Just joined a band

[deaddog]

Hi, I just recently joined a band. I haven't really played live before, practiced everyday for a year and half, and put the bass down for a year and a half. Got this opportunity, so here i am. It is a metal band, that likes cgcf. I play a 5 string. so i hear that there is a decent tuning all in 5ths i can use. but i wanted another opinion as to whether it is ok. Or what is best for doing this. Not to mention, geez, is a 700 watt amp enough to drive against double marshalls? here is the tuning i found. C F Bb Eb G#, not sure, but some say Eb is D#, but that's not in the 12 notes i learned. Maybe im wrong idk. but any thoughts though, cuz i am in desperate need of help, have practice again tomorrow, and every c' song leaves me stuck on uh uh, do i just make my low b a thumb rest, as it is a very cumfy rest, but sounds nice in c.....its there.... use it????idk i found this site in hope for help in my coming life as a wannabe musician. Thanks for ur time.

 

[Munjibunga]

Eb​ is D#​. C is B#​ and F is E#​. G#​ is Ab​.

Anyway, I wouldn't mix sharps and flats.

 

[onionpuzzle]

If you are playing a 5-string, learn to play in standard tuning BEADG....but learn to play everything and anything whatever tuning the guitarist uses.

 

[AwkwardLoudness]

It is a metal band, that likes cgcf. I play a 5 string.

Try CGCFA tuning. You can get custom gauge strings from Circle K.

...but some say Eb is D#

E flat and D sharp are the same note.

is a 700 watt amp enough to drive against double marshalls?

It's enough power with the right speakers. You'll need a good speaker cab (or cabs). The amp's RMS power rating doesn't matter unless you have speakers that can handle it.

every c' song leaves me stuck on uh uh, do i just make my low b a thumb rest, as it is a very cumfy rest, but sounds nice in c.....its there.... use it????

I'm not sure exactly what you're saying here. Um...yes, use the low string. It is prudent to mute the thickest strings with the thumb (or palm) on the plucking hand. I assume that you would tune the lowest string to a 'C' note if the guitars are tuned like that.

 

[deaddog]

Well i have BEADG down pat. and when i say um on the c's, its BECAUSE, i want to tune my b up to c, and then get my rest going right. so cgcfa would be nice, but i have only one bass, and have to play in standard tuning on some songs. So that is why i was looking that the possible 5ths. I guess maybe i should either toss in the towel, and just go xcgcf, and play like i have a 4 string on those. to hell with it. all though i have no issues transposing from regular beadg, don't act like i didnt learn on this bass please. Please look at it like i have learned on nothing but a 5 string tuned to standard, and never did any c tunning. cuz that is the problemo. and really, c isnt a Bb, two distinct notes that leaves you without being on the 5th. and the same across the board on there. The whole deal is there is it is easily transposed and on 5th. but i do appreciate, as that means it can be tuned to whole notes. which my tuner doesn't recognize either. Stupid gear. gotta spend mucho deniro on stuff to read notes. ridiculous.
i do apologize if it seems i have an issue with being told to learn to play standard. I have no issue, i thank you for ur advice. I just need help learning to go to c. i appreciate all the advice i can get. i guess i just... well i learned and play as well as i can in standard and am constantly practicing in it. just the band has c songs. and well they tune to c. *** do i do. tune the bottom 4? lol. or just learn to play standard as well as i can, and transpose, and play in the wrong tonality? Id rather do the bottom cgcf. and no top.
Thanks for the info on the rig too was greatly appreciated.

All those that contribute i appreciate. dont take me the wrong, way i came to this site looking for help, because i direly need help finding a way to play in c and use the top string, and a tuning that allows. i cant swap strings. but if they allow standard tunning that is an option. Thanks for all who have so far.

 

[AwkwardLoudness]

It sounds like you need at least two basses.

In the meantime, you could just play CEADG or CFBbEbAb tuning, then re-tune for BEADG standard when needed.

If you have a non-chromatic tuner that only recognizes EADG notes, then you would need to tune using fretted notes. For example, tune the 4th fret to 'E' on an open 'C' string.

