Point to drop tuning?

[my name is mud]

whats the point to drop D, A, B etc tuning a bass? dosn't it just make 2 strings sound the same?

 

[Brendan]

It's fun.

 

[robb.]

it's a lot easier to tune to Eb when the guitars are tuned to Eb than it is to buy a 5 string and relearn how to play everything. plus, it won't sound like a 5 string, which is a good thing for me.

robb.

 

[I-Love-Ratm]

what tunings are you talking about?

 

[Figjam]

The strings dont sound the same. You tune one to LOW D, A B, etc. You dont tune your E to the D above it, its the one below it.

 

[Rumzini]

My name is mud....isn't Le Claypool tuned to drop D for some of his songs...To Many Puppies??????

 

[Fret-less Six]

No for "my name is mud" he uses his fretless six string (AKA the rainbow bass) he just plays on the B string...and for too many puppies he probably uses his fretted sixer

 

[Thor]

Ok, I checked you profile for equipment, and noticed the
Brice 4.

The low D popular in songs in D like Sweet Home Alabama [choke]
for example, a drop to D on only the E string will allow you to hit the root note for the song.

The draw back is that then the 'E' string is now tuned to a 5th,
not a 4th and you have to adjust your fingering on the E string to
reflect that. Another option is to tune all strings down 2 whole steps, but I don't recommend this as it can make the strings sound
'muddy' as they are under less tension.

There is also a device known as a 'hipshot tuner' that has a lever at the tuning machine head that when pulled, flats the E to a D when needed.

Many bassplayers that are pros move to a 5 string to get the low extended range, or to a 6 or seven string to get both the low and high extended ranges.

I have played bass for 30 years and the 4 has always met my needs,
but styles and needs change.

Try some of these techniques, and if they work for you, fine.
If not, save for a 5 and an equipment upgrade. Based on your profile, I would upgrade the amp first, the Brice is a good axe, and I have friends [ member 'NJL' ] that play serious jazz, that are perfectly happy with it.

hope that helps

Thor

 

[Figjam]

No for "my name is mud" he uses his fretless six string (AKA the rainbow bass) he just plays on the B string...and for too many puppies he probably uses his fretted sixer

I dont believe he was refering to the song my name is mud, but instead, the TBer^^ i believe he was only refering to Too many puppies.

 

[rabid_granny]

No for "my name is mud" he uses his fretless six string (AKA the rainbow bass) he just plays on the B string...and for too many puppies he probably uses his fretted sixer

I've seen a line performance video for Too Many Puppies. He uses his Carl Thompson 4-string with the whammy bar.

 

[bigcatJC]

Another reason for drop tunings, especially ones where you drop all strings, is so guitar players can do their tricks in a lower key and still use open strings.

You know one of us had to say it

 

[knuckle_head]

I use an alternate tuning where my lowest fundamental is an A with straight 4th relationships. I chose to do this to support my baritone which is tuned to A.

.....not quite the same, huh.

 

[Rumzini]

Yeah I was referring to the TBr's name....but the question was answered. Anyways some guy at the local shop was playing some Primus stuff and I noticed and he told me he dropped the E to D.
I play with the E tuned to D...why? When I used to try to learn how to play guitar my brother in law who plays guitar was playing that way...so I did. Then when I switched to bass and played with him I tuned that way. Now when I got into the band I'm in now the guitarr player plays in "Drop D"...however I want to talk him into trying the CGCF tuning. Or I may go BEAD to get a lil extended low range...since I hardly ever touch my G string....Blah blah blah....I ramble

 

[Bassism]

Marcus Miller tunes drop D when he plays So What.....

 

[Fuzzbass]

I used to detune my E string to reach lower notes. Since switching to BEADG fiver, I don't have to deal with that anymore.

One of my bands tunes down to Eb because of the lead vocalist's limited range. Yes, I tune down my fiver as well.

 

[Nick man]

For guitarist:

To make certain chords easier.

For bassist:

To match the guitarists playing without buying a 5 string.

 

[tplyons]

Extended bottom range without losing your G string or playing a fiver. It's very common, especially getting that rumbling low D. I know it's one of my favorite tricks, especially in hard rock playing. Hipshots are IMO the way to go for the low D tuning.

 

[Anti_Wish]

whats the point to drop D, A, B etc tuning a bass? dosn't it just make 2 strings sound the same?

go the the "ask michael manring" thread. he drop tunes so much it is insane. i think in like the song "glass window" or SOMETHING like that he detunes like 100 times (or so, it was on a website about his tunings). i do love that zon hyperbass!

 

[Adam Barkley]

go the the "ask michael manring" thread. he drop tunes so much it is insane. i think in like the song "glass window" or SOMETHING like that he detunes like 100 times (or so, it was on a website about his tunings). i do love that zon hyperbass!

Keep in mind that he is creating new tunings by raising and lowering, not just detuning lower throughout the song.



The reason some guitarists detune their E to D is to allow to play power chords with one finger; and they say it's hard to start on guitar.

 

[Anti_Wish]

thats what i meant...