Are there any basses playing gospel on a 4 string standard tuning? I'm trying to learn some songs to play with my church.
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Gospel on a 4 string
- Thread starter Ron G
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Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
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- May 3, 2002
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The most notable Gospel four stringer is Thaddeus Tribbett. He plays with Tye Tribbett & GA. Personally, I would recommend either a four string with a Hipshot D-tuner or get a 35' scale four and tuning down. IMO, Peavey makes or has made several basses that would be perfect: Cirrus; Millennium; G-Bass; Axecelerator. For more money, a Modulus Quantum would be great.
I do all the time and I stay in standard tuning. I can hit an Eb just fine, it's just not in the lower octave below the open E string. I just don't care for the way notes sound below E.
John
John
I still use my 4 strings every Sunday in church and only use my 5 strings when I playing outside the church. I find the 4 strings play nicer and sound better went I have deal with the organist; since she likes to stay on those bass pedal.
i started on a 5er but got to where i was like you. i started only playing 4's for 2 reasons. the 1st, i didn't like the way the notes sounded below E. The 2nd, i relied too much on the B and E string.
i am back to playing 5s and i will say this, playing in those lower registers not only adds a lot to the music, but it opens the music up more, in a way that i cannot describe. if i could have only one bass, it would have to be a 5 string.
I've always played 4 strings in church settings. The other people that I usually play with like how it sounds when I move higher in the neck into more of the mids and highs.
For contemporary Christian music, a 4 banger is all you need. For real Gospel music, a 4 banger will do too. A buddy of mine just got back from touring Switzerland with a Gospel choir and all he took was his Marcus Miller 4.
Anything lower than open E I just move up an octave. I used to play 5er's but the low B only came in handy on 2 songs so I went back to 4's. I play contemporary Christian rock though, not true gospel. Although as long as your on the right chord you should sound fine.
