Playing 1/2 step down - will I need heavier strings?

[Mushroo]

Exactly - I can see why the guitarists do it, as they use chord fingering, but for bass it makes almost no sense. Like playing with a capo.

Bass players don't use fingerings? I play with a capo all the time.

 

[arsie]

As far as I am concerned 105 is already the heavier strings for 1/2 step 1 step detuning.

 

[Floyd Eye]

If I'm playing my 6 string I leave it in standard tuning ( E through C). I usually tune the B string to D anyway, so I tune it to Db for the open note and play everything else one fret down.

 

[BillyIVbass]

I use 45-105s and have no problems jumping from standard to 1/2 step down. It sort of annoys me but hey a gigs a gig.

 

[rockstarbassist]

Man there's a lot of bad advice in here... lol.
But these type of threads are always pretty good for a laugh.

 

[Bass Club Mark]

Guys who detune increase tension in a few different ways. If you have the option of stringing through the body (Lakland for example), you can add tension by doing that. Heavier guage strings will also make the strings feel tighter, and there are strings out there (DR Loriders), that are designed to play with increased tension at the same guages as regular roundwound strings.

 

[rockstarbassist]

DRs are ok at downtuning, but certain Circle K sets are specifically designed to do just that, and have better feel and tension without sounding and feeling "artificial", like the DR DDT sets do. I had those on for half of a practice before I took 'em off.

But as the correct people in here have been saying, 1/2 step isn't hardly even going to be noticeable. No "drastic action" is necessary.

 

[tonynoriega]

Simply for the sake of avoiding the addition of yet another variable in to the equation by using heavier gauge strings, I would suggest keeping your current gauge. You may be surprised at how quickly you can adapt, and you may even like it better since fretting the strings at lower tension is a wee bit easier.

 

[Rune Bivrin]

Guys who detune increase tension in a few different ways. If you have the option of stringing through the body (Lakland for example), you can add tension by doing that.

Stringing through the body does not increase tension. The tension is dependent on the length of string between bridge and nut and the mass of the string.

If anything, stringing through body might decrease the percieved tension because of the increased length of elastic (in context) material that is available to extension when you move the strings with your fingers, thus requiring less force for the same movement.

I suppose theoretically it could affect the height of the string if the through-hole is close to the bridge saddle. The string wouldn't bend sharply over the saddle but rather form a small curve and that would raise the string somewhat. Which would, in turn, affect the amount of force required to depress the string down to fret level. Of course you should compensate by lowering the saddles accordingly, so the effect should be negligible.

 

[JP Morin]

If you don't like the tension when downtuned, D'ADDARIO has a chart of string tension for a given gage and different tuning... Just check the tension of the string you like in standard tuning and find a string at the same tension at the new tuning... it's on their website...

It has been very helpful for me as I tune in low C with my band...

 

[BogeyBass]

105 is good for drop D once in awhile.

but if your gonna play drop tuned alot moving up to a 110 E sounds better.

So maybe a minor setup to neck and saddles if you jump to a larger set.

otherwise even if your not a Billy Sheehan fan, it doesn't matter, his custom gauge Invalid Link Removedset from Rotosound is pure genius.

Uses a heavy 110 E for detune, but uses a lighter A D G
to keep down tension. sometimes if your lucky just throw on that set and you wont even need to adjust the neck.
you can compare the gauges of sets Invalid Link Removed