Drop E0 tuning

[mrkrinkledude]

E1 is a stretch for a lot of equipment, but bass players still use that open string and it still sounds good.

I think lower tunings buy a couple of things. First, there's a very audible difference between the overtones of an open E1 string or an open E0 string with the 20 Hz fundamental missing. That E0 is clearly perceptible as a really low note because of the harmonics present, even if the fundamental isn't there.

Second, if you do have equipment that can reproduce that fundamental (at least a little bit) it becomes a physical sensation rather than an audible pitch, and that sensation supports the perception of that really low note.

It's not clear what gear @mrkrinkledude is planning to use with this tuning; perhaps it's worth reading The Legend of EL PIPE-O*? It's possible to reproduce 20 Hz, but yer gonna need a bigger truck, and there may be ... issues ... at some venues

* This article has some formatting issues on the current version of the website; if anyone's interested, PM me, I might have a PDF of it.

If I did go to this tuning would it damage my amp and cab? I have a gk800rb and an ampeg svt 212av.

I read online somewhere a high pass filter pedal will help prevent the lower frequencies damaging a cab, which is why I’m asking.

 

[bubba-b]

how 'bout 42"?

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

 

[SkylineFiver]

how 'bout 42"?

Nice, a bass where you have to take a step to the left to grab an F

 

[HaphAsSard]

I had no clue. I never got into Meshuggah but that sounds interesting. I think I’m going to try this approach first before spending money on a new bass.

In the case of my guitarist drop tuning to EBEADG, does that mean I should tune all the strings on my bass (BEADGC) to match the exact octave as his? If that’s the case then I’m tuning up above the normal bass tuning range and should get a lighter gauge set of strings, right? This stuff makes my head hurt

Your guitarist is essentially in drop E: easiest way to mimic his tuning with your current bass is tuning the four thinnest strings up a full step and leave the two thicker strings alone.

That’ll give you a five string bass tuned to drop E, with a low B string underneath as the sixth string in case you want to go even lower than the guitar for certain parts of songs.

^ Agreed. Tune it BEBEAD.
In practical terms, I would make sure the thinnest four are actually thin enough to be uptuned a whole step and neither break nor be uncomfortably tight after; if not so, I would buy an extra-light set: either a 5-string one for EADGC, or a 6-string one (you don't have to use the low B and E from the ultralight set if they end up being too light for your liking - keep those you have).
Alternatively, get singles: something like 075 - 055 - 040 - 030 should work fine tuned to B1-E2-A2-D3.

 

[Bill Murray]

I’ve done this a couple of times and personally for me I had the best time playing the bass in standard tuning. If things got slammy or extra nasty I would turn on an octave pedal for that riff/section just for dramatic effect.

E0 is just riding what the human ear can handle and without good amplification it sounds like garbage.

have fun and good luck!

 

[mambo4]

I'm not sure what that's supposed to be buying you.

every beginner knows MOAR BASS is always better. no exceptions.
Acoustic reality is for old dudes

 

[rickdog]

If I did go to this tuning would it damage my amp and cab? I have a gk800rb and an ampeg svt 212av.

I read online somewhere a high pass filter pedal will help prevent the lower frequencies damaging a cab, which is why I’m asking.

I doubt you'd damage the amp, but I think it would be pretty easy to damage that cab; in fact it would probably be hard not to damage it. A high pass filter would be essential.

The manual for the SVT212AV says it's -3 dB at 71 Hz, -10 dB at 40 Hz, still an octave above E0. The speakers basically are seeing no air resistance at those sub-bass frequencies, so power handling is way down. The only sound you'll hear is the speakers being shredded, not very musical . You might have better luck with the SVT410HLF, but it will still need the HPF, just set a bit lower.

 

[gricko]

Kalium Music | Extended Range, Guitar, Acoustic & Bass Strings

second that

 

[mrkrinkledude]

I’ve done this a couple of times and personally for me I had the best time playing the bass in standard tuning. If things got slammy or extra nasty I would turn on an octave pedal for that riff/section just for dramatic effect.

E0 is just riding what the human ear can handle and without good amplification it sounds like garbage.

have fun and good luck!

Do you have an octave pedal you’d recommend? I tried this using a Digitech Whammy and it didn’t sound very good at all IMO.

 

[mrkrinkledude]

I doubt you'd damage the amp, but I think it would be pretty easy to damage that cab; in fact it would probably be hard not to damage it. A high pass filter would be essential.

The manual for the SVT212AV says it's -3 dB at 71 Hz, -10 dB at 40 Hz, still an octave above E0. The speakers basically are seeing no air resistance at those sub-bass frequencies, so power handling is way down. The only sound you'll hear is the speakers being shredded, not very musical . You might have better luck with the SVT410HLF, but it will still need the HPF, just set a bit lower.

I’ve never heard of a HPF. I did notice my Empress Bass Compressor has a variable high pass filter. Do you know if this is the same thing or if I’m better off buying a HPF pedal?

 

[Bill Murray]

Do you have an octave pedal you’d recommend? I tried this using a Digitech Whammy and it didn’t sound very good at all IMO.

That’s usually the one. It might sound rough when you’re playing solo but might be workable in a mix, hard to say though.

I’ve been in the amp modeling world for a bit so I can’t recommend a specific octave pedal at this point.

 

[rickdog]

I’ve never heard of a HPF. I did notice my Empress Bass Compressor has a variable high pass filter. Do you know if this is the same thing or if I’m better off buying a HPF pedal?

You'll need to read the manual for the details. The Empress website calls it a sidechain HPF, which makes me think it's not in the main signal path, so it wouldn't help and you'd need a separate pedal. Lots of options for that.
High Pass Filter (HPF) and Low Pass Filter (LPF) Mega Thread

 

[HaphAsSard]

I’ve never heard of a HPF. I did notice my Empress Bass Compressor has a variable high pass filter. Do you know if this is the same thing or if I’m better off buying a HPF pedal?

You'll need to read the manual for the details. The Empress website calls it a sidechain HPF, which makes me think it's not in the main signal path, so it wouldn't help

It filters out bass frequencies from the signal that is compressed:

Sidechain
The sidechain is the Compressor’s level
detection circuitry. Based on the signal sent to
it, it will determine how much gain reduction
is applied.
[...]
Sidechain High Pass Filter
The SC HP (high pass filter) knob can be used
to avoid triggering the compression with
high energy low frequency notes, which
helps avoid over-compressing and keeps
the low frequencies sounding full while still
controlling errant high notes that pop out.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

So yeah, no, it does stuff but not what the OP needs.

 

[RavenousPoe]

The band Currents has used Drop E for most of (all? maybe) their career, and I believe their bassist just uses a standard tuned 5 string. I personally wouldn't try to match the higher 4 of your 6 string to the notes of Drop E, for your neck's sake, and it is easy to transpose any higher notes you try to match the guitar on by just shifting up two frets.

My band just recorded an album where the guitars are in Drop B and I tracked using a standard tuned 5 string.

 

[bholder]

The whole HPF / LPF thing is lost on me, kind of, just not a useful approach. I want both, a full tuned crossover, but low. I don't want rumbly ultra-lows going through the main stack, of course, but I want to keep those rumbly lows and route them down the "rumbly lows path", involving an Accugroove el Whappo Grande 21" and a Definitive Technologies Trinity sub. Everything below maybe 35hz goes that way...

 

[ole Jason]

The best sounding option is going to be playing in the same octave as the guitar IMO. There are some use cases for E0 on bass but in the context of a death metal mix a bass tuned that low will be 0% audible.

 

[mrkrinkledude]

l

You'll need to read the manual for the details. The Empress website calls it a sidechain HPF, which makes me think it's not in the main signal path, so it wouldn't help and you'd need a separate pedal. Lots of options for that.
High Pass Filter (HPF) and Low Pass Filter (LPF) Mega Thread

This is great, thank you so much. I already have a HPF pedal in mind. It sounds like if I go this route then I should be okay as long as I use the HPF pedal.

I’m going to try to tune it BEBEAD first. I really liked how low my bass sounded with the tuning set to E0 even though I wasn’t aware of how I was risking blowing my cab. I use a compressor and a distortion pedal which definitely helped my bass stick out in the mix. It sounds like if I go this route I should be fine as long as I use the HPF pedal.

 

[Bill Murray]

l


This is great, thank you so much. I already have a HPF pedal in mind. It sounds like if I go this route then I should be okay as long as I use the HPF pedal.

I’m going to try to tune it BEBEAD first. I really liked how low my bass sounded with the tuning set to E0 even though I wasn’t aware of how I was risking blowing my cab. I use a compressor and a distortion pedal which definitely helped my bass stick out in the mix. It sounds like if I go this route I should be fine as long as I use the HPF pedal.

If you’re happy with the tone and you think it sounds good you’re probably not going to blow your cab (particularly since you are already using compression and distortion). A HPF might give you some more headroom though.

I know a handful of other bassists that use E0 and only myself and another use a HPF, I use it instead of compression though, personally I’d never use both (especially with distortion in the mix).

 

[bholder]

If you’re happy with the tone and you think it sounds good you’re probably not going to blow your cab (particularly since you are already using compression and distortion). A HPF might give you some more headroom though.

I know a handful of other bassists that use E0 and only myself and another use a HPF, I use it instead of compression though, personally I’d never use both (especially with distortion in the mix).

Distortion in the mix with E0? Whatcha tryin' to do, register a seismic event?