Playing with Eb tuning

[bob atherton]

I have had a chance to detune to Eb a couple of basses and I'm really liking the feel. One has to be careful not to get a bit sloppy with the technique but aside from that it's just a slightly faster, easier experience to standard tuning. I had to tweak the truss rods a bit as well but no big deal. I use DR Lo-rider 45 - 105 strings and certainly would not want to do this with any lighter gauge. I am no longer at all concerned with my jam coming up at the week-end. Thanks for all the useful help guys. Bob

 

[js1268]

Silly guitarists. They usually tune down entire guitar a half-step for the vocalist. I'd just follow suit and do the same with bass. No harm.

My guitarist tunes his low E to D. I just stay in E. Makes for some cool bass lines.

 

[Anders Barfod]

Silly guitarists. They usually tune down entire guitar a half-step for the vocalist. I'd just follow suit and do the same with bass. No harm.

My guitarist tunes his low E to D. I just stay in E. Makes for some cool bass lines.

Singer dependent..

If your singer is more of a tenor and can sing all the classic bryan adams songs, d-minor rock ballads etc,, standard pitch on bass and guitar just works.. But if you singer can't do that and lies slightly more towards the baritone realm, E-flat can be really good..
Take songs like "hip to be square" and "power of love" by Huey Lewis and the news. They require a low E to sound right on the guitar and four string bass. If you singer can't get through those song in standard pitch without straining to much a half key down to E-flat to the rescue.. What you will find out is that so many songs detuned a half note will work better for that specific singer..