Multiple tunings, too many...

[Jazz Ad]

We're talking heavy downtuned rock. It's not a jazz setup with 8 chords per bar.
There isn't even a need to look at what the guitar is playing, it's pretty easy to do with your ears.

 

[bohemond]

We use 6 tunings in a four hour show. Around 45 songs I use 2 basses for the night. It can be done. I gave up trying to play five string basses. I just have too much trouble with the neck width and too little time to relearn my technique and relearn around 60 songs. But you dont need a five stringer but you certainly can use one. If course. DDT strings help alot as well. And planning you setlist the proper way coordinating with the guitars. Its all very seamless. One bass with a drop detuner and the other bass tuned Eb. Simple

 

[SirChallsA]

That's a lot of songs. I get what you're saying about the drop tuner. Makes it instantly go to Drop D and that's pretty sweet. I just enjoy the 5 string at this point. For me it's like, why have two basses and need a drop tuner when you can just have a really bad ass 5 string? I suppose the neck width could be an issue. I was watching a video of some kid covering a song on a 4 string and I was off put by how thin the neck is down near the lower 5,4,3,2,1 frets. Thing narrowed down to an inch and a half or so. I got used to my 5 string neck being fat up there haha.

 

[bohemond]

Its an issue with B strings with me as well. Dont like them.

 

[bohemond]

But yeah. I know a great 5 string player who is completely lost when he picks up and tries to play my four string basses.

 

[SirChallsA]

I've started growing quite fond of the deep growl of a low B. I think I love that sound and without it I would be quite depressed. How could you not like them?

 

[bohemond]

I get the same frequency with the detuned strings. I just am not comfortable with the thickness of the string

 

[SirChallsA]

I understand not wanting to add too much to a bass. 5 strings seems pretty mellow after this though.

 

[Jensby design]

I've started growing quite fond of the deep growl of a low B. I think I love that sound and without it I would be quite depressed.

That's why I went to a 6-string so I could add an low F#-string. Now I find myself using many different tunings such as:
ADEADG,
f#BEADG,
EBEADG,
EAEADG,
DAEADG,
EAEADE,
capo, spider capo, whatever it takes to get the sound I want. If I need to change a string or two I'll do it. The bass is a tool for music. I do however agree that tuning all through a show is quite annoying.

 

[Kmonk]

Just learn the songs on a five string.


Sent from my iPad using TalkBass

I was in a band that had different tunings. I bought a five string and never had a problem.

B is lower than C, so yes.

The only issue you'll run across is that you won't be able to easily (visually) check what your guitarist is playing with the different turnings going on. That's one thing I know is going to trip me up when I get a 5 or a 4 tuned BEAD.

If you know your parts, there is no reason to check and see what the guitarist is doing.

 

[bahia0019]

If you know your parts, there is no reason to check and see what the guitarist is doing.

We don't do covers. We create original music, I always need to know what the guitarist is doing. After that "knowing my parts" is easy... Cause I created them.

 

[Turock]

Use your ears instead of your eyes.

 

[Worldeeeter]

I played in a cover band last year that did this same thing. They either retuned or changed guitars every 2-3 songs. We played everything 1/2-step down as well.
I never touched my headstock/tuners during a show. I have an Eventide Pitchfactor, which, if run 100% wet, acts as a detuner. With a single-click turn of a knob, I can go up and down in half-step increments. Of course, this changes the tuning of all four strings, which I liked, because I was never a drop-tuner. It doesn't muck up the tone of my bass, either.
I changed guitars to my 5-string for 4 songs, along with the two guitarists, but other than that, I just adjusted the Pitchfactor to the key they played in and it was great. For people in the audience, nothing is worse than watching and listening to the band tuning their instruments between songs. If I ever play in another cover band,
the Pitchfactor will be right there with me; it's a must for that type of situation.

 

[James Copple]

How about tuning to your lowest required setting and putting a capo on for higher tunings?

 

[sean_on_bass]

Try to figure out your singers comfortable key and change some of the song keys to that. No need to play each and every song in the original key if its logistically difficult. I myself hate switching tunings, and really prefer my guitars to stay in one dedicated tuning for setup reasons.

 

[INTP]

Use your ears instead of your eyes.

In the few times that I tried to accommodate a group by using an alt tuning, the sounds I heard didn't match what sound the bass made, which messed with me a lot.

I always wondered how anyone knows what note they're playing when they constantly use alternate tunings. It occurs to me now that they probably don't bother knowing the (concert) note names). If I'm wrong about that last bit, then I just have to say that anyone who can do that has a skill that I'll likely never develop.