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Good Bass for tuning one whole step down?
- Thread starter ShredTilYerDead
- Start date
Your point? I'm sure musicians with good technique who know their way around the fingerboard don't need you to tell them how difficult this is simply because it isn't. The exceptions are so small, it's barely worth mentioning. Just because YOU can't do it doesn't mean you should be discouraging it from being done.
This thread is about downtuning, not ERBs. Their are major benefits to downtuning IMHO.
Some? Sure. I have stated that I've played a handful of tunes in dropped D that wouldn't be possible on a 5er, but that does not mean to ignore the possibility that a 5 string can't do the job.
You're completely missing the point, dude. A 5 string bass is not the answer to all of life's non-standard tuning questions. Do you go around telling slide players they shouldn't tune to G? Should my guitar player go pick up a 7 string guitar since most of our songs are in D and C? Proper technique or not, in my case and the OPs too... Dropping or tuning down a half step or full is easier than picking up a 5 string. Especially when the songs are in Eb, D, or C.
No, I'm not missing the point, dude. I'm just not changing my bass for every damn tuning on the planet. From B to E and combined with drop tunings, that's a lot of tunings. Like many others, I can play a song in E, Eb, D, C#, C, and B on my 5 or 6 without any problems. If you still want to argue with that, you're only exposing a lack of technique, position playing, etc.
No, I'm not missing the point, dude. I'm just not changing my bass for every damn tuning on the planet. From B to E and combined with drop tunings, that's a lot of tunings. Like many others, I can play a song in E, Eb, D, C#, C, and B on my 5 or 6 without any problems. If you still want to argue with that, you're only exposing a lack of technique, position playing, etc.
Do you have GuitarPro? I'll challenge you to play some of the songs I have written.
Not EVERY song is easier on a 5 string just because it has all the notes...
You're challenging me to a duel? Should we go straight to who makes more money or how much ya bench?
You're challenging me to a duel? Should we go straight to who makes more money or how much ya bench?
You're the one calling "technique" into it. If you want to back up your claim, I'd like to see it.
I don't understand your attitude in this thread, OP is asking about tuning down, not ERBs.
1. Everyone knows that salary and max bench press are the true measure of a man. (This is a joke of course)
2. You two need to get laid - I'm not implying that you don't or can't - I just think you need to take your mind off this thread for a while.....
3. Back to the topic - thicker strings (power slinks) could help, but the thought of Drop C scares me. I can't imagine there is enough tension left in the string to create any good sound besides a loud BLAH. You might be able to pluck the C string out of the nut at that tension. I wouldn't down-tune past D myself on a 4.
2. You two need to get laid - I'm not implying that you don't or can't - I just think you need to take your mind off this thread for a while.....
3. Back to the topic - thicker strings (power slinks) could help, but the thought of Drop C scares me. I can't imagine there is enough tension left in the string to create any good sound besides a loud BLAH. You might be able to pluck the C string out of the nut at that tension. I wouldn't down-tune past D myself on a 4.
5 string is hardly an ERB.
Just because you "shred" does not mean you have technique. I've been there and done that years ago. Most musicians don't have the patience or humility to work on the fundamentals.
I get mine, thanks
This is just my standard come back for people who claim anything can be played on a 5er. Every time a thread like this comes around someone has to badmouth those that play in a lower tuning on a 4 string. I've had no one take me up on my offer yet.As for drop C, it's not a problem at all for me with the right set up and nice strings.
My friend has been doing this for years with many many basses. So far the best one hes found is a Lakland 55-94. My nordy does a good job aswell. But his lakland has been the best of the bunch. Very solid Low A
....a 5 string totally is an ERB. How would it not be?
I never said I had great technique or anything, you're the one who came into this thread and started talking down to everyone who was playing a 4 string. I'm merely trying to show that it is not always the best solution (sure, for some it is).
5 strings aren't an ERB because the range is almost completely acceptable as standard or something very close.
In now way am I talking down to 4 string players. I play a healthy mix of 4, 5, and 6. I was not stating that a 5 string is THE answer, but it is certainly a legitimate option. However, being able to transpose, know the fingerboard, and being able to play in position is a very valuable asset as a musician.
Yes, it is and in my band it's easier to play the songs on a downtuned 4 string and has everything to do with position.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Sure.
1. He's not asking or looking to buy a new bass
2. Unless you're simply playing quarter notes at 50BPM, just having a 5'er for "all drop tunings" is ridiculous as a suggestion b/c most of that music is aggressive and heavy and requires a TON of hammer ons/pull offs and is usually pretty quick. Plus if you play in drop Bb which is pretty trendy right now, you still gotta downtune anyway and your E string is just a hindrance b/c you aren't using it really anyway if you play with your guitarist at all b/c they don't have one a lot of times in these tunings. They use a 7 string set less the low E.
Also the more you read around here, it's not as aesthetically pleasing to a lot of people to show up to pro gigs with a 5'er, but a drop-tuned 4. Just read the country music thread in Live Sound and that's a good start.
Tuning down is not rocket science but for a lot of people here don't use it/try it so they're not very knowledgeable about it yet try and give advice which is usually off-kilter and off-base and not helpful, just like here.
It's very similar to the "pick on a bass isn't really playing bass" misinformation spewed here as well.And on top of that, many 5 string players (myself included) still downtune. I play my NS5 ACGCF or GCGCF. But yeah- I'm just probably not "good" enough to do it the "real" way.
A 5 string Ray soungs great at a whole step down. I tune it A D G C F. No problems.
+1.
I currently tune to C# on my American Standard Precision 4 string for a few songs at every gig. I am using heavy strings (GHS, I believe) and it sounds great.
Heavier strings are an absolute must IMO.
Agreed, but guard against not being able to correctly intonate. None of my basses can correctly intonate on anything bigger than 110.
