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DEAD Tuning

#3
That thought is what made me think of it.

Only instead of a full chord I ccould just use one note at a time til the chord is made up.
I'm a punk bassist who is self taught so as far as music theory goes it's total Mandirin to me. But, I know there's a name for what I just said.

Anyways I'll ask in greater depth this time.

I have a ATK305 5 string bass
Can I use 50 - 129 strings to tune it this way?

B -> D
E -> E
A -> A
D -> D

The G string I don't use that much so that usually stays tuned to G and is only used when a string breaks which really hasn't happened to me in a live setting yet. *Knocks on wood*

Really I need some help here. I think this will work but, fear of tearing my trussrod to smitherins. I know ATK's are sturdy and can take a licking but, is this gonna hurt me bad in the long run? ATK305's aren't really as avaliable as they uset to be and I don't have the money to get a new bass.
 
#4
It's not going to hurt your truss rod, but why would you use that tuning on a 5er when you hit a low D no problem and still have 3 lower note as well in regular tuning?

I did do something similar on my 5ers though, so I guess I can see it. I needed to pedal away on a low D for one of our songs, but I still needed a low B for another section. I installed a Hipshot D tuner on the low B string, only I used it to go from a low D in the normal position down to a low B when you flick the lever. It worked/works perfect.
 
#5
The truss rod will be fine, but that tuning will be pretty useless, as a person who sounds like they could stand to learn a little more theory, I would keep the bass tuned to 4ths and learn the notes on the fretboard like normal, it is much easier that way.

Once you tune the D-E you have a minor 7th, which just changes something that is already nice and simple.

If you really want to do it go nuts, but if you were my student I would be strongly opposed.

What are you doing that your breaking strings? I have played extensively for a decade and have never once broken a bass string, mind you I don't do crazy pop and slap, but even then I couldn't see myself busting a string.
 
#8
You should be alright bringing the B up to D.

More information that you wanted? I got ya covered. This isn't so hard if you read this table. (page 10 for bass strings)

D'addario's tension numbers for .130 strings:
XLB130 (Nickel wound .130 long scale bass string)
[Note]-[Tension in pounds]
A-109.3 (bass open A note)
G-86.8
F-69.0
E-61.3 (bass open E)
D-48.7 (your target)
C-38.6
B-34.5 (5 string open B)
A-27.3

So you'll be bringing the B string from 35 pounds up to 49 pounds, actually a little less if you've got .128 string. Consider a .085 A string does about 48 pounds. 49 is on the upper side of normal, but it should work. Consider all 5 of your strings combined apply at least 200 pounds of force, another 15 isn't going to destroy it. You might need a minor truss rod adjustment. No comment on how it's going to sound.
 
#9
DiabolusInMusic said:
What are you doing that your breaking strings? I have played extensively for a decade and have never once broken a bass string, mind you I don't do crazy pop and slap, but even then I couldn't see myself busting a string.
Click to expand...

I didn't bust a string and I gave up slappin' and poppin' a long time ago. I truthfully have not even tried this tuning. I admit I should know more theory and I really want to however I don't have the dough for a teacher or the patience to read thos Hal books. I do know a little but, am not very good at it.

I think maybe I'll get a Guitar World How To Play Heavy Metal Bass DVD to get that theory a bit better.

However on the tuning side I love a heavy string tuned to D however I also see the need to have a E string. I grow tired of my bands Dropped D tuning we play punk so it's the standard 3 chord thing we are all except me actually musically inclinded. It's not like I don't want to learn music theory I just get bored easy.

FunkMetalBass said:
What strings and gauges do you use? I can help you come up with a better set for your tuning.
Click to expand...

Dean Markley Blue Steel Medium guage .50-.70-.85-.105-.128


FrankenIbanez70 said:
get two E strings, tune EEADG, and put a hipshot extender on it.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought until I imagined two strings with the same amount of tension will probably cause the neck to warp towards the two strings. Also why have a detuner on a string that when not triggered will sound just like the string next to it? It is a good idea til you act on it imo. So that's why I'm looking for another option otherwise I'd have done it already but, there has to be a better option.

VicKevlar said:
You should be alright bringing the B up to D.

More information that you wanted? I got ya covered. This isn't so hard if you read this table. (page 10 for bass strings)
Click to expand...

I don't like the idea of tuning my B string UP to anything. I am scared to death I know guitars can do that easy and 35" scale basses can but, I shudder trying it on a 5 string 34" scale at all.






I like the idea of maybe putting a Droptuner on my B string (.128) and trigger it to go from the standard B to a D. Then maybe another on the E string so it can go from the E to a D as well. Anyone else think that this is a good idea?
 
#13
XtheDeadPawn said:
I think maybe I'll get a Guitar World How To Play Heavy Metal Bass DVD to get that theory a bit better.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking there isn't going to be a whole lot of theory going on in that video.

That's what I thought until I imagined two strings with the same amount of tension will probably cause the neck to warp towards the two strings.
Click to expand...

That's why the bass has a trussrod, it's designed to counteract the tension of the strings.

I am scared to death I know guitars can do that easy and 35" scale basses can but, I shudder trying it on a 5 string 34" scale at all.
Click to expand...

:confused: Why? What does the scale length have to do with anything?

I like the idea of maybe putting a Droptuner on my B string (.128) and trigger it to go from the standard B to a D. Then maybe another on the E string so it can go from the E to a D as well. Anyone else think that this is a good idea?
Click to expand...

Why have two, where both detuners essentially end up doing the same thing?
 
#16
Down to D.

Here's my idea in detail

B ---> D (tuned down)
E ---> D (tuned down)

Both will have a Detuner on them

bassgod0dmw said:
Why have two, where both detuners essentially end up doing the same thing?
Click to expand...

The reason? So I can still have my usual BDADG tuning and at the flip of two levers a DEADG tuning.

Also ever seen Michael Manring's Hyperbass?
http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/hyperbass.html
(Notice the four Hipshots?)


bassgod0dmw said:
:confused: Why? What does the scale length have to do with anything?
Click to expand...

I don't know if I want to tune up a bass at all. My mind shudders thinking about it because I all the picolo
basses I hear about are with thin strings my prefrence is medium to heavy strings and the higher you go up the more pressure it puts on the neck or am I wrong? :confused:


ANYWAYS
My question is now can a .128 string handle the low D tuning?
 
#17
So you'd want your B tuned to D, an octave below drop D? I'm guessing you don't have an amp that can produce that note with any clarity. You'd need a huge string for it, something in the range of .175+ Anything less won't play without flapping around.

Any string that will reproduce a low D accurately will be too heavy to tune UP to B if you put on a detuner, and any B will just flop like a wet noodle dropped that far to D.

Just tune ADADG or something.
 

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