Drop-D is fun (any tips?)

[Aloe]

hi,

I've started on 4, moved to a 5, then moved to a 4 again, but sometimes miss that low D and Eb. and just yesterday I've suddenly decided to try the drop-D on my 4-string. why nobody ever said to me that it's a lot of fun? it's like same bass, but kinda backwards.

I'm currently going through the things I usually play to accommodate the new tuning. I already understood that open A is my friend and that B/C are usually on the A string (heck, I miss them in second position). I also realized that this tuning requires more left hand shifting, but I'll do my best.

some other tips that will help me to get fluent in this tuning? (aside from getting a D-tuner. I'm already considering it, but it seems not a cheap thing.)

thanks

 

[ctmullins]

I use drop-D a lot. I really like it. Switching back and forth, to me, involves a mental "switch", sort of like switching from driving a four-speed to a five-speed (am I dating myself here?). It's the same, just offset a bit.

I'm probably not making sense.

You'll get to use all of the fingers on your fretting hand a lot. You'll build up pinky strength, which is always beneficial.

 

[Aloe]

You'll get to use all of the fingers on your fretting hand a lot. You'll build up pinky strength, which is always beneficial.

yeah, pinky seems to get more usage. as well as index (on lower frets), so that results like in wider hand position.

I expect switching back and forth will be painful, so for now have one std-E 4-string, one drop-D (and when I struggle, I go back and forth).

my other surprise that loosening the E string actually somehow didn't require to set intonation differently, but it sounds more like a low B string on a 5-string (yeah, I still have one). this has some advantages, but I don't really find it useful after 7-th fret or something like this.

 

[Camaro69]

Been messing with this some. Starting to really like it.

Still have one bass in EADG and one 1.5 down to C# also