does this bother anybody else?

[JohnMCA72]

I use drop-D tuning for some songs on my 4. If I do, it's because I need it, usually to get that low D, not because of how anybody else is tuned.

There are a few songs that just work out better on a drop-D 4 than on a 5. It's usually to be able to use a certain fingering for a part, or an open string (not always the low D).

 

[jtroska]

Somewhat related… I remember wanting to scream in frustration over the utter confusion 2 guitarists were having over the key of Pat Benatar's "Heart Breaker". I would just play it in F minor and it has worked for a couple of bands. But one of these two geniuses saw it being played on YouTube fingered as F# minor. Well that's because the guitars in the YouTube clip were tuned down a semitone and the fingered F# was sounding F natural. It's still really F minor.

So now we had to finger it in F# minor and play it a semitone higher than recorded. And it was already too high for the singer anyway.

I so wish I kept a transcript of the endless text messaging over this dilemma. It's funny in hindsight. But I just can't be bothered with this kind of nonsense anymore.

And BTW, the song doesn't rely on open strings. I can play it on guitar in any key.

 

[scottbass]

That doesn't always work, and usually sounds a lot worse.

It usually sounds a lot worse?

You mean, for example, that a true G played on the 3rd fret of a normally tuned E string sounds "a lot worse" than a true G played on the 5th fret of that same string when it has been tuned down to a D?

Can you explain why that is, Tupac?

 

[Gaolee]

iif this was just some kid at guitar center i would have just shrugged it off. but this happens to me quite often in a world of "serious" musicians

Thank goodness I'm not a serious musician. I never have to deal with that kind of thing.

I sometimes play guitar and thought it would be pretty funny to play a baritone capoed to the fifth fret.

 

[bolophonic]

That doesn't always work, and usually sounds a lot worse.

Aren't you getting some sort of science degree?

 

[E.J. T.N.T.]

Ironically I drop-tune more than the guitarists in my band. It is actually only one song more but it is still more than what they do.

That said, I never had problem adapting to accommodate uncommon tunings. At some point I did GCGCF on a 5-string and it was fun. That said I prefer playing songs on their original tuning because the fingering positions make a LOT more sense. That said usually it is not that hard to say if a song is in C standard or drop C. If it feels like you move positions too much, you are probably in the wrong tuning.

And regarding the naming. Guitards will always be guitards, deal with it...

 

[Major Softie]

I also won't change key just because the front man can't sing it. My philosophy is either do it in the original key so people hear the song the way they are used to hearing it or don't play it at all.

That's very . . . interesting. Especially considering how the people who originate the songs sometimes perform them in different keys at different times.

I guess they're lucky you're not their bassist…

 

[HeavyRockBasser]

Drop tuning can make sense for a guitar, if the singer is in the same register as the guitar, and they want some separation between the guitar and the vocal. This opens up a few lower notes for the guitarist. It makes sense. And, some guitarists actually like the extra flexibility/bendability this gives their strings.

Drop D tuning is drop tuning only the E string, and while it opens up some new possibilities within a given position, it's a whole different thing. If you create some riffs that work best with a drop D, and it works for you, that's great. But, otherwise, it makes more sense to me to just drop the tuning for all four strings, and only when there is a real need for for me to play in a lower than standard register. More often, I end up shifting everything up two frets, to the actual key of the song, and it doesn't serve any purpose, save to massage someone else's ego.

The funny thing, for me, is that the only times I've been asked to drop my tuning has been in support of a female vocalist, that can't come anywhere near my sonic territory. I mean, if Koko Taylor asked me, I'd oblige. But, otherwise, it makes absolutely no sense to me.

 

[dedoonbass]

Was in a "progressive/experimental/metal band" that absolutely looooved to change the "key" of their song literally minutes before some sort of important event. Unfortunately, they never knew what key they were actually in so things came out sounding pretty bad.

I think it makes some "musicians" feel really badass if they can manage to shift the geometric patterns they are playing down a whole two frets, or better yet tune the strings down and then play the same thing .

