Get a 35" bass, or get heavier strings...
+1
I use a Spector Euro 5 for metal, tuned to D standard. I got it set up just for that tuning and with its 35 " scale its not floppy at all with medium gauge strings.
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Get a 35" bass, or get heavier strings...
Cryptic Anthony said:you arent skilled at hearing metal
Diechris said:+1 if you ever get a chance to hear a band play with a bass and without a bass for the same track.. there's a huge chunk missing.. bassist in metal bands sound HUGE.. its different from thinking "i need to cut through the mix" its more of "how can i fill it to make the over all sound bigger and huge"
Diechris said:the subject of "metal band" is vast nowadays... some people think.. maiden, megadeth, anthrax when you say metal.. some think lamb of god, soilwork, entity awakened.. some think immortal, behemoth, and meyhem.. and then there's others that even think... random bands like tool, korn and primus even..
the bassist role in all those are very different... .
That annoys the piss out of me. If I can't do it with a 5 string, I won't do it. Most guitards could care less how much effort it takes a bassist to get good action and sound changing to tunings for them to get a darker sound.
I didn't want to say anything, but you're right. I think things sound too muddy if everyone's playing real low anyways. Besides, if Cliff Burton was able to "get by" with a 4-string, that should go to show that it's really all you need.For playing in C, just keep your bass tuned standard! Learn your lines differently. Learn them by ear. Don't watch your guitarist play. Play what you feel sounds good. I think you're getting caught up in being able to play exactly what he plays. Otherwise, standard tuning gets you all the notes you need on a 5'er.
To be honest, i can see the point in tuning down a five string. Five strings have a lot to offer metal, even dropping them down sometimes can be used for pedaling in more modern metal.
I tune my MTD Z5 to ACGCF. I find myself playing most on the C, G, and higher C strings, but also dig into the A on occasion. Rarely will i hit the high F

I play metal in standard tuning. :O
You have what... atleast 20-22 frets on your fretboards over 5 strings?!? Get to know some of them! I play a 4-banger exclusively atm and never have any of these issues. After reading through this, I think it's more of an issue of technique and theory that is lacking.
If you're talking about my post in particular (and my apologies if you aren'tSome basses are prone to being amazing for metal. I personally refuse to use my SR4 for metal. Not because i dont like that bass, but to be honest it just doesn't capture the tone I like.
If you're talking about my post in particular (and my apologies if you aren't
): Read a little more carefully over what I wrote. In celebration of standard tuning, I was suggesting that some of those metal types that drop tune to C and such should just buy a 5 string, and was also making reference to the fact that they tend to also be the type to only play on the two lower strings.
And just for the record, I have been classically trained in music for half my life, and am very well aquainted with each and every fret and harmonic on my 24 fret 5 string!
Man, I couldn't imagine why! I absolutely adore the tone from my SR5 for metal. It's got such an aggressive bite and pumps up the entire sound of my band. I'd love to know what it is you don't like about it.