How to play songs like this on a 5 string

[motoman]

Hey i have a question about tunings like this this one for example this song is Hail to the king by avenged sevenfold. The tabs i see on line have a 4 string tuned Db,Ab,Db,Gb, or f#c#g#c#. Other bands do this type of detuning to get a deeper sound. I thought that if you have a 5 string that there is no need to detune it. However the only way i can figure this is play all the notes on the B string Witch i think would sound funny. I want to play songs like this but i dont want to keep retuning my 4 string but i also have a 5 string. So what am i not understanding. Thanks for the help

 

[phillipkregg]

However the only way i can figure this is play all the notes on the B string Witch i think would sound funny.

What makes you think it would sound funny? Have you tried it?

 

[motoman]

Have not tried but i just thought it would sound to deep. I can' t ever rembering playing an entire song on one string. But it just could make it eaiser to play

 

[JW56789]

It shouldn't sound ' . . . . to deep' and would to me be far easier to play as I'm still in fourths, instead of having my E-string a fifth below the other three. This just in: You want to be too deep to a point, to anchor the band.

For cats playing metal and rock where they're downtuned to E-flat always (or even more), a five just simplifies things totally. As a lot of guitar players found out back in the day when they tried to play Zeppelin tunes, Page was constantly playing different tunings for this or that song, and it worked FOR HIM, but was a real pain for most of us mere mortals. In metal with 7 and 8 string guitars, a five can be very helpful in evening up the playing field. Re-tuning to all those weird tunings is just a pain in the ass, and I'd not be surprised it there aren't bass players on the tours with several basses with different tunings. Sheesh, what a waste of time.

 

[Wasnex]

Hey i have a question about tunings like this this one for example this song is Hail to the king by avenged sevenfold. The tabs i see on line have a 4 string tuned Db,Ab,Db,Gb, or f#c#g#c#. Other bands do this type of detuning to get a deeper sound. I thought that if you have a 5 string that there is no need to detune it. However the only way i can figure this is play all the notes on the B string Witch i think would sound funny. I want to play songs like this but i dont want to keep retuning my 4 string but i also have a 5 string. So what am i not understanding. Thanks for the help

IMHO the best way to find out is to simply try it.

IMHO there are various reasons to detune instead of playing on 5-string. 1. If detuned, usually the licks fall on open strings so they are easier to play. 2. Some argue that it sounds better for everyone to play with open strings: more in tune, and more consistency of timbre. 3. Also easier to copy licks from one another.

I wouldn't expect playing the notes on a B string to cause the sound to be deeper. You will still be playing the same exact pitches.

I suggest you check out some videos with Noly Getgood. He often plays a 6-string Dingwall in heavy technical music.

See the last part of this video for example.



I am sure this is a different genera, but the idea was to show heavy music where a choice was made to use an extended range instrument rather than down tuning.

 

[Mushroo]

The 5-string gives you more options. You still have the option to detune and play the song using the original fingerings, if you like. The 5th string doesn't make that option go away. But you also have the option to stay in standard tuning and use the 5th string, if you prefer. You even have a third option, which is to both detune and use the 5th string.

When I got my first 5-string, I had a lot of fun, experimenting with songs I already knew from 4-string, trying to find new and different ways of playing them. You have more options, so you can really take your time and figure out the best way of playing each song. And don't be afraid to put your own unique spin on the song, if your band is okay with that! You can throw in some extra low notes that the Avenged Sevenfold bassist can't play on his 4-string, to give the song your own personal touch.

 

[jchrisk1]

It seems normal to me. It's just dropped D, a half step down. I find it easier to play dropped D if the song has a lot of open notes on the low D. Sometimes the fingerings can be difficult transposing to five string.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

One of the reasons why people detune their instruments is to use the open strings. Sometimes the riffs are written in a way so that you need an open Eb. And yes the notes on the B string will sound different than the same notes on the E string that's the nature of the instrument. Sometimes you do need to detune.

 

[Element Zero]

The 5-string gives you more options. You still have the option to detune and play the song using the original fingerings, if you like. The 5th string doesn't make that option go away. But you also have the option to stay in standard tuning and use the 5th string, if you prefer. You even have a third option, which is to both detune and use the 5th string.

It seems normal to me. It's just dropped D, a half step down. I find it easier to play dropped D if the song has a lot of open notes on the low D. Sometimes the fingerings can be difficult transposing to five string.

Exactly. I‘ve played 5s pretty much exclusively since ‘99 and if I gotta time down because it makes sense if I’m playing certain riffs like most metal and rock, I’ll absolutely not hesitate to tune it down. D-tuner tuners could help too.

