"Drop D" all 4 strings

[Blue]

On a lark, today I de-tuned all 4 strings one whole step to D-G-C-F ... a capo on the 2nd fret makes it E-A-D-G again, although effectively a 32"ish scale.

it's been a fun day! Anyone else done this, and if so, why did you go back?

 

[droo46]

What you are referring to is actually called D standard.

 

[lowendfriend]

On a lark, today I de-tuned all 4 strings one whole step to D-G-C-F ... a capo on the 2nd fret makes it E-A-D-G again, although effectively a 32"ish scale.

it's been a fun day! Anyone else done this, and if so, why did you go back?

I didn't go back, I went 5 string. BEADG.

 

[LowerCrust]

I didn't go back, I went 5 string.

I went ADGCF and that was the first time I gave a damn about the top two strings fingerstyle..

 

[Blue]

... anyone Change Strings too ??

 

[khutch]

I would imagine quite a few people have done this and are quite happy with it. The more extreme BEAD tuning has a big following after all. I would think that if you want to drop tune one step you would want fairly heavy gauge strings to keep the tension up. People who tune BEAD will typically buy a five string set and throw away the G. I'm guessing that a heavy EADG set will work fine when dropped a step. I've given a lot of thought to BEAD versus the other options. I've decided to try a fiver instead because the extra string gives you fingering options as well as the lower notes. It is essentially a two necked BEAD/EADG bass where the necks have been moved so close together that they are overlapped by three strings! Plus, its a good excuse to buy a second bass....

If you don't need the extra range a fiver provides, only lower notes, then a lower standard tuning seems like an excellent option. The only way to tell what suits you best is try the various options. A DGCF tuning is probably the cheapest one to try since at most you just need heavier strings and most likely the ones you already have will work well enough for a good long trial. You can always defer the string swap until the present ones are worn out anyway and then the extra cost is zero. I'm thinking that if I get the fiver and like it I will do some experimenting with my present bass. I'd definitely like to put a fretless neck on it and depending on how useful I find the low notes on the five to be I might use a lower standard tuning as well. In my case I would probably go BEAD to match the fiver. There are even some here that use "cello tunings" (strings tuned in fifths instead of fourths) and report good results. This requires a substantial re-tooling of your playing style but it does give you as much range from a four as you get from a five tuned in fourths. Since it requires you to span more frets to play a given run it may slow you down a bit and for that reason I think it is better suited to a short scale. But I think the people who claim to use it are long scale owners so it must work well enough. Really any tuning that accomplishes something valuable for you is worth trying.

I think you are in good company if you like your new tuning. If you are not missing the high notes that you lost you could consider going lower too.

Ken

 

[bassist4dalord]

I had my P setup with DR Stainless Steel Lo-Riders tuned in D Standard (DGCF) and it sounded really, really cool. Played it through an Ampeg B2-RE/410HLF stack at church and the sound was just monstrous.

I went back to E Standard because I have a 5-string in addition to my 4, so that handles the lower lows.

 

[Actium]

... anyone Change Strings too ??

If you are trying to go for super low action you have to get higher gauge strings for the right tension.

 

[Dave Siff]

I tuned DGCF for almost 10 years. Used a great set of La Bella strings (M-70 set) made specifically for that tuning. I eventually switched to 5-string when I joined a band that tuned down a half-step and also had songs in drop C#.

 

[pacojas]

i'm very happy de-tuned by a half-step or a simple Drop-D! the flatted set-up is very comfortable when rapid 16th notes are needed. D-Standard will be tried later today, thanks!

 

[styro]

I have one bass that is DGCF and the rest is tuned EADG. I'm 4-string ans 34" only. I went to a slightly thinker gauge of strings in order to get about the same tension for the DGCF bass.

So I simply switch basses no capo for me¨

 

[lindseyp]

I went ADGCF and that was the first time I gave a damn about the top two strings fingerstyle..

^^This.^^
In fact, my MTD535 is "permanently" tuned this way, although my other 5-strings are back to standard.

 

[Grebnaws]

I have stainless light strings on my peavey patriot and I can tune to D, C#, and even C standard with good playability. Honest. It's useless to me, but not only can it be done, it can be done surprisingly well with no other changes. It has totally changed my perception about what can or cannot be done with certain scale lengths or string gauges. My other basses do not cooperate to this extreme and they all have heavier strings.

 

[Ric5]

DGCF should be the standard tuning for all 4 string basses. It really makes sense to have that low D.

 

[seedokebass]

DGCF should be the standard tuning for all 4 string basses. It really makes sense to have that low D.

Agreed on the low D, although I leave the rest ADG. It works for pretty much everything, unless you need to go lower.

 

[metlman72]

i'm very happy de-tuned by a half-step or a simple Drop-D! the flatted set-up is very comfortable when rapid 16th notes are needed. D-Standard will be tried later today, thanks!

I also 99.9% tune half step down. I am so used to my open strings flat that D standard was to much of a hassle. I will and do use drop D when needed. I just can't get enough of that open E flat. I love to peddle me some sixteenth notes or some triplets at 190 bpm or higher. Its absolutely low end bliss.

 

[KingRazor]

There are way too many songs written for and performed on standard tuned basses for me to want to stick to other tunings.

That said, the number of times notes below E show up in songs makes me really want a 5-string again.

 

[Spleenface92]

My Jaguar bass is tuned DCGF with a hipshot x-tender on the D-string to do drop C.
But then again, the rest of my basses are tuned in standard E, including my fiver.

 

[GobBass]

I once played a gig using F# BEA..without a capo!

 

[Korladis]

This isn't "drop D."

It's D standard.

I've done it... didn't like it much. For when I need those low notes, I have another bass tuned BEAD.