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Different tunings, do I need several basses?
- Thread starter H K
- Start date
I love these threads, 1000 different "solutions" and only one person has had the wisdom to say "check with other band members to find out what they do." This is clearly the only and best answer. I will refrain from commenting further until this question has been asked and answered.
Heh. Ale Villarreal got so tired of alt tunings and switching basses she switched to a 5 string ... so of course the band came up with a song that requires her to do drop A (or maybe even A standard, tuning the whole bass down a step) ...
There's nothin' to it, you're gonna need a couple basses to get the whole range: easier if they're both 5s
There's nothin' to it, you're gonna need a couple basses to get the whole range: easier if they're both 5s
I know this won't solve all of your problems, but I have been so impressed with the transpose function on the Quad Cortex and the Pitch Shift function on the HX Stomp. I use it all the time for songs tuned to Eb and have been praising them at every opportunity. 
A 5-string could get you all the way there depending on the tunes, but also don't forget that Hipshot Xtenders exist to help with those songs in Drop D. If it were me and some of the Eb songs were irritating on the 5 or you just didn't like playing it if you could use a 4 instead, I'd bring a multieffects unit and a 4 with an XTender, which would cover everything but the 5-string songs and then just use the 5er on songs that absolutely needed it.
A 5-string could get you all the way there depending on the tunes, but also don't forget that Hipshot Xtenders exist to help with those songs in Drop D. If it were me and some of the Eb songs were irritating on the 5 or you just didn't like playing it if you could use a 4 instead, I'd bring a multieffects unit and a 4 with an XTender, which would cover everything but the 5-string songs and then just use the 5er on songs that absolutely needed it.
This is the way.
Another bass just so you don't have to transpose a half step? Seems like a most complicated solution to the simplest of problems.
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It depends on the songs that are tuned down a half step. If the song is more riff based, it will likely use open strings and playing those riffs on a 5 string standard tuned versus a Eb tuned 4 string could be anywhere from easy to near impossible. Check with the guitarist, not the singer. The guitarist will have similar concerns as you would run into. See what they're doing.
You only need two basses for the gig.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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could you possibly tell what songs we're talking about here? this will help to give a more accurate answer to your query
What does the guitar player do? I personally strongly prefer to play one bass the whole set. Changing basses tends to change a lot of other factors as well, in practice.
I don't see why you couldn't play everything in Eb tuning if some of the songs are 1/2 step down. I assume they want the standard stuff in standard, is that because of limitations in the vocalist's low range? If I was your MD I'd make that call based on practicality.
One solution I have for low notes. (If I am not using a 5, which I sometimes do depending on the set). This works particularly well if you only have a few select notes on the low B - for instance a last note of a song. I use an octave pedal and synthesize the low notes for those moments, which works fine for me. OC-2 is my go to but most will function fine for this.
I don't see why you couldn't play everything in Eb tuning if some of the songs are 1/2 step down. I assume they want the standard stuff in standard, is that because of limitations in the vocalist's low range? If I was your MD I'd make that call based on practicality.
One solution I have for low notes. (If I am not using a 5, which I sometimes do depending on the set). This works particularly well if you only have a few select notes on the low B - for instance a last note of a song. I use an octave pedal and synthesize the low notes for those moments, which works fine for me. OC-2 is my go to but most will function fine for this.
I play to the recordings of several metal bands that use all sorts of tunings, and my five and six string basses cover them all well. It can be done.
And here I am complaining about how the strap button can get in the way of my hand.
Never mind.
Context (the material) will determine the best answer
The first thing I would do Is ask: do any of these songs require a "detuned" note in a specific octave?
If my Eb is an octave up, would any one else actually care? For a great many styles and tunes the answer is no, no one will care, and just following the chords using a 4 string in standard tuning, transposing notes/phrases up an octave as needed is easily sufficient.
It's weird how this question is popping up a lot.
^^^THIS!!!^^^
I only play 4 strings, in standard tuning. Never had anybody commenting I use a too high Eb, or any other note that might be played below the low E standard on the original recording. Just make the bass line your own.
I personally never copy the original, I just follow the chords and I try stay true to the feel and groove. Also listen to some recorded covers of the song, you’ll probably find that the bassline is not a copy of the original, and can work even better than the original.
I see this as two different use cases.
If you’re covering songs where the original player played a five string bass and used the bottom register materially, it probably makes sense to have a five string bass in that cover band. If you’re a cover band player, it’s not a terrible idea to have one in your arsenal anyway.
On the other hand, when a cover band plays any considerable number of songs in a drop tuning, it’s much easier to carry a bass in that tuning than it is to transpose the parts. Particularly when your part is iconic or a clear identity of the song.
For example, if you’re playing something like Mary Jane‘s last dance, the bass part is roots for the whole song. You can play that on any bass in any key and it will sound fine.
If you’re playing something like rappers delight, that part uses open strings in a way that would not sound the same if you transposed it and it would be considerably harder to play. If your band plays that one in Eb you’re probably better off carrying a detuned bass.
I play in one cover band that plays a half step drop all night long.
If you’re covering songs where the original player played a five string bass and used the bottom register materially, it probably makes sense to have a five string bass in that cover band. If you’re a cover band player, it’s not a terrible idea to have one in your arsenal anyway.
On the other hand, when a cover band plays any considerable number of songs in a drop tuning, it’s much easier to carry a bass in that tuning than it is to transpose the parts. Particularly when your part is iconic or a clear identity of the song.
For example, if you’re playing something like Mary Jane‘s last dance, the bass part is roots for the whole song. You can play that on any bass in any key and it will sound fine.
If you’re playing something like rappers delight, that part uses open strings in a way that would not sound the same if you transposed it and it would be considerably harder to play. If your band plays that one in Eb you’re probably better off carrying a detuned bass.
I play in one cover band that plays a half step drop all night long.