 

[Bassaga]

I don't see why you'd need to play all the notes just on the B string, so maybe I'm missing part of the question. But if I wanted to play in that tuning on my 5 string, I'd probably tune the B string down to A, then put a capo on the fourth fret. Then you'd essentially have a 4 string bass in that tuning with a spare high b string on top.

 

[Nashrakh]

Slap a capo on the second fret and boom, same tuning? Or am I missing something here?

Gives you the best of both worlds imo. You've got the open strings but may neeed to recalibrate mentally if you're playing straight from tabs (which doesn't sound like you do, just a caveat).

 

[basslifter]

Maybe forget about how it is played on a 4? Think only 5, where the notes are the notes. Just play the notes.

 

[Valvehead]

I play everything on fivers tuned BEADG, except when there's an open low D having a big part in the original song or the riff demands it, then I drop the E to D for just that song (like pearl jam's 'even flow' for instance) which makes it a lot easier to play. When playing the Beastie Boys' 'Sabotage' you can nail the song playing everything at the same position on the neck.

In my opinion, a five string only has advantages over a four. There are zero disadvantages as long as you have your left hand technique in check.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Maybe forget about how it is played on a 4? Think only 5, where the notes are the notes. Just play the notes.

What will you do when you need to play an open Eb, and then slide up to another high note while the open Eb is still ringing?

It's very common that some parts are written w/ certain instruments and tunings in mind. That's why the cassic composers have compositions like, the Cello Suit, or the Guitar Concerto in D major. Michael Manring uses different tunings and open strings a lot. Same thing w/ the bass/guitar parts on some metal tunes. You either play w/ a capo (notes will sound a little different on the B string as the OP mentioned), or detune so you have the open string notes you need, or transpose the whole song to a different key.

 

[nickpc]

One of my favorite songs to play is Blood & Roses by The Smithereens. The Eb as an open string and the Eb at the 4th fret of the B string have a different "vibe" and it just doesn't sound right on my 5-string.

This could also be because my 5 is a Jazz and my half-step down tuned bass I play is a P. I guess until I try a 5 String P with it I won't know for sure (off to the Classifieds now...).

 

[boggus]

Other bands do this type of detuning to get a deeper sound.

Apart from going for certain sound, tunings are often chosen to fit the vocalist's range. And a lot of times, as others already pointed out, tunings can be chosen for convenience, sometimes it's just easier to play riff with open string(s), it just feels "right".

I thought that if you have a 5 string that there is no need to detune it.

Sometimes you don't, but sometimes you do. You have to detune even a 5 string to play certain songs by Fear Factory, Load/Reload-era Metallica, or Korn, to name a few. And if a riff is written in a certain way, it would be better and faster to retune even a 5 string. For example I'd imagine for many Drop D riffs it's faster to quickly detune E to D on 5-string, than change the fingering to 5-string standard tuning.

So what am i not understanding.

In case of Hail to the King, you have to transpose and change the fingering of the notes. This particular case actually turns out quite nice fingering wise. In attachment to this post is something I whipped out in like 30 minutes by finding approximately good Guitar Pro tab online, then got the song into the Transcribe! to raise the pitch to hear the bass easier and to loop sections, transposed the instrument track in the Guitar Pro tab from 4-String Drop C# tuning into 5-string Standard Tuning, and after that went through and made corrections (the online tabs miss a few things, always) and alterations of what I'd imagine would be better finger positions for 5-string playing for this track.

Try it like this.

 

[Gearhead17]

Lots of good information here. You don't always have to tune to what the band tuned to for certain songs. You should always try a song out on what you are most comfortable with and go from there. C#, F#, B, E is what Sabbath tuned to on later albums and I set one of my 5 strings up for that. The 5th string just became A and I don't use that string at all when playing. For Sabbath material, that tuning makes playing certain songs MUCH EASIER. In addition, it just lines up well with my guitarist in the same tuning.

 

[motoman]

Wow thanks everyone for the advice and time spent on this. I will try your susgestions

 

[JimmyM]

How well do you know your notes on the fretboard? Stuff like that is not a problem for me because I know my notes on the fretboard, and if I detune I can figure out where all the rest of the notes are because I know the chromatic scale, my chords, and what happens when you detune. I don't need to think in shapes as a result. And yet another reason that I consider tabs to be useless.

 

[Jinbu]

I've played pretty much exclusively with a rock/metal cover band so I get where you're coming from, it's usually easier to play songs in their original tunings, or transpose, as we used to do, we played everything in d standard or drop c. Nowadays we play all songs in their original tunings so I've started using a drop pedal at practices instead of bringing a bunch of basses along or retuning constantly, though thats not something you want to use if youre really picky about your tone. Some people hate them, to me, in the full live mix it's not that noticeable.