

 

[gidbass]

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??

Two basses. One played all night, the other for backup purposes.

We ordered our songs so that we would play all the stuff dropped 1/2 step together, then all the stuff tuned standard together so we weren't doing instrument changes mid set. That always bothers me when folks keep switching mid set.

Good Luck!

 

[theduke1]

I find it compresses a tiny bit but allows good note definition if you don’t go more than a full step down. The farther you get from there, the more it compresses and you lose a little note definition. I don’t care for its tone when you set it to work as an octave pedal. Kinda warbly at that end of the settings. But for a half step down, I use it a lot. It’s a very quiet pedal and really doesn’t add any noise to my little chain. Again, at band levels, no one can hear whether it’s on or not when you’re only down a step or less.

I totally agree with this 1/2 to a full step the Digitech Drop is the answer more then that it gets a little dicey
Duke

 

[Savage_Dreams]

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.

it depends on the style of music. while yes, you can get to the lower notes on the b string, sometimes in riff oriented music you have the need for open strings, and if youre trying to fret that riff rather than bouncing off an open string it can just not feel right, and sometimes not sound right.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

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??

None of the above. Song's in Eb? Play it in Eb!

 

[GrapeBass]

None of the above. Song's in Eb? Play it in Eb!

I personally prefer not to detune, even when playing a song in Eb, I just compensate and play up the octave if need be... so far it's worked well, as an example, our keyboardist insists on playing 'Hot, Hot, Hot' in Eb (for some ungodly reason).