DADG?

[Worshiper]

Why do people tune this way. I understand that it is drop "d" tunning, but why do bass players feel they need to tune this way?

 

[Vorago]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1492950

 

[Worshiper]

hey...what do ya know.. the search function works...sorry.

 

[NicJimBass]

I myself have alway wondered why anyone would detune just one string. I understand that guitarists do it so they can barre a chord with one finger, but bass players doing it seems silly. Either tune them all down or don't detune at all!

PS- I like my 5's tuned ADGCF

 

[Unchain]

I myself have alway wondered why anyone would detune just one string. I understand that guitarists do it so they can barre a chord with one finger, but bass players doing it seems silly. Either tune them all down or don't detune at all!

I tune down so that I gain that low D and Db. I like it.

 

[Worshiper]

I read the links but that's not the answer I'm looking for. I am really curious as to why it's so hard for some bass players to move their fingers two frets down to hit a note on the low string.

 

[Unchain]

I read the links but that's not the answer I'm looking for. I am really curious as to why it's so hard for some bass players to move their fingers two frets down to hit a note on the low string.

You can't hit a D or Db without tuning down.

 

[KeithBMI]

The lowest you can get on a 4 string with "normal" tuning is an E.

To get lower than that, you either have to tune it down or get a 5 string with a low B.

 

[Spector_Ray]

The reason I tune that way is because I want the low D without buying a 5 string because I can't get used to the B string. I don't play many drop tuned songs and it takes less time to tune one string back up to E.

 

[Tbirdbassist]

I tune down mainly because I feel most creative in DADG. In standard EADG tuning, riffs I come up with come out boring.

I absolutely love the sound of a low D played open and I especially love it when you play it really hard. I like how its easier to play some chords and the way playing notes high up on on the AD and G strings and then hitting the low do to give it a really erie sound.

I also use a XP-100 whammy, And the whail given when you nail the low with distortion on and you do a slide in the oct up position. I also using the whammy + distortion to and doing slides with the chords

G--7
D--7-
A--5-
D--0-

AND

G--7
D--0
A--5
D--0


It also makes playing a little easier and some chords more accessible. But I mostly do it because I feel most creative in this tuning then any other tuning ive tried (Standard, CGCF, DGCF, BADG, BEDG, EADA, DADA, BEAD, CGDA, DAEB and Eb tuning).

Questions like these will bring out different opinions and most likely alot of them saying its pointless to play in drop d. But its not pointless, Its a matter of opinion and personal preference. I think its a very useful tuning as other will think its pointless (although I HIGHLY disagree) and will say get a 5 string for your low notes.

Again, for me its about how its sounds, how it makes playing a bit easier (not much) and how it helps me write more interesting lines.

And is you want to hear some good drop D basslines check out anything by TOOL, 90% of their songs are in drop D, the bassists name is Justin Chancellor.


P.S.

This should be in miscellaneous.

 

[lyle]

why have a low B or for matter of fact a low E. I just allows you to play low notes in the key you want.

 

[syciprider]

To get a pile drivingly heavy "D"?

 

[Mike N]

To each their own with alternate tunings.

I used to tune my five string DEADG.

Main reason was to make up for my poor technique.

 

[Limo]

I read the links but that's not the answer I'm looking for. I am really curious as to why it's so hard for some bass players to move their fingers two frets down to hit a note on the low string.

I tune my 5 string ADADG and I detune my E string simply because I'm in a rock band and the riffs were written on a guitar and some parts would be too far to reach for my left hand if I didn't detune. The A detune is because I think it makes more sense to have my B in A because I detune my E to D, also I like the sound of the Bb and A.

 

[Sandman1278]

I have a four string i tune DGCF the open D gives a differnt sound then the fretted low D of the B string on a 5, I don't think tunning DADG is pointless at all, I prefer to stay in fourths, and I like having the options of the open G C and F that i normally woulndtn have, but i willl down tune that bass to CGCF, which is just like droped D a extra step down, you still get the 5th 4th 4th thing goin on, I want to get a hipshot detuner someday for taht bass, that would be sweet :-D

 

[weeding]

a) Because a lot of piano music uses a D below E and I don't want to get a five string tuned with a low B just to play along to some piano stuff

b) It makes octaves a lot of fun

 

[bill_banwell]

I like the lower sound, its got a nice Growl on that open D! and my band play most of our songs in drop D.

 

[resol]

definitely something alluring about an open low D!

 

[ducaticarl]

I think the reason is to kind of get the effect of a 5 string with the low D or just easier than installing a hipshot?

 

[Petary791]

Obviously, so you can hit 2 lower notes.

Also, it's great for D minor, ala Tool, so you can get some eerie sounds.