E-to-E Tuning On A 6-String Bass

[Michael Sherry]

Hi, Everyone! I have owned an extremely underrated Ibanez SR876 6-string bass for about a year now...I always had the intention of ditching the B-string(I just don't need or use it--for me, it's a thumb rest) and going for a high e/f string and tuning the bass to traditional guitar tuning. Well, I finally did it and I'm happy I did! So much fun...I can play chords, arpeggios; I can write more and--most importantly--I can work on Modes a lot more. I also play guitar and feel like I have to mentally 'switch gears' when I go from guitar to bass, and vice-versa...Now, I feel like I'm able to focus on more theory but not feel like im neglecting or favoring one instrument over another.
It seems like not a whole lot of players have pursued or embraced this type of set-up. Those players are out there but I cannot seem to find anyone, on YouTube or wherever, who are really creating anything w this type of set-up. Are there any other players on this platform who are playing their 6-strings like this?

 

[MrAB4003]

I don't own a 6 string bass, but I will say this is the standard tuning for a Bass VI style instrument. A Bass VI would be really cool for you based on what you're describing. An extra long scale Ibanez 6 string can be cumbersome to make chords with, especially in the lower frets.

Some 6 string bassists tune their basses E1-A1-D2-G2-C3-F3, which is standard tuning plus 2 higher strings. I have never tried this except for testing out Bass VI style instruments in guitar stores. This perfect fourths tuning makes the fretboard more logical and linear.

 

[Michael Sherry]

So far, I'm having a blast...I'm waiting for strap locks to be delivered..I think I will have to wear the bass up a little higher than my 4-strings but this isnt a really big deal.

 

[Michael Sherry]

I have played a handful of bass VI's over the years but I'd rather stick with a full-scale bass....

 

[hieronymous]

I had an SR-506 that I enjoyed messing around with, but at the time didn't feel the need for the low B, so I got a 5-string that I had restrung to EADGC. I ended having it turned back to BEADG - I don't really feel the need for the high C (or B) string - I do have a couple of Bass VI style basses and enjoy "guitar tuning" on those, though at this point I rarely play them - more focused on regular 4 & 5 string right now.

I think your full scale E-E bass sounds like fun! Especially since you play guitar too. Pics? Soundclips?

 

[tom once dead]

I see players using the Bass VI every so often, and usually in ways that are rather creative utilizing that unique kind of instrument the way it should. I would be really interested to have a proper go of one and get a feel for it. For now I'm happy with my more traditional 6 string tuning.

 

[retslock]

Hi, Everyone! I have owned an extremely underrated Ibanez SR876 6-string bass for about a year now...I always had the intention of ditching the B-string(I just don't need or use it--for me, it's a thumb rest) and going for a high e/f string and tuning the bass to traditional guitar tuning. Well, I finally did it and I'm happy I did! So much fun...I can play chords, arpeggios; I can write more and--most importantly--I can work on Modes a lot more. I also play guitar and feel like I have to mentally 'switch gears' when I go from guitar to bass, and vice-versa...Now, I feel like I'm able to focus on more theory but not feel like im neglecting or favoring one instrument over another.
It seems like not a whole lot of players have pursued or embraced this type of set-up. Those players are out there but I cannot seem to find anyone, on YouTube or wherever, who are really creating anything w this type of set-up. Are there any other players on this platform who are playing their 6-strings like this?

I started out on guitar and I don't own a six string bass but if I ever did it would be tuned in the same intervals as a guitar for exactly the same reasons you've described.

 

[smperry]

I tuned my six strings EADGCF for a couple of years, but have since moved B-C. I never played guitar so keeping in fourths makes more sense to me, and I do my own chord shapes.

A seven string player I know tunes his instruments BEADGBE.

 

[James Hart]

I set my first 5 string EADGB in 1990... my current fretless 6 is is tuned BEADGB, and my main bass for the last 20 years is a fretted 7 tuned BEADGBE. I also play guitar and saw no reason to not tune like the bass version of a guitar when I looked to extend my range... before the internet told me I was wrong.

 

[Paul New]

I’m the opposite. Instead of tuning my bass to match the guitar, I tune the guitar in 4ths all the way across, to match bass tuning. 6 string bass tuning is BEADGC, and my guitars are EADGCF. The only thing missing on the guitar is cowboy chords, in which i have zero interest.

 

[bass player 53]

Hi, Everyone! I have owned an extremely underrated Ibanez SR876 6-string bass for about a year now...I always had the intention of ditching the B-string(I just don't need or use it--for me, it's a thumb rest) and going for a high e/f string and tuning the bass to traditional guitar tuning. Well, I finally did it and I'm happy I did! So much fun...I can play chords, arpeggios; I can write more and--most importantly--I can work on Modes a lot more. I also play guitar and feel like I have to mentally 'switch gears' when I go from guitar to bass, and vice-versa...Now, I feel like I'm able to focus on more theory but not feel like im neglecting or favoring one instrument over another.
It seems like not a whole lot of players have pursued or embraced this type of set-up. Those players are out there but I cannot seem to find anyone, on YouTube or wherever, who are really creating anything w this type of set-up. Are there any other players on this platform who are playing their 6-strings like this?

You missed my recent post.

 

[Michael Sherry]

I had an SR-506 that I enjoyed messing around with, but at the time didn't feel the need for the low B, so I got a 5-string that I had restrung to EADGC. I ended having it turned back to BEADG - I don't really feel the need for the high C (or B) string - I do have a couple of Bass VI style basses and enjoy "guitar tuning" on those, though at this point I rarely play them - more focused on regular 4 & 5 string right now.

I think your full scale E-E bass sounds like fun! Especially since you play guitar too. Pics? Soundclips?

Yeah, I'll come back in a day or 2 w something to check out/listen to

 

[Thumpin6string]

Kind of defeats the purpose of a 6er IMHO. Gotta have the low B. I use it too much. If you just want a guitar in a lower octave, I guess it works. Me, I like bass. The lower, the better.

 

[James Hart]

Kind of defeats the purpose of a 6er IMHO. Gotta have the low B. I use it too much. If you just want a guitar in a lower octave, I guess it works. Me, I like bass. The lower, the better.

then why the high C... ditch it and go lower

 

[Pontiac Thrasher]

Hi, Everyone! I have owned an extremely underrated Ibanez SR876 6-string bass for about a year now...I always had the intention of ditching the B-string(I just don't need or use it--for me, it's a thumb rest) and going for a high e/f string and tuning the bass to traditional guitar tuning. Well, I finally did it and I'm happy I did! So much fun...I can play chords, arpeggios; I can write more and--most importantly--I can work on Modes a lot more. I also play guitar and feel like I have to mentally 'switch gears' when I go from guitar to bass, and vice-versa...Now, I feel like I'm able to focus on more theory but not feel like im neglecting or favoring one instrument over another.
It seems like not a whole lot of players have pursued or embraced this type of set-up. Those players are out there but I cannot seem to find anyone, on YouTube or wherever, who are really creating anything w this type of set-up. Are there any other players on this platform who are playing their 6-strings like this?

Hoping someone may know of what the exact internal electronics configuration was. At this point I am leaning towards that having simply been what was soon to become the 1959 Gibson ES345 system.

I believe that the bass was delivered with the varitone and in stereo configuration.

Foundation for this tribute build is a vintage 1961 Gibson semi hollow EB6.

Motivation is that I believe Hank just made it his bass rather than using it somewhat as a guitar since he was having such great success with the ES345 prototype guitar.

: )

The prototype EB6 as it was left in this world by Hank Garland:

View attachment 7421425

 

[ModuMan]

Tetsuya of L'Arc~en~Ciel has a million basses including an ESP Bandit 6, which is strung E-E. There's a tune of theirs called Neo Universe that uses it.



This is the model, photo by the previous owner but it's in my house now.

 

[Thumpin6string]

then why the high C... ditch it and go lower

Great for chords.

 

[James Hart]

Great for chords.

which is why I went high B in 1990... and my main bass for 20 years is a 7 tuned BEADGBE and E-E 6 makes the assumption a player and their music prefers chord expansion of 5 more low notes

 

[Pings Bass]

I feel like I'm able to focus on more theory

Lol it's the opposite for me. Symmetrical tuning in fourths is total liberation to play anything anywhere on the neck on any strings. Guitar tuning only makes sense for chording IMO

 

[MonetBass]

If I ever get a 6-string bass, this is how I would tune it as well. Since I also play guitar, the familiarity would be immediate.