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How do you tune your bass?

How do you tune your bass?

  • E-A-D-G. The way Jaco would have done it.

    Votes: 236 71.5%

  • B-E-A-D. Thank you, Peter Steele.

    Votes: 10 3.0%

  • D-A-D-G, so I can play Green Day.

    Votes: 17 5.2%

  • EADG, but taken down one fret, like KISS.

    Votes: 15 4.5%

  • D-G-C-F, which is EADG taken down two frets.

    Votes: 9 2.7%

  • D-G-C-F

    Votes: 10 3.0%

  • B-E-A-D-G. Four strings are for sissies.

    Votes: 105 31.8%

  • BEADG tuned down a half step.

    Votes: 5 1.5%

  • E-A-D-G-C. The "high-five".

    Votes: 12 3.6%

  • B-E-A-D-G-C. Not for the faint at heart.

    Votes: 25 7.6%

  • B-E-A-D-Gb-B. The "Bass VI"!!!

    Votes: 1 0.3%
  • Total voters
    330
#83
Greenman72 said:
Think about your favorite instrument--the one you play with most of all. (No, not that one. The other one.) How is it tuned?
Click to expand...
Clever poll. I voted 3 ways. In general, EADG for me. But our band honors our singer's request to tune down a half step, so I also voted that way. From there, we do a few tunes that I'll play in drop D (which ends up being drop C#), so I voted Green Day despite playing no Green Day:D
 
#92
Seems to be two takes on the OP question. Some reading it as how you physically tune your bass and the other, what tuning you use. At first glance of the topic I thought of the former, but the poll indicates the OP had the latter in mind. Could be a case of 'stealth ambiguity' he he
 
#95
Greenman72 said:
Think about your favorite instrument--the one you play with most of all. (No, not that one. The other one.) How is it tuned?
Click to expand...
Currently, all 26 of my basses are tuned EADG. The '68 Rick 4001 I learned how to play bass on - in 1968 - was tuned that way; every song I have ever played used that tuning; and every song I play now uses that tuning. So... why stop now? I did have a bass ('06 Carvin LB-20) that was tuned BEAD - for about 9 years. For various reasons, I couldn't think of anything else to do with the thing. I finally had to admit, that - for me - it was pretty useless that way. So, for the last couple of years, it's been tuned EADG again. Gets played a lot more often now, too...
As for D-tuners? Never use them; never needed them. But, last October I bought a '93 Fury Anthem lined fretless bass, with a very clever D-tuner built on the bridge. One of the first things I did, was try to take it off, but... no can do. It's an integral part of the bridge/bridge plate. I could take it off, I suppose - if I wanted a 3 string bass. But, it isn't in my way - although it looks like it would be. And... TBH, it works really well. I doubt it'll ever get used, but... ya never know...:whistle:
 
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#98
Andy Marshman said:
E A D G checking open, 12th fretted, 12th harmonic and finally check B E A D, fretted, at the 7th fret.
I'm not obsessed with all this; I just want to be in tune for the whole set. My instruments are good quality and hold their tune very well, even after a couple of days in the case.
Click to expand...
I have my intonation set so I don't need to do all that...

especially before a gig- if something is off, kinda late to pull out the tools and work on it. :)
 
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