Eb songs and 5 string bass

[Smooth_bass88]

My five string is currently tuned down a half step. Been using it for sub gigs with an 80s rock tribute (Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Def Leppard, etc). Trying to play those songs on a standard-tuned five string but in a key a half step lower would be unnecessarily difficult and certain songs just wouldn’t sound right.

 

[Joebone]

As a difference of perspective, two of my acts play down tuned 1/2 step, the rest tune to standard. I tune to the act I am playing with. We tune down not so singers have more range, but so they have more endurance working as often as we do. And, tho I could, and would, transpose if only a few tunes a night were flatted, since all songs are now flatted? I may as well tune down, and keep my positions consistent. We're a variety band with a wide ranging list. Songs already tuned flat; Van Halen, Alice in Chains, Pretty Reckless, stay exactly where they are. Songs performed in standard; Rush, Styx, Kansas, are now flatted. So, Man in a Box and Tom Sawyer are now in the same key, E flat, and performed in identical POSITIONS on my fingerboard as the recordings. I like keeping my open strings and familiar positions available for more technically demanding tunes.

On the other hand, my standard tuned acts perform many of the same tunes. Stevie Wonder's Superstition was recorded in E flat. But we perform it in E standard, thus preserving fingerings and open strings. In the flat bands, this song is played in E flat, but positionally identical to the standard tuned bands.

Going further, most of my gospel and blues playing friends tune flat, but do not tune up to standard to learn standard tunes. They keep their bass guitars in flat tuning, learning all songs without tuning up. So, then, they'd be playing Man in a Box at F position on the E string. That seems a lot of work to me, so I tune for the band I'm playing with that evening.

I'd vote transpose, but this approach make sense.

 

[Aloe]

well, downtuning a 5-string to Eb will give you the lowest Bb, but do you really need it?

 

[chazolson]

Eb is just another key. What about Born Under a Bad Sign, in C# minor? Do you tune down a minor third? Heck no.

 

[Ewo]

A while back I was working with a band that tuned down a half step. I figured it was best if I did likewise, just for the sake of talking about the chord changes or notes in a particular line.

But I never would tune the bass differently if a band wanted to transpose a song to a different key. I'd just play it in the new key.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

I transpose as well, i suppose if a big portion of our set was in Eb i might consider setting up a bass that way, but transposing is just as easy.

 

[FunkHead]

Either way is fine. I choose to transpose but it's really your choice.

 

[scuzzy]

I play church gigs. We play in whatever key the lead singer is comfortable with for that song, and we'll often have 3 or 4 different lead singers in a set of music. A flat? sure. D flat? yep. E flat? yeah, that's nothing. Being able to transpose is an absolutely critical skill in my world - you simple can't re-tune very song to make it "easy".

A 5'er is very helpful for all of this, plus the PA's are great, so..yeah, I get to shake things.

I've learned at my church, even if the song-list only calls for a 4 string, if certain singers lead at all, I'm taking a 5 just in case. they change keys way too much, and I like the flexibility.

 

[JRA]

Being able to transpose is an absolutely critical skill in my world - you simple can't re-tune very song to make it "easy".

 

[Mastermold]

I play church gigs. We play in whatever key the lead singer is comfortable with for that song, and we'll often have 3 or 4 different lead singers in a set of music. A flat? sure. D flat? yep. E flat? yeah, that's nothing. Being able to transpose is an absolutely critical skill in my world - you simple can't re-tune very song to make it "easy".

A 5'er is very helpful for all of this, plus the PA's are great, so..yeah, I get to shake things.

Same. Having an ERB means you don’t need to change tuning, just play.

 

[SmokinJoe992]

If the group stays in Eb for every song, I would tune to Eb also. As others have mentioned most guitarist that tune in Eb, are going to refer to keys and chords as if they are in standard tuning. If we all tune in Eb, to me it would help eliminate confusion, and keep things simpler.
If we are only playing in Eb for select songs, and/or regularly using other tunings, I would just stay in standard tuning all the time.
As far as drop tuning goes, it would depend on the song. I would think, most of the time, it would not be necessary with a 5 string. However, there are songs that may benefit from drop tuning a 5 string.
I try to be flexible, but at the same time, I have no interest in making things more difficult than they need to be.

 

[Cleezmo]

For me, like others have stated, if it's a tune or few tunes in Eb, I'd just transpose. If it's an entire set, I'd detune.

 

[ashtray]

Be aware that if the band tunes down 1/2 step for the singer, for all songs, they will likely discuss notes in terms of relative pitch. So the 2nd open string might be called “A”, instead of its actual pitch of Ab. This simplifies things when there are multiple instruments (usually guitars, sometimes including keyboardists) and you are discussing the chord progression, etc.

But even more troublesome if you play a 5 string instead of tuning down, is that a guitarist might get lost during a bridge, look over to you for a hint as to the chord, then play out a chord that is 1/2 step off. I have seen lost guitarists “follow the bass” visually when learning a new song as a group.

 

[FunkHead]

Be aware that if the band tunes down 1/2 step for the singer, for all songs, they will likely discuss notes in terms of relative pitch. So the 2nd open string might be called “A”, instead of its actual pitch of Ab. This simplifies things when there are multiple instruments (usually guitars, sometimes including keyboardists) and you are discussing the chord progression, etc.

But even more troublesome if you play a 5 string instead of tuning down, is that a guitarist might get lost during a bridge, look over to you for a hint as to the chord, then play out a chord that is 1/2 step off. I have seen lost guitarists “follow the bass” visually when learning a new song as a group.

This is very true. Some guitarists will be fine remembering that they are off by one fret to your 5 stringer but others may get lost. It's not worth fighting over if the guitarist needs you to de-tune your 5'r by 1/2 step. I would just do it if it was "needed" by them. FWIW, Almost every bass I have ever had was able to be dropped a 1/2 step with no string or setup change needed. In fact I did it last night with my Rick when my Guitarist switched guitars to one that was de-tuned 1/2 step.

 

[Phalex]

A keyboard player that would do tons of stuff out of Eb is the entire reason I went looking for a 5 string in the first place.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I'd keep it in standard tuning unless you need the open pedal notes which in some certain genres you will.

 

[Pings Bass]

I play a lot of Eb on DB tuned standard. No reason to down tune a 5.

 

[Modulus 96]

I tune down. My bass sounds good down there.

 

[Ric5]

Just curious for you 5 string players. If the band is tuned to eb do you tune to eb as well or transpose everything down a string and up 4 frets?

I have done both ... if all of the songs the whole band plays are in Eb then you might as well detune.

 

[logdrum]

Whatever works and makes the music gel. Just because you dropped to Eb, does not in any way allow others to challenge your musicianship and performance skills. I would maybe inspect my intonation and action.