NBD: Why is a 4 string tuned standard EADG and not BEAD ?

[Bunnoodle]

Just. Got a new 5er today ... i felt like the low B was a hidden treasure. Why was bass tuned EADG in the first place ?

 

[Trouztrouz]

Because that's how uprights were tuned.

 

[mdogs]

Uhh, because it’s tuned like the lowest 4 strings of a guitar and this^^^.

 

[Bunnoodle]

hmm i wonder when the first 5 er came out.

 

[bholder]

Tradition, that's how an upright bass is tuned.

 

[bholder]

hmm i wonder when the first 5 er came out.

Fender had the Fender V in the 60s, but it was EADGC not BEADG. Not sure who did the first BEADG 5er, it was in the 70s though, I'm guessing.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

hmm i wonder when the first 5 er came out.

The history of the electric bass part four: how many strings? | MusicRadar

"The first time a bass guitar received more than four strings was when Danelectro introduced the UB-2 bass as early as 1956."

It was 6-string, though:

 

[Bunnoodle]

The first time a bass guitar received more than four strings was when Danelectro introduced the UB-2 bass as early as 1956

high Cs instead of low Bs though?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

You were curious about the history of bass guitars, Voila!
(just read the info in that link)

 

[Jaco who?]

Just. Got a new 5er today ... i felt like the low B was a hidden treasure. Why was bass tuned EADG in the first place ?

Because with BEAD, it's a pain in the *** to shift up and down the neck?

 

[LoTone]

I also wonder if the EADG scheme is not also done to match a piano? On a grand piano, E is the lowest note. Just wondering?

 

[tlc1976]

Proper B strings that could reproduce those low notes weren't around in 1951 when the P bass came out. Not until 1975 or so.

I think it's because it's the lowest 4 strings of a guitar.

Fender had the Fender V in the 60s, but it was EADGC not BEADG. Not sure who did the first BEADG 5er, it was in the 70s though, I'm guessing.

Jimmy Johnson and the Alembic.

 

[Solude]

If I had to hazard a guess I'd include that most stereos can't go down to the 41Hz of E let alone 31Hz of B.

 

[ShowKing]

Imagine 50s and 60s music played with low B lol

 

[Watchootognbout]

Fender had the Fender V in the 60s, but it was EADGC not BEADG. Not sure who did the first BEADG 5er, it was in the 70s though, I'm guessing.

The first low B five stringer was made for Jimmy"Flim"Johnson by Alembic in 1975.
First 5 String (NWYT)
Bass guitar - Wikipedia

 

[five7]

I ran sound for a guy here in Denver who has a 5 string upright from the 40's

 

[chris_b]

Imagine 50s and 60s music played with low B lol

Something wrong with your imagination, mate. I play a lot of music including 50's and 60's stuff on my 5 string bass. Nothing lol about it.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I ran sound for a guy here in Denver who has a 5 string upright from the 40's

BEADG tuning?

 

[ShowKing]

I ran sound for a guy here in Denver who has a 5 string upright from the 40's

5 string upright isn't too uncommon. They used them in orchestral music depending on the piece. More commonly with high C and they would add low extensions to the E string by the headstock for lower notes.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Eddie ate delicious grapes.