Should I learn on an EADG bass before stringing BEAD?

[Ric5]

I am a new bass player and I am just wrapping up the final lessons on bassbuzz.com which I have enjoyed. I will be done in a few more days and then I was planning on getting my bass strung BEAD by a really good local tech who has experience with it. After that I was thinking I would start private lessons with a local teacher I have texted back and forth with a few times, seems like a solid guy. I have brought up my plan to string BEAD and he said he's totally fine with it, won't be an issue at all if that's what I want to do, either way is fine. My question to you guys is whether or not I should become really proficient with the bass in EADG before exploring alternate tunings or if I should just start off with what I want to do which is play a bass strung BEAD. My reason for that is simply because I love the way it sounds, I'm not a fan of the tighter string spacing of 5 strings I have noodled with at the local big box and virtually all the music I love is played on drop tuned basses. My goal at the end of the day is just to become the best bassist I can be and if that means learning on EADG first and putting off the alternate tuning then so be it. Thanks for your input!

I used to play EADG, but I needed lower notes, So I tried DGCF. That worked pretty well for me, until I needed notes lower than the low D. I tried BEAD, but I didn't like no G string, So I settled on BEADG

 

[Mushroo]

I'm going to clarify a couple of things that are common beginner misconceptions. If you already know this stuff then just ignore my comments.

1. You can play any song, in any key, in standard EADG tuning. There is a common misconception that the lowest string of your bass must be tuned to the key of the song. This is not true. Furthermore there is no strict requirement that you use the same tuning as your guitarist, or that you use the same tuning as the original bassist when you are playing a cover song.
   
2. Your choice of tuning does not (in and of itself) determine your tone. When you hear a bassist whose tone sounds good to you, it because of their technique and their choice of gear (not their tuning). If you choose equal tension strings, and give the bass a proper set up, then you can change the tuning on your bass without changing your tone. (The corollary of this is that it is also possible to change your tone, without changing your tuning.)

 

[MrMoT]

I've seen a couple of questions about BEAD tuning in internet lately.... If that is what you want, or you need B string for the music you will be playing, that's perfectly fine. Just play it.
On the other hand, I would advise you to start with standard tuning or get a 5 string bass. but that's just my opinion

 

[Bahjark]

No

 

[nnnnnn]

You're losing only the top 5 notes of EADG tuning, everything else is there.

It's more complicated than that because now notes that were on the G string have to be played further up the neck on the D string, and a riff originally from EADG tuning that uses the open G and/or D strings as well as other notes on the G string can't just move, it has to be adapted.

Not that I'm saying BEAD is a problem and that existing EADG lines should not be adapted, I'm just noting it's not as simple as losing a few notes at the top of the range.

 

[Jesuguru]

If the only reason you don't like 5-strings is the tight string spacing, then I agree with a previous poster and would recommend starting with a 5-string with standard (19mm) spacing, there are plenty out there. That would give you the benefit of having the low-B, plus learning to play a five-string from the start, rather than having to learn to adjust from 4 to 5 down the road (easier for some than others). Just my $.02.

 

[Nashrakh]

It's more complicated than that because now notes that were on the G string have to be played further up the neck on the D string, and a riff originally from EADG tuning that uses the open G and/or D strings as well as other notes on the G string can't just move, it has to be adapted.

Not that I'm saying BEAD is a problem and that existing EADG lines should not be adapted, I'm just noting it's not as simple as losing a few notes at the top of the range.

You're right about that. As an avid BEAD tuner, I've experienced situations like the one you describe. But I quickly learned not to rely on open strings (to the point that I still don't play any at all on my sixer!). There are workarounds and the advantage is that you're not "stuck" to a specific tuning if you know how to lay out your lines sans open strings. And in all my years, I've never seen anything that drones on the open G string - I'd like to see examples though, just to check how I'd approach them.

 

[Bodeeni]

I guess it does not make any difference, but BEAD tuning is a bit of a novelty. I have done it once or twice and it gets old pretty quick. Especially when you are learning and most of the stuff you might like to learn was played in EADG. I would strongly suggest if you want a B string get a 5.

 

[4-stringB]

I was a "Standard" bassist for many years. Then one day, I decided to switch to BEAD, for the extended range. I still run into transposing issues from time to time that are entirely my own fault. I would recommend that you start on BEAD, and stay there. Having said that, you WILL run into a jam, or other similar situation that you won't have your own gear, but a standard bass will be available. So, be prepared.

 

[lbbc]

I changed one of my basses to BEAD tuning but found the B string to be too sloppy...so I converted back to EADG

 

[MNAirHead]

I alwaysget asked to play less and lower

Consistent low string tuning helps

 

[Silvio Dante]

But a five string that feels ok for you.

 

[RemoteOutpost]

I'm going to clarify a couple of things that are common beginner misconceptions. If you already know this stuff then just ignore my comments.

1. You can play any song, in any key, