DEAD tuning

[BenPlaysBass616]

Most of my 4 string basses are strung EADG standard, and I've kicked around the idea of BEAD stringing, but im just not a huge fan of the low B. I do like low D, however, which got me thinking about DEAD tuning. Sure, it's only a step lower on the lowest string, so doesn't offer much in terms of additional notes on the feet board. There's some opportunity to play with octaves, which I do find appealing.

Anyone do this?
What are your thoughts?
Is it worth sacrificing an entire string for 2 notes?

I typically enjoy playing lower registers, heavy metal, doom metal, et cetera.

 

[swagbotbilly]

You're the only one who can decide if it's "worth it" to you.

Is it worth it to me? No, I like DADG or BEAD just fine. But I'm not you

 

[HelpImaRock]

If you're not going to BEAD, then I would consider a drop tuning instead. I like Drop D, D standard, and Drop C.

 

[B-Mac]

Most of my 4 string basses are strung EADG standard, and I've kicked around the idea of BEAD stringing, but im just not a huge fan of the low B. I do like low D, however, which got me thinking about DEAD tuning. Sure, it's only a step lower on the lowest string, so doesn't offer much in terms of additional notes on the feet board. There's some opportunity to play with octaves, which I do find appealing.

Anyone do this?
What are your thoughts?
Is it worth sacrificing an entire string for 2 notes?

I typically enjoy playing lower registers, heavy metal, doom metal, et cetera.

Why not just do D standard tuning then?

DGCF​

This way you still have your 4ths

[edit] @swagbotbilly beat me to it.

or even C standard tuning CFA#D# and still have your 4ths

 

[michael_t]

Why not just do D standard tuning then?

DGCF​

^^^This.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/d-standard-club-dgcf.1190032/

 

[Clark W]

Get a drop tuner. I like DADG, also like being able to flip right back to EADG. But my #1 doesn't have a drop tuner on it and I don't want to touch it so I'll tune down to D. I also have a Precision with a Drop tuner. And of course I have two fivers. But drop tuner is my fav solution which is why a custom build I have being built right now is coming with one.

 

[Mastiff_5]

If you play doom metal, how can you not play in DEAD tuning?!?! Hahaa -
It will make covers a little challenging, but hey… dead tuning! You could call it
DROP DEAD TUNING!!!

 

[Fynn]

I'm very similar, in that I think a low B is a bit too low, but a low D can be really nice. But even then, if I'm real honest with myself, I don't really use the low D much either. The standard low E is all I need for like 99% of all cases. Which is why I have a hipshot detuner, which makes my low E go down to D, for those very rare cases I need to.

 

[evanrunyon]

I think you're gonna find those two bottom strings being so closely voiced together might be a fun novelty for a minute, but lacking in any real utility.

There's a reason why instruments with two or more closely-voiced strings tend to either a) have a ton of them (e.g., harp), or b) use them for drone/sympathetic purposes (banjo, sitar).

 

[EvilJ]

 

[MrWolf14]

I think you're gonna find those two bottom strings being so closely voiced together might be a fun novelty for a minute, but lacking in any real utility.

There's a reason why instruments with two or more closely-voiced strings tend to either a) have a ton of them (e.g., harp), or b) use them for drone/sympathetic purposes (banjo, sitar).

I totally agree.

I did experiment a bit (on guitar) with "wider" tunings (like Fripp's NsT: New standard tuning - Wikipedia)
They can be fun.
But DE on two adjacent strings seems not really useful (just IMVHO).

 

[DanAdams]

I like drop D. I also like not using a special tuner.
As an audience member, I like hearing players detune before a song.
It tells me "Here we go!"
Lube the nut slot with pencil graphite to avoid bandsaw effect if you switch tuning often.

 

[Ritter667]

I did drop D tuning almost exclusively for several years, some 20 years back or so.

Works perfectly fine, and you don't really sacrifice anything, it's just a matter of getting used to your lowest string being tuned two half steps lower than usual.

Especially makes sense if the rest of the guitarist(s) is playing in drop D tuning as well.

Alternatively you could install a Drop D tuner, allowing you to easily switch between E and D by the flick a lever at the tuning peg.

Or just tune all the strings down a full step, to D standard tuning.

 

[Goatrope]

I drop the D about 4 or 5 times a night. It's just a quick twist of the tuner. I used to have the HipShot drop tuners on several basses, but I just got to where it was faster and more accurate to drop by hand.

Mostly cover tunes in standard, with a few Drop D sprinkled randomly. (No set list).

YMMV

 

[Thumpin6string]

Wouldn't that tuning make your strings go DEAD?

 

[Dave TB Killer]

That's just weird.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

You might love a Kubicki with the extended D and everything else stays the same. With DEAD, I think I'd end up playing the top EAD strings and then using the bottom D string mostly as a thumb rest until I wanted an Eb or D.

 

[yodedude2]

it'd end up effectively being a three-string bass with d & d# on the bottom string ~

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Definitely an interesting concept!

Gonna have to throw my opinion in on going Drop D...there's plenty of tuners that let you flip a lever to go back to Standard as well. I have that on my Ibanez SRX3EX and it works pretty well if you need those extra notes. If you're covering something in standard, one flip of the lever and you're back to regular tuning.

 

[Kael]

Sounds like an absolutely horrible idea, I hate it. You should do it and have fun with it if you are so inclined.