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Help with getting into drop tunings

B

BassPlayer95

Oct 1, 2011
207
6
#1
Hey all! So, I've always played all my metal songs in standard tunings because I've never understood how to tune down and now as I become more aware of tone and stuff, it's becoming...not okay, I guess. Problem is, I can't figure out how to drop tune...I'm currently looking at drop c. The 2nd problem is is that my tuner doesn't have a c note on it. Am I missing something here? Idk...:help:
 
#5
Standard tuning would be:
EADG
Drop D would be:
DADG
D standard would be:
DGCF
Drop C would be:
CGCF

Drop tunings basically drop the lowest string down a full step. So if you look at my "standard tuning" and "drop d" examples, you'll notice the only difference is with the low E string. You're "dropping" the low E down to D.

D standard tuning is tuning all 4 strings down a whole step. Drop C would be dropping that low D down a whole step to C.

A chromatic tuner (set in chromatic mode) should automatically recognize the note you are playing, so if you know the note you want to tune to...just tune to that note. Not all tuners are created equal though, and may not recognize low notes, especially down tuned notes. If yours doesn't, there are creative ways to down tune using your ear and other notes on the bass.

Do you know how to tune using the 5th fret? It's a quick and easy way to get the bass in tune with itself.
 
#6
I can't wrap my head around drop tunings. That box pattern gets all messed up! But I do keep one of my two basses tuned to D standard (DGCF). That works really well for me!

A chromatic tuner should do the trick. Just pluck a string and it should have some representation of the note (E, for instance) and how far sharp or flat it is. For drop D, just down tune that string just below D, then bring the tension back up to make D in tune. Note that your other strings will likely go slightly out of tune when doing this. So definitely check all of them. If your tuner has a hard time registering a note as low as C, try tuning off the octave harmonic.

For drop C, your E string might get too lose to be playable. You might want to look into a thicker string and/or raised action. Personally, I really like the lower tension. My D standard tuned bass is strung with TI Jazz flats! :eek:
 
#7
If you have a Korg tuner, it has a little flat symbol on it. Hitting that will drop the target note down a half step. use it once to tune your E to Eb, twice to D, four times to C, etc.

Otherwise, you could tune up to E standard and then tune to your other frets.

When tuned to E standard, put your finger on the 3rd fret of the A string. This will be a C an octave higher than your target. Tune your lower string to an octave of that C (you should know when you hear it). Then you want to put your finger on the 5th fret of the D string. This will be a G. Tune your A string to an octave below this G. Move up to the 5th fret of the G string. This is C. Tune your D string down to this C.
Then, finally, hit the 5th fret harmonic of your new C string and the 7th fret harmonic of your G string. Let them both ring out. Tune your G string down until they're at the same pitch. Your new string will be tuned to F.

That's the hard way of doing things, but it works.

Or, if you have an Android phone, you can use the mobile app "G Strings lite". Or maybe Free instead of Lite. Just hit the "tune auto" button and it will act as a chromatic tuner using your phone's microphone.
 

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