I know key-changes and drop-tunings have their place, but just like slap bass it is more often than not totally uncalled for and is just the result of some douche trying to show off. I feel like those things are more special if you don't force them and use it in the right moment.

Needless to say, I didn't hang with that band for long.

 

[MrLenny1]

Get a 5 string low B, Or de-tune.

 

[Metalbasspro]

There's only one 'dropped' tuning I'd ever consider, and that is to drop my E string down to a D for an occasional song. Otherwise, I play the agreed-upon key in standard tuning.

Dropping down to D. I remember this became known as "De-Tuning". I think people got confused on the term.

 

[HeavyJazz]

I generally get handed a bunch of charts then told they're all wrong because the guitarists capos each tune differently. To what interval you may ask? Nobody ever seems to know - until it's too late of course.

 

[remainthesame]

Get a 5 string low B, Or de-tune.

i do have a 5 and i only play on 5s. i only said "C" because i figured more people would be able to relate. its not that i cant adjust to the change. but its annoying to me for two main reasons.

A. if you play, you should know your tuning. how can you play if youre not in tune? how can you get in tune if you dont know your tuning? to me its something very fundamental and something that you should know.

B. i spend a week learning difficult songs (always originals no less so its not like i can correct them on the tuning) and building the muscle memory for those songs. then i show up to the audition and everything is thrown off for me.

 

[MatticusMania]

Before I start off, I'm NOT a virtuoso by any means. I am NOT an expert on everything music related. I am NOT a know it all.

But I can't tell you how many times somebody has told me they use a drop tuning when they are using a standard tuning. Ill get an audition, and Ill be given a few songs to learn. when I ask for the tuning they say "drop C" (just for example) so ill tune my bass to drop C and learn the songs. Then I show up to the audition and everything is completely off because they are actually in C standard.

Again, I'm not an expert. And I know that people make mistakes. But this is becoming such a regular thing that I had to make a post about it. does anybody else go though this? How do you usually handle it?

Hasnt happened to me, but if it did I'd use the situation as a means of educated these bands and let them know the difference between Drop C tuning and C Standard.

That's one of the beauties of having a five string.

Even with my 5 string Ive found instances where Id rather play the opened Drop D string rather than the third fret on my B string.
In that case Im likely to have a backup bass already tuned to drop D rather than retuning on stage.

 

[Manichga]

Just play in the required key! Learn to transpose! Simple. Why on earth would a bass player mess with tuning. That's for guitar players who don't know there are 12 major keys, 12 minor keys etc....

 

[remainthesame]

ok. im going to say this one more time so i really hope you guys are reading it. i only play 5 strings, and i DO know how to transpose. this isnt a debate on whether or not to downtune/transpose

i was asking if anybody else had to deal with people who dont know the difference between the two

 

[MatticusMania]

i was asking if anybody else had to deal with people who dont know the difference between the two

as I suggested, use this as an opportunity to educate these guys.
Show/tell them the difference bewteen Drop C and C Standard.

 

[Jack Butler]

I do mostly originals so I won't drop tune. I also won't change key just because the front man can't sing it. My philosophy is either do it in the original key so people hear the song the way they are used to hearing it or don't play it at all.

So you do originals that are so popular they have to be in the original key people are accustomed to hearing them? Sounds like your pretty successful, surprised you have time to chat on TB.

 

[basspipe]

Drop tuning guitarists should either buy a seven string, a baritone, or just play bass.

I say, drop all the drop tuning nonsense. It's so played out. It's become such a buzzword fad for folks who would like to think their music is dark and mysterious.

If you want your sound to be dark and heavy, that's the bassists job or go and add a synth player. Drop tuning is just nonsense as far as I can hear it. Who needs two guitarists and a bass player all playing below concert tuning? Harmonically redundant bands that can't figure how to cut that extra guitar player loose!

 

[basspipe]

Oh, so to answer the original question. No, I am not ever in this situation. I would not have been interested in auditioning for anything involved this type of music. I thoroughly interview and research anyone with whom I want to play before getting to the auditioning part. I won't waste my time.