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My guitarist keeps down tuning

R

remainthesame

Sep 24, 2008
818
48
#1
Hey guys, I would love to hear what you all think about this.
I am a 5 string player, and I have been for most of the time that I've played bass. when I joined my current band about 2 years ago, my guitarist played in drop Bb on a six string guitar. I suggested that he should get a 7 string and play in drop A, I told him that his strings wouldn't be as floppy and its only a half step lower. After rejecting this theory for months he finally decided to go with a 7 and we changed our tuning to drop A.
Now hes tuning his low B down as far as he can. He claims he wants an 8 string, and to play in E. I keep trying to explain to him that I cant go that low. I keep telling him that the E he wants to go to is the lowest note on a four string bass. He keeps saying "play the octave" but then I wouldn't ever have any use for my B string, so I'd pretty much end up having to buy a four string. His upgrade will force me to downgrade.
What do you guys think?
 
#13
Personatech said:
I have to agree with what others have said regarding your guitarist but I have to ask: since when is moving from 5-string to 4-string a "downgrade?" :eyebrow:
Click to expand...

im not trying to insult the 4 string players out there, in fact sometimes theres nothing i like more than breaking out the ol 4 string and slapping away. but for me, i have a lot of parts in this band that require me to use all 5 strings. i wouldnt be able to play the same on a four string
 
#14
Some bands down tune. If you're not interested in playing that low, I certainly wouldn't be, than it may be time to find another project to work with.

On the other hand, you may find that you get into it after a bit of experimenting with your tuning and setups.
 
#16
kdogg said:
Some bands down tune. If you're not interested in playing that low, I certainly wouldn't be, than it may be time to find another project to work with.

On the other hand, you may find that you get into it after a bit of experimenting with your tuning and setups.
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im all for down tuning. ive played in a lot of wierd tunings, but eventually you reach a point where its too low. you can always go the next half step lower and it will always sound slightly heavier as a result. but eventually youre going to sound like mud
 
#17
Unless you like mud, may be play with someone else or switch to keyboards?


remainthesame said:
Hey guys, I would love to hear what you all think about this.
I am a 5 string player, and I have been for most of the time that I've played bass. when I joined my current band about 2 years ago, my guitarist played in drop Bb on a six string guitar. I suggested that he should get a 7 string and play in drop A, I told him that his strings wouldn't be as floppy and its only a half step lower. After rejecting this theory for months he finally decided to go with a 7 and we changed our tuning to drop A.
Now hes tuning his low B down as far as he can. He claims he wants an 8 string, and to play in E. I keep trying to explain to him that I cant go that low. I keep telling him that the E he wants to go to is the lowest note on a four string bass. He keeps saying "play the octave" but then I wouldn't ever have any use for my B string, so I'd pretty much end up having to buy a four string. His upgrade will force me to downgrade.
What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
 
#18
Unrepresented said:
Sounds like your guitarist is already the bassist in your band. Offer to play guitar in his project.
Click to expand...

Agreed. He wants low E? Tell the "guitarist" to get one of those new Fender Pawn Shop Bass VIs or equivalent, and then you're free to play guitar over top him :p

Or, tell him to stop turning the whole band's sound into mud, and to tune up. Past a certain point, there is absolutely no reason for that extreme downtuning.

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