Rookie Q - would I be better tuning B-E-A-D?

[Smooth_bass88]

I play in the same genre most weekends and this is the answer. Switching to drop D and out again gives you options when the song is a droning D (like when playing with Irish pipes or Strathspeys) but back to standard when playing songs.

Hipshot bass Xtender is a freaking great tool to have. I've been using them for years. Three of my 10 basses have them. Especially great if you're playing a wide variety of genres.

 

[Kokoskaka]

Playing notes below low E may not fit very well in this style. If the bass does not sound "fat" enough, there are several things that can help, like adjusting EQ, picking closer to the neck, use warmer sounding strings or play higher notes on a lower string (like D on 10th fret on the E-string instead of 5th on the A-string).

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I sometimes record with a guitar tuned to d standard but for me on bass it would potentially create a problem as I learned to read guitar chords many years ago to easily pick up songs in jams, rehearsals and sub gigs without rehearsals. I’d need to do a quick transpose every time and that would irritate me. That said I’m not particularly strong on theory.

funny how some bassists (like my wife) may as well watch a harpist as they are pure ear players and don’t “read” guitar chords. She doesn’t even know campfire chords by sight!