Eb tuning songs

[CatOnTheBass]

There is no Eb2...unless you have a fiver or tune down. An Eb3 does not suffice in many tunes where a low Eb repetition is called for.
For some songs the octave up is fine and playing in Eb, standard tuning is great.

You're off by an octave, friend. Maybe you forgot bass guitar is a transposing instrument that sounds one octave lower than written?

Eb2 is at the 11th fret of the E string, or the 6th fret of the A string, or the 1st fret of the D string (on a standard tuned EADG bass).

 

[DrMole]

Yeah, no. I hear a C my fingers go to the C on my instrument. Most people play long enough that happens. You want to use alternate tunings? Cool. For me, if I was to do so and then adjust my muscle memory/ear interaction to compensate, then I will have ehf'd up the reactions I get on regular tunings. Not worth it for me. Once again, you want to tune differently, go for it. Me? Nope, no gig or song is worth that.

Agree- as I mentioned it will mess with some people.
Nathan Watts played "I Wish" tuned down to Eb. When I play that tune I want to have the same vibe. Playing Eb2 in place of Eb is not an option for my ears. Tuning the E to an Eb as shown in a few prior posts is an option but i would prefer to tune down across all 4 strings. Alternate tunings on guitar don't bother me - though I have to learn the territory and I do not claim to be a good guitar- or very good bass player.
If alternate tuning is needed to get the sound and complete vibe of a tune it is
worth it to me. Playing that Eb an octave up doesn't fly, using the above song as an example.

Edited for sloppy spelling and incorrect octave notation

 

[DrMole]

You're off by an octave, friend. Maybe you forgot bass guitar is a transposing instrument that sounds one octave lower than written?

Eb2 is at the 11th fret of the E string, or the 6th fret of the A string, or the 1st fret of the D string (on a standard tuned EADG bass).

Apology- I was using the notation previously mentioned by another poster.

I stand corrected.

Thank you., Seriously.

 

[SunByrne]

OK, so far the main proposed solutions in descending cost order (roughly, depending on how much you'd spend on a new bass):
- Buy a 5 string
- Buy a second 4-string and keep it downtuned a half step
- Buy a pitch-shifting pedal, e.g., Digitech Drop
- Use playback software that pitch-shifts in real time as it plays (maybe free)
- Take the entire song file, pitch shift it with Audacity (also free, but more work)

The next to last one is easy. I use Anytune for playback to slow down songs as I'm learning them, and it also does pitch-shifting in real time without having to edit the music file, so for me this was free.

I believe, however, the TB Terms of Service require that we all tell you you have to buy a new bass... so obviously you should chose one of the first two options.

 

[W_R]

Did the OP receive the info needed?

 

[CatOnTheBass]

OK, so far the main proposed solutions in descending cost order (roughly, depending on how much you'd spend on a new bass):
- Buy a 5 string
- Buy a second 4-string and keep it downtuned a half step
- Buy a pitch-shifting pedal, e.g., Digitech Drop
- Use playback software that pitch-shifts in real time as it plays (maybe free)
- Take the entire song file, pitch shift it with Audacity (also free, but more work)

The next to last one is easy. I use Anytune for playback to slow down songs as I'm learning them, and it also does pitch-shifting in real time without having to edit the music file, so for me this was free.

I believe, however, the TB Terms of Service require that we all tell you you have to buy a new bass... so obviously you should chose one of the first two options.

You forgot the easiest and cheapest method: Use the tuning pegs on your headstock to tune your bass to the recording.

 

[kmon]

I am a bedroom bass player (4 string bass only) and just like to learn songs and jam to mp3's. My question is regarding songs in Eb tuning.
What does everyone do when a song is tuned to Eb?
-Have a guitar dedicated just for Eb tuning
-Tune your guitar to Eb for that song then tune it back to regular tuning after
-Use software to change the pitch back to regular E tuning
-something else?

all of the above, depending on the situation .

If you're like me and you only play 4 bangers, and your OCD makes playing Eb an octave up on a cover feel dirty, consider the solutions that have worked for me in the past:

1. Tune up and down manually.
2. String a 4 string BEAD. I don't often find an octave down offensive, just an octave up. I don't really need a G string 99.999999% of the time anyway.
3. Have a dedicated Eb/drop D bass. It's a great reason to "need" another bass.
4. Digitech drop. It's not sonically ideal IME, a bit warbly, but I like my action low and I don't want to set it a micron higher to accomodate Eb, or Drop D god forbid. The Drop tunes instantaneously and tracks accurately enough for rock and roll.

 

[Jackcrow]

My band plays in D standard but I keep at least one bass in standard and one in Eb so I can play along with the songs to learn them. I like to have my basses set up with low action and that doesn’t really lend itself to drop tuning on the fly.