 

[bosw04k]

Learn to play in standard. C'mon, having five strings means you get the perk of never having to down tune. Might as well use it.

 

[Floyd Eye]

No one said C was Bb. He said C was B#

 

[deaddog]

OK, i think i get it. ill mess around with the tuning some more, see how it goes. i keep trying to just ya know, transpose the notes and stay in standard, or do the ceadg deal and it just leaves me feeling like gah, so frustrated. Like perhaps i shoulda not done this at all LOL. But ill keep foolin round. Last night i broke down and just did a side by side of the note positions and rewrote my parts. tried to figure out the easiest patterns. Really works meh hands. Thanks alot for the help. Again thanks all, i apologize for any pissant behavior. I've been having a hard time doin this. got 1 month till first gig to learn this material. And i dont like screwing up a whole lot, and thats what ive been doing with those songs. Sorry again.

 

[caeman]

Just because the guitarist is in an alternate tuning, doesn't mean your 5-string has to be. Tuned to BEADG, a 5-string has a wide tonal range. To the OP, are you trying to tune to C to make use of open strings all the time?

 

[Latinferno]

Sounds like you are making things a bit difficult on yourself giving your instruments "inabilities". If I were you, and had ONLY one 5 string bass, and the standard tuning for my band was drop C (for example). I'd drop tune the B string to an A and tune the other four strings to (CGCF).

Most of the time you would use the "B" string as a thumb rest considering most metal utilizes a LOT of open strings. Since your guitar players probably use standard 6 strings, you would mostly be using the bottom 4 strings. When they go to "standard" tuning, all you have to do is tune your "E" string up a whole step (D). And you will never be lost. Not do you have to buy whacky string sets to make it "work".

Hope that doesn't sound too confusing...

Or maybe easier to sell your 5 and buy a 4 string? I only utilize my 5 string basses when my guitarist is using a 7 string. Otherwise I'm using a 4 string bass (tuned CGCF) ..like say..Killswitch Engage for example.

Power wise, I have to compete with two 150 watt amps! It's ridiculous. And the only thing that even remotely keeps up is the Ampeg SVT 4-Pro with an 8X10. While you don't NEED to have an amp with 10,000,000,000 watts, it's nice to have the head room when competing with guitar "ego" haha.

If you are still having trouble hearing yourself. Either convince them to turn down a bit (I know it's difficult playing this style of music!) OR not only use your bass amp, but go through the PA!! Mic it or go direct using an XLR cable. That will definitely help

But if you are serious about being a "metal" bass player. I HIGHLY suggest you save your $ and buy these things:

Spector Bass (A Euro or a Czech SSD if you can find one). Trust me, if you want to stop being frustrated with tone, these two are the way to go! (Ledgend and Spector core aren't as good imo). Save for a year, two years..I don't care what it takes. You will NOT be disappointed or frustrated with your bass tone ever again. Fantastic quality and ALMOST as good as a USA Spector for a fraction of the cost.

Another decent option is the Fernandes Tremor 4 Deluxe bass for this style of music. It's a bit cheaper (quality/sound wise) but probably a close second for METAL if I have to play anything else (it's honestly a toss up between this and my Music Man Stingray bass when I need a back up bass). I got a great deal on the Fernandes, so keep a look out.

Ampeg SVT 4 Pro and 8X10 cabinet
While this stuff is heavy and fairly expensive. You can find pretty good deals on Ebay for the head itself. Then find a cabinet that could utilize the power. There is no better head for METAL imo. But Mesa Boogie makes some great stuff and you could also find a GK that could also do the job.


Tech 21 Sansamp (rackmount or stomp box)

Beg, borrow or steal one of these (kidding on the stealing part lol). But you will LOVE this thing. It gives your bass some really cool overdrive without compensating tone. Check out the band KINGS X and listen to that bass tone. You can't go wrong with the Doug Pinnick tone. Bass players have tried to steal his THUNDER for years. It has a similar effect and may mask a "weaker" bass tone. (Suggested song would be "Dogman" to get an idea).

O.k. that's my two cents. But again, you will NEVER need another thing for that genre of music with those tools. My priority list would consist of cheapest to most expensive. The sansamp is a good place to start!!!