Alt tuning on guitars are supposed to make certain things easier to play, than on standard tuning, not harder. It's a little different for bass, but there is no point in making it difficult to play, for the sake of it.
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Drop tunings = harder to learn theory and such?
- Thread starter Steel
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It's not always just about making things easier. Some guys use less-familiar alternate tunings as a songwriting tool, maybe to get out of a rut where you're just playing the same old shapes. Also, there are chord voicings you just can't get in standard tuning.
Check out some of the colorful, crunchy voicings Devin Townsend gets out of open C tuning (CGCGCE):
Open tuning makes Devin's style of music easier to play for "him". Having multiple open octaves allows him to play it easier than on standard tuning. You simply can't play those chords with ease of holding bar chord with open tuning.
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Devin's music isn't any easier to play because it's not in standard. Neither is Michael Hedges' "Aerial Boundaries" or Ry Cooder's "Paris, Texas."
Just because some nu-metal guys wrote some dumb music in drop-D fifteen years ago doesn't mean that all music not played in standard is simple. Robert Johnson and Son House played in open tunings in the 1930s. Try copying those guys note-for-note and tell me that's any easier than playing in standard.
Just because some nu-metal guys wrote some dumb music in drop-D fifteen years ago doesn't mean that all music not played in standard is simple. Robert Johnson and Son House played in open tunings in the 1930s. Try copying those guys note-for-note and tell me that's any easier than playing in standard.
Devin himself says his tuning allows him to play his music easier than if it were standard. Tosin Abasi says the same thing with HIS music, and his tuning choice. Is his music easy to play? No, but that's beside the point.
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Kyle S's point is that they serve to change the overall sound, and he's right. Yes, tunings like drop D make it easier to chug a power chord, and that is often why that tuning is assumed, but the bigger purpose it serves is loosening up and darkening the E string's sound without requiring the other strings to sound "darker" in that sense. The only simplicity assumed from playing a severely downtuned "Standard" tuning is that they strings are a tad easier to push down (which brings its own issues, like fret buzz, action, etc), but we can probably all agree that by the point you're using alternate tunings, fretting a chord or note shouldn't be that hard regardless of string tension.
So I propose to all of you: OSTRICH TUNING.
So I propose to all of you: OSTRICH TUNING.
This is one of the biggest reasons why I moved to a 5'er full time. Never having to downtune is sooooo nice
Ok so... I capitulated and retuned and (restringed) the bass to C F Bb Eb. Kind of a weird tuning I know, Basically the first 4 strings of a 5 string tuned up a half step, But I wanted to keep that open low C because there's a lot of pedalling off of it. So it is.
And it's made things so much easier. PITA to 'relearn' how to play all of the bands songs for its harder to unlearn something than learn something new but once I get used to it I find it much easier to play. And I can easily see the examples that my teacher is trying to get to me about the various music theory principles we're going through.
And it's made things so much easier. PITA to 'relearn' how to play all of the bands songs for its harder to unlearn something than learn something new but once I get used to it I find it much easier to play. And I can easily see the examples that my teacher is trying to get to me about the various music theory principles we're going through.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
How much are you really going below E? Unless it is a lot, stay in standard tuning, but put a d-tuner on your E string.
MDBass
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This is the only correct answer.
Learning patterns isn't at all the same thing is learning music theory.
So no, playing in drop tuning doesn't make learning music theory any more or less difficult; certain runs/riffs will be easier in drop C tuning and vice versa, but that's really the only difference.
A lot. Most if not all the songs are in C minor.
I don't see the problem with this tuning. Fourths, Just a couple of steps below the standard EADG.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Ouch. Then you need a 5 or detune. That much lower I assume you want another bass with different gauge strings.
As to your lessons, I would stay in standard tuning. Unless this band is making you serious bread, better to learn in standard tuning.
As to your lessons, I would stay in standard tuning. Unless this band is making you serious bread, better to learn in standard tuning.
Stick_Player
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I Did put on different gauge strings. As I stated, I put on the B E A D strings from a 5er set, and filed the nut out. And tuned them up half a step. I have a 5 string, but right now it messes me up for psychological reasons, but I keep it in standard tuning. MY question to you though... What's the difference between standard tuning and an alternate, lower, but still fourths tuning when it comes to learning the concepts?
OP, what do you aspire to?
Hmm, more like
I can see this thread turning into a "patterns vs notes" debate. For which I feel there is no right answer. Some of these patterns I already knew intuitively from playing by ear and giving it my best and figuring out 'oh yeah, that sounds good with that..'. I feel personally that learning them won't hold me back, because it's already unlocked some things that I was missing. Perhaps it will make it easier for me to 'learn the notes' so to speak.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Patterns are the same. As long as you stay with this band everything translates. But moving to different bands/music/basses, you have to re-learn the notes.
Can I not learn the notes through the patterns? When I say patterns, I don't mean the patterns of the individual songs, I'm talking basic music theory patterns. Root - minor or major third, perfect fifth, m or M sixth, so on and so forth.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
This debate comes up from time to time on here, and I just don't see the problem. Learning to play in a drop tuning won't make you forget how to play in a standard tuning, just like learning how to play with a pick won't "unlearn" your fingerstyle.
You'll just have more tools for your toolbox, and I fail to see how that's a bad thing.
You'll just have more tools for your toolbox, and I fail to see how that's a bad thing.
Ric5
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I really really really hate drop tunings ...
That is why I gave up on 4 string basses and went to a 5 tuned BEADG.
If I have to stop and think about fingering a detuned bass then the music suffers.
That is why I gave up on 4 string basses and went to a 5 tuned BEADG.
If I have to stop and think about fingering a detuned bass then the music suffers.
But the thing is, if you actually apply yourself and learn how to play in drop tune, it won't require any more thought than playing in standard. Just saying.