 

[Vinny_G]

The first sentence of the OP is "I am a bedroom bass player (4 string bass only) and just like to learn songs and jam to mp3's". The simplest, cheapest and most durable solution is to change the pitch of the songs with a free software. So all the songs in Eb can be put into a playlist in any order, without having to constantly detune and retune.

 

[bass.slinger]

Another option if your bass's tuners are widely separated enough to permit this is to install Hipshot Detuner's for all 4 strings. They even make a version that allows you to drop both 1 and 2 half steps in the same tuner, so you could get EADG, EbAbDbGb, and DGCF, as well as drop-Eb and -D tunings out of the same bass. However, this retrofitting all 4 tuners is likely to be more expensive than the Drop pedal, and opens up the door to flabby strings.

According to Hipshot, you cannot tune the extender with a double shot lever to Eb and D (when the string is normally tuned to E). The double shot tuning screw can catch and damage the extender plate when the middle position is tuned to Eb.

https://docs.hipshotproducts.com/1010_INSTRUCTIONS.PDF

 

[mikewalker]

Easy!!!

Technically, the neck closest to you should be tuned in Eb, and the one farthest away in E...

 

[comatosedragon]

I am also a 'bedroom bassist'. (hope to change that some day)

To the OP's question, I keep different (4 string) basses in the tunings for songs I like to play:

1 bass EADG
1 bass EbAbDbGb
1 bass DADG
1 bass DGCF

I do own 5 strings, but prefer the 4s

 

[TrevorR]

This is good until you need an open E flat like the bassline on Scuttle buttin Stevie R Vaughn..

Yeah, but he had the whole band permanently tuned down a semitone so they were all just playing E-shapes anyway... that’s a specific playing/band choice by SRV & DT. And if you want that authentic sound feel for a play along with the CD there’s no option - you down tune. NEED the low Eb for a signature line is a rarer beast than prefer/could play/happen across the odd Eb tune...

Wasn’t the OP more asking about a general case for the “bedroom player” where the odd flat key tune comes along, anyway?

 

[JakobT]

View attachment 3853341

I use this pedal, and love it. No on-the-fly returning, no worrying about different string tension and flabby tone, and it's cheaper than buying another bass just for the different tuning. I've noticed it seems to add a small amount of compression with each successive note down, but it's nothing to get twisted up over unless you're a huge tone snob. Also, some people have reported tracking difficulties, but this may be linked to the signal you're sending the pedal rather than a problem with the pedal itself or a faulty unit. Definitely worth a look.

I own this pedal, but I’m in two minds about it. It adds a sort of warble to the tone, which gets more pronounced with each tone you tune down.

 

[geesharp]

I tune to standard tune and play it one fret lower/half step lower.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

... What does everyone do when a song is tuned to Eb?
-Have a guitar dedicated just for Eb tuning
-Tune your guitar to Eb for that song then tune it back to regular tuning after
-Use software to change the pitch back to regular E tuning
-something else?

Easy Peasy. I use a BEAD tuned bass, and "base my boxes*" on the 4th string, 4th fret.

Or, when I have an EADG or ADGC, I "base my boxes*" on the 3rd string, 6th fret. 4th string on ADGC.

* I visualize the fretboard/patterns/runs as boxes, and play "tetris" when I'm improvising. I play mostly jam sessions, which means almost everything I play is improv. Knowing which notes are in the chord isn't important, I just need to know where the root is, and build my box fort from there.

 

[Funky Phantom]

I have a bass tuned down a half step just for that.
I also have a d-tuned, and one tuned down a step and a half.
I find it more convenient to just grab a bass that’s already to go.
Plus, the music I play in alternate tunings is all different. Different music, different instruments
being played, different place in the mix, etc.

 

[lfmn16]

In the real world people just use software to change the pitch or retune their bass. It’s mostly on TB where people get so militant about you MUST play in Eb.

 

[2112]

According to Hipshot, you cannot tune the extender with a double shot lever to Eb and D (when the string is normally tuned to E). The double shot tuning screw can catch and damage the extender plate when the middle position is tuned to Eb.

https://docs.hipshotproducts.com/1010_INSTRUCTIONS.PDF

That's a bummer... I hadn't yet switched over to the double-shots, and now that I know this I won't be... I personally don't have much use for them (right now) if I can't do Eb and D with the string on E. Thanks for the correction!

 

[2112]

I own this pedal, but I’m in two minds about it. It adds a sort of warble to the tone, which gets more pronounced with each tone you tune down.

I don't get a warble, but I do get a little more squish with each step down... and it's just a little. You might try a different bass and with/without other pedals to see if your warble is related to the tone you're feeding the pedal with.