How do you reference strings when not using notes?

[Slevage]

EADG
1234

It must be difficult to tune a skinny string to E, when you take it out it the package.

Never played a bass with a low G string.

 

[Vinny_G]

F# B E A D G C F

Your E string can be tuned to D or C or whatever, it's still your E string.

No, sorry. Why do you call it E string? Because it's supposed to play an E. If it's tuned to play another note, then it takes the name of that note. Your 105 string tuned to E or D is still a 105 string and is still in 4th position: these are the only true constants.

 

[Mushroo]

No, sorry. Why do you call it E string? Because it's supposed to play an E. If it's tuned to play another note, then it takes the name of that note. Your 105 string tuned to E or D is still a 105 string and is still in 4th position: these are the only true constants.

It's common practice in certain genres to refer to it as the "E string" even if it is tuned to a different pitch. For example when playing Jimi Hendrix covers in Eb, many guitarists will still refer to that as "E."

 

[Vinny_G]

It's common practice in certain genres to refer to it as the "E string" even if it is tuned to a different pitch. For example when playing Jimi Hendrix covers in Eb, many guitarists will still refer to that as "E."

Indeed, as I said above, in popular music we do not always take into account conventions. Jazz and Rock guitarists and bassists have often adopted their own conventions. I think that's why things are confusing today.

 

[Jon Moody]

It's common practice in certain genres to refer to it as the "E string" even if it is tuned to a different pitch. For example when playing Jimi Hendrix covers in Eb, many guitarists will still refer to that as "E."

I can see that, since you're playing in Eb standard (i.e. everything down a half step), it's easier to say "My E string" over "My Eb string." Everyone still knows what you mean though, since you've qualified it.

A couple times, when I'm playing in a cover band (that tunes to Eb), the guitarist will tell me "We're in G," and we know it's actually Gb because we're on the same page.

Drop D? Sorry, you have a low D string now.

 

[Leonid Nidis]

Well on 4 string bass sets I saw they refer to G as 1st and so on.
personaly its natural to count the strings as I look down,E 1st...

 

[Robscott]

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo. But it doesn't work for a five string

 

[DJ Bebop]

I guess I should regret not conforming the poll for the handful of people that string their instruments upside down.

...or play, upside down

 

[Vinny_G]

...or play, upside down

That's why the classical method rules: 1st string? Thinnest. Period.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Since I never use alternative tunings, I refer to the B string on my 6 as the B string.

 

[Cliff Colton]

In Chapter 5 of my book “Miles and I”, which I’m planning to write next summer, MD always told me: “Come on, man, give me more of that red string!”

 

[GBBSbassist]

I play in a band that tunes to E and I play in a band that tunes a half step down to E flat, but I still call each string by the E standard name. The E string is the E string even in the band that tunes down. If we tuned down to D standard, I'd still call it the E string, and they'd still know what I mean.

 

[lermgalieu]

I realize that the conventional nomenclature is that the G string would be the "1st string" but since that makes absolutely no sense to me I would never do it that way. Lowest pitch should be lowest number.

 

[micguy]

I have no idea what I'd do if forced to not use notes - numbers (aside from gauge) mean nothing to me. In fact, on my bass turned in D standard, I still think of the high string as the G string, even when it's tuned to F.

Further complication can come from the fact that I use ultra light gauges - what some folks would use for a G string, ona standard tuned bass, I'll use for a D. So, their 1 (or is that 4?) is my 2 (or is that 3?)

Of course, I started out on violin, where the G string (yes, it's tuned to G) is the lowest pitched string, and the E is the highest. This does not help.

My position: Put the string gauge on the packaging, and leave the other number off - I'll figure it out from there. As we can see from the previous pages, trying to give strings a number causes as much confusion as it solves

 

[SteveCS]

The convention is established in order that strings can be reliably specified in standard notation. If you don't use standard notation that uses string directions then I guess who cares how you do it, but if you see G in the 4th space with III or corda III above the stave you'd better hit the A string in a higher position and not the D string, and definitely not open G.

 

[40Hz]

I name them the same as the string makers do on the package depending on the number of strings in the set. 1st is the highest pitch string - so G or C is first. As numbers increase the strings get tuned lower.

1 2 3 4 5 6
C G D A E B
G D A E B
G D A E

 

[Eminor3rd]

I don't think I understand the situation -- wouldn't you still just say the notes and let whoever is playing handle where the notes are on the instrument, regardless of how it's tuned?

 

[Mark Ambler]

Way too complicated for me.

 

[Vinny_G]

“Come on, man, give me more of that red string!”

Yes Sir! (strikes a chord with a lot of distortion )
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[BrickBatMansion]

The agony................