• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Set list with standard and half-step down tuning

kawika5150

kawika5150

Mar 8, 2011
206
1
Island of Oahu
#1
Not sure if this is in the right forum, but here's my question:

How do you deal with a set list for a performance that has both standard and half-step down tuning? Do you bring two basses or just tune up/down after a specific song? Do you just have a set portion of songs all with the same tuning so you don't have to keep going up and down?

I find it a waste of time to keep changing the tuning after a couple of songs then going back. I'm suggesting the first set is either one tuning or the other. After a break, we could do the other.

How do you handle it?
 
#2
In our 3 sets we either start standard for about 6-7 songs and then a half-step for the remaining 6-7 songs, or vice versa. We do one set where we start standard and then the last 4 songs are Drop D. We never have to tune more than once in a set. I tune while the two guitarist grab guitars.
 
#3
We decided long ago to just play everything 1/2 step flat. I sort of still have the dilemma with drop D songs though. We try to lump drop D songs together in groups of 2 or more, but there is no set rule. It doesn't take long to drop the E to a D.
 
#6
pasta4lnch said:
thankfully the singer I gig w/ most has decided to go all standard tuning. just feels better . . . usually I wont bounce back and forth in a night. I'll either just play the song down/up a half step or even bring my V'r if needed. only thing more annoying than retuning mid gig (or worse multiple times) is lugging 2 basses. but that's me :D ymmv
Click to expand...


Yes. That's why we just do everything 1/2 step down. If I HAD to do songs both ways, I would put all the standard tunes together.
 
#11
I once had a band that played songs in standard tuning as well as E flat and we would drop a whole step in both of those tunings.

I used two basses. One set up for each tuning and we arranged the songs so that we could change real quick.

We eventually decided to play in E flat though to simplify things and the singer could sing all of the songs in E flat or dropping a full step to D flat.
 
#12
Learn the songs in different positions... it will make you a better player...

If there is something you NEED to play open strings on, then you have no choice but to either tune really quick, or make a set list to accommodate the tuning.

What do the guitar players do? Capo?
 
#13
kawika5150 said:
Not sure if this is in the right forum, but here's my question:

How do you deal with a set list for a performance that has both standard and half-step down tuning? Do you bring two basses or just tune up/down after a specific song? Do you just have a set portion of songs all with the same tuning so you don't have to keep going up and down?

I find it a waste of time to keep changing the tuning after a couple of songs then going back. I'm suggesting the first set is either one tuning or the other. After a break, we could do the other.

How do you handle it?
Click to expand...

A single five string bass in the same tuning as the majority of the songs. For the minority of songs tuned differently, I transpose. The beauty of five string is that it allows more wiggle room, especially when it's tuned to standard and you're playing songs a half step flat. F'r instance, playing a song in E flat on standard-tuned fiver is as easy as playing a song in A flat on standard-tuned four: you get the low root, and can go even lower.
 
#14
SLaPiNFuNK said:
Learn the songs in different positions... it will make you a better player...

If there is something you NEED to play open strings on, then you have no choice but to either tune really quick, or make a set list to accommodate the tuning.

What do the guitar players do? Capo?
Click to expand...

Guitarists use their 2nd axe. Don't like to play the standard songs half down because it just doesn't sound right to us.
 
#15
If they are taking the time to switch, you can to... A Volume Pedal, or even one of the new Planet Waves Short Switch Cables will make the change a lot less noisy.

Plus, you could then setup the 2nd bass to a more ideal setup with more ideal strings for that tuning etc...

That is if a 2nd bass is an option for you.
 
#16
Two Basses or a 5 string.

If you are retuning it wll mess with the action and intonation. Lots of tension difference will pull and relax the neck. TRhat will change intonation as well as the action.

Two basses one in standard tuning and one in Flat. You may want heavier string for the lowered tuning. Definatly truss rod and bridge tweeking, maybe nut work, a set up. There are some pretty decent basses that can can do the job (Squire, Ibenez,Peavey, Slammer) for not alot of money.

My solution is 5 string. I'm always changing keys when I play with my wife (likes the Capo) and the 5er makes the transpositions alot easier.
 
#17
In my last band they had half the songs 1/2 step down and half regular tuning. I learned some 1/2 step down when they let me know ahead of time. Our set list indicated which were 1/2 step down and I'd bring two Basses but you wouldn't believe how many times the keyboardist would forget to tune down. So embarrassing, not to mention tacky and unprofessional to stop and restart. Also, tuning half down caused me to lose my low notes sometimes.
 
#20
kawika5150 said:
Not sure if this is in the right forum, but here's my question:

How do you deal with a set list for a performance that has both standard and half-step down tuning? Do you bring two basses or just tune up/down after a specific song? Do you just have a set portion of songs all with the same tuning so you don't have to keep going up and down?

I find it a waste of time to keep changing the tuning after a couple of songs then going back. I'm suggesting the first set is either one tuning or the other. After a break, we could do the other.

How do you handle it?
Click to expand...

The way I used to do it was I had a Rickenbacker tuned EADG, a p-bass tuned E flat and a Jazz tuned DGCF.

Now I use a 5 string bass and I don't ever have to detune or change basses unless I need a low B flat.

Or you could just play everthing with the bass tuned E flat. Just transpose the songs as needed.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back