A little late, but here's my answer: yes I sporadically use a capo in E Standard tuning. The aim is to facilitate fingering for some songs. (I like using a lot of open strings.)
Example: "Stoop Down" - capo on first fret.
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Example: "Stoop Down" - capo on first fret.
This thread has convinced me to pull the trigger. Two days from now, I will tune my bass down to D Standard. I've thought of doing this a number of times, especially since every band I meet seems to have one song with a low D.
Why wait two more days? Because two days from now I'll have some visitors, and I've prepared something to play for them. After that, it's down a whole step. At least until the next band rehearsal, but maybe forever....
So I need to relearn twenty songs for that rehearsal. Aaaah!
Why wait two more days? Because two days from now I'll have some visitors, and I've prepared something to play for them. After that, it's down a whole step. At least until the next band rehearsal, but maybe forever....
So I need to relearn twenty songs for that rehearsal. Aaaah!
I'm FAR from an accomplished bassist - but I actually found the transition really easy. drop D messed me up something terrible, but downtining to DGCF was a piece of cake (all the same shapes and such) - playing riffs and stuff with open strings could mess you up a bit I'm sure, but I'm guessing it'll be easier than you think 
and whether you decide to keep it or not - enjoy the experience
and whether you decide to keep it or not - enjoy the experience
Thanks! I will!playing riffs and stuff with open strings could mess you up a bit I'm sure, but I'm guessing it'll be easier than you think
and whether you decide to keep it or not - enjoy the experience
Perhaps we need a D-standard fretless club. I don't know when I started to avoid open strings more — when I switched to fretless, or when I switched to D-standard.
But I do like that low open D.
Edit: (Yeah... I think I need to change my avatar...)
But I do like that low open D.
Edit: (Yeah... I think I need to change my avatar...)
Wait... should I hold off on the "orange 4-string Ibanez DGCF in the central time zone club" I was going to start?
Since everyone does it here, I"ll name my strings: Black Diamond, Pure Jazz Chromium flats.
45 - 65 - 80 - 100
No idea how they'll hold up in D Standard, but starting out, they will have to do.
45 - 65 - 80 - 100
No idea how they'll hold up in D Standard, but starting out, they will have to do.
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I think that's about the gauge I had on when I first dowmtuned, and it worked just about fine (although I had rounds on) - I was having trouble getting the intonation right on one string - but they were really old strings too, so I'm sure that didn't help
As of today i’m fully in! Had dropped my American Standard Precision a couple months or so ago and liked it a alot. Then today was messing with figuring out which bass to use for what songs and i loved the tone of my American Standard Jazz for a song, but the song need the dropped tuning...so i dropped that too! I was worried because it has TI Flats on it, and those are pretty low tension already, and i do need to adjust the truss rod/bridge a bit, but it isn’t as bad as i expected it to be. My P has LaBellas on it, so no issues there whatsoever dropping.
So far so good in DGCF with GHS Balanced Nickels 44-106 on my MM Cutlass. Strings not purchased for D, but tried it due to new tunes being played. Interesting note regarding core shape and defined stiffness from unthread. These are roundcore.
Cheers.
Two other MM-5s in standard B, and an e-cello in fifths to compete with that other bloke. ;-)
Cheers.
Two other MM-5s in standard B, and an e-cello in fifths to compete with that other bloke. ;-)
D
Hi guys, first time posting here.
What are your opinions on Ernie Ball Power Slinky? I've heard that they are really good for D tuning. Also, lots of guys like Dr strings but some people say that they wear quite fast compared to other brands, can someon confirm/dismiss this statement?
What are your opinions on Ernie Ball Power Slinky? I've heard that they are really good for D tuning. Also, lots of guys like Dr strings but some people say that they wear quite fast compared to other brands, can someon confirm/dismiss this statement?
DGCF has been my default tuning for years, and my current band switches between DGCF and CGCF.
My gigging basses are a Carvin LB-70 and a medium scale (32") Zon VB-4. For general DGCF use on the full-scale Carvin, I prefer medium-gauge Bass Boomers (45 to 105). However, because my main band spends a lot of time in CGCF, I often use either a set of medium Boomers with the 105 replaced with a 110 (which I order online as singles) or their heavy-gauge set (50 to 115). For the Zon I typically use a slightly heavier strings, typically 55-75-95-115 (originally a Zon light-gauge set for a five-string bass but with the lightest string tossed, and after that I bought a bunch of nickel singles in those gauges online).
My gigging basses are a Carvin LB-70 and a medium scale (32") Zon VB-4. For general DGCF use on the full-scale Carvin, I prefer medium-gauge Bass Boomers (45 to 105). However, because my main band spends a lot of time in CGCF, I often use either a set of medium Boomers with the 105 replaced with a 110 (which I order online as singles) or their heavy-gauge set (50 to 115). For the Zon I typically use a slightly heavier strings, typically 55-75-95-115 (originally a Zon light-gauge set for a five-string bass but with the lightest string tossed, and after that I bought a bunch of nickel singles in those gauges online).
I've found
I use a set of 125-90-65-50 DR Neons that I've had on a bass for a few years and they still sound pretty bright they have wear spots where the frets hit and from when I played with a metal pick but otherwise they still look pretty good
D
Oh, I assumed that since everyone was talking about which strings were better suited for D standard I could've asked opinions about them.
How is what he asked not on topic of this thread? I would think this is the perfect place to ask the question he asked. And yes it might be seen by limited people, but it’s people who have a specific interest in what he wants to use those strings for, so he’s likely going to get answers that are useful instead of the usual “I don’t play in drop tunings, but here’s what i use anyway...” responses that you see often on TB.
I haven't tried power slinkey's - but am absolutely happy with the ernie Ball flats I'm using - shared on page 6 (yes, I know this does not answer your question, but it's the best I can do lol)
D
Yeah, I don't see how my question was off-topic since most of the discussions in this thread were about strings choiche. I choosed this thread in particular because I tought I could get some specific answers related to D standard.
Even if flats aren't really my thing I appreciate your help anyway, thanks man.
I remembered I have power slinkies on one of my basses tuned standard tried it out tuned down last night and I can dig it, the D is a little loose and the C is a little tight but otherwise good.
You forgot the best thing about DGCF tuning - that look of horror on the gui****'s face when he tries to follow your fingers.
I have been known to warn guitarists (that I like) that I was tuned to D standard. I also don't have position markers on my fretboards, so I'm really tough to follow.
