Not detuning to guitarist

[BklynKen]

Am I missing something here? Unless I need to go lower than E on a 4-string, if I've heard a recording that I need to play with a band and just learned it in open tuning, why would I need to detune just because the guitarist did?

I hope that makes sense.

Thanks.

 

[Mushroo]

It's totally your choice (unless you're getting paid to do it a specific way). You can choose to play the song in standard tuning (transposing your fingering so you're playing in the same key as the guitarist, obviously), or downtune so your open strings and fingerings match the guitarist's.

When I'm making this decision, I ask myself 3 questions:

1. Which tuning is easier for me to play?
2. Which tuning is easier for the guitarist to follow?
3. Which tuning sounds best for the song?

 

[2.6kHz]

As long as there are no injury-inducing stretches involved, and you can still hit every note required for the song, tune however you want. One caveat to that is detuned strings do behave a little differently, less tension so there is a little more slop in their travel. Alters tone slightly.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

It's totally your choice (unless you're getting paid to do it a specific way). You can choose to play the song in standard tuning (transposing your fingering so you're playing in the same key as the guitarist, obviously), or downtune so your open strings and fingerings match the guitarist's.

When I'm making this decision, I ask myself 3 questions:

1. Which tuning is easier for me to play?
2. Which tuning is easier for the guitarist to follow?
3. Which tuning sounds best for the song?

+1. I stay in standard tuning and do as Mushroo said about transposing and playing in the same key the guitarist ends up with.

Have in the past played Banjo and still play rhythm guitar, if on those instruments I capo or tune in something other than standard I do it to make my job easier. My job on the bass is easier if I stay in standard tuning and adjust the key.

 

[BklynKen]

Thanks, guys. I'm with you on staying in standard tuning and just adjusting to the right notes. In the end, who cares if bass and guitar are on the same frets, as long as the music sounds good. I guess it mostly matters to inflexible people.

 

[Progfan44]

Back a couple years ago I played in a melodic death metal band where the guitars were tuned to drop Bb (2 whole steps down across all strings and an additional whole step on the low string). Luckily, I had a 5 string at the time so I just tuned down a half step and played in Bb Standard (Bb Eb Ab Db Gb). I really liked it as it actually discouraged me from just doubling everything the guitar did and encouraged me to do my own thing.

 

[J Posega]

Thanks, guys. I'm with you on staying in standard tuning and just adjusting to the right notes. In the end, who cares if bass and guitar are on the same frets, as long as the music sounds good. I guess it mostly matters to inflexible people.

The only people that care if you're on the same frets are going to be the guitar players in the band, or the incompetent bass players in other bands that spend 100% of their time root noting the guitar parts. Usually they used to be guitarists too.

 

[David Jayne]

In a lot of music there are many times that open strings are used, or certain patterns occur which will be difficult to execute unless you tune down with him. It's much, much easier to simply tune down than to execute the fingering gymnastics that some songs will require if you don't.

 

[Jigsawjaybus]

Its not a must by any means. I generally tune a whole step down as a matter of preference and my guitarist is in some weird drop/bomb tuning. Using standard or close to it works so much better because it keeps the bass tight and clear instead of a flubby pile of muddy crap or having to delve into some weird maneuvers with super thick strings and extra long scales or whatever. You have to train your ears and eyes a little different if you're used to being able to just watch what the guitar or whatever is doing but it was an easy adjustment for so that means anyone can do it.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Depends on the tuning and on what has to be played IMHO. Rich Hinks, the founder and bass player for the British progressive metal band Aeon Zen, doesn't always tune down to ''match'' the guitar. Though they play stuff in Drop Ab and Drop C, they also have 2 songs where the guitarist uses a 8 string guitar tuned to F standard (F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb). When they play those 2 songs, Rich simply keeps his 6 string bass guitar tuned in standard tuning (B E A D G C). For the lower stuff, he plays in the same octave.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I actually know a guy who tunes his bass guitar lower than the guitar. The guitar is tuned to Drop Bb (Bb F Bb Eb Ab C F) while the bass guitar is tuned to A standard (A D G C F). Works pretty well actually

 

[Rmackner]

Depends on the tuning and on what has to be played IMHO. Rich Hinks, the founder and bass player for the British progressive metal band Aeon Zen, doesn't always tune down to ''match'' the guitar. Though they play stuff in Drop Ab and Drop C, they also have 2 songs where the guitarist uses a 8 string guitar tuned to F standard (F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb). When they play those 2 songs, Rich simply keeps his 6 string bass guitar tuned in standard tuning (B E A D G C). For the lower stuff, he plays in the same octave.

Why would you even need to detune a 6 string bass with a low B string? That pretty much the main reason why people move over to the low B so they don't have to drop the E string to get them low bass notes to blend with the guitar.

 

[Mushroo]

Why would you even need to detune a 6 string bass with a low B string? That pretty much the main reason why people move over to the low B so they don't have to drop the E string to get them low bass notes to blend with the guitar.

There are (at least) three valid reasons to detune your bass, which I listed in post #2: it is easier for you as a bassist, it is is easier for the band's guitarist, and/or it sounds better.

Any of these three reasons could apply regardless of how many strings are on your bass. It would be strange to embrace alternate tunings, but only on 4-string. If anything, I would think extended-range bass owners would be more open minded about alternate tunings, having already made the leap from standard EADG.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I don't want to troll you, but you sound like a ''bass guitars don't need more than 4 strings'' guy.. The low B is tuned down by many bass players to play in a lower register. It's easier to go from B to Bb, A, or Ab than with a E string. So I don't see your point but that's just me?

Why would you even need to detune a 6 string bass with a low B string? That pretty much the main reason why people move over to the low B so they don't have to drop the E string to get them low bass notes to blend with the guitar.

 

[Schmorgy]

Sometimes when I play metal, I'll play the standard tuning of whatever drop tuning the guitarists use (Such as C standard when they play drop C). I find it gives me more freedom for runs and fills without having to worry about wicked stretches when going between strings (though if you follow the guitarists at all, that can be your downfall when they're writing songs on the premise that they're tuned a 5th apart from the "E" to "A" string). There is something to be said about being able to hit those super deep notes, though, and especially if you can get the band mixed nicely (guitarists NOT scooping and throttling the bass off a bit giving you a lot of room) it can actually make the record sound pretty spacious.

Detuning to match the guitarists can actually sound pretty decent when you can convince the guitarists that they don't need to have the bass knob on their EQ cranked to 11.

Additionally, when I play in church congregational stuff of in post-rock style stuff, I sometimes tune to drop D rather than standard just to get those two deeper notes for extra texture or oomph in the band (since I have yet to purchase a 5 string).

 

[/\/\3phist0]

1/2 step higher guage. Just easier overall when playing live . If someone gets lost visual reference of where you are. Necessary no.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

in original band, it is up to you. If you do covers and you use downtuning so you don't have the relearn the line you know by heart ok ...

Never found an interest in down tuning to fit the guitar and double the guitar riff too boring to me.

 

[Jrussblues]

Tone is an important part of tuning. For instance, a majority of basses will not make drop d sound correct if you are droning on a b string, regardless of technique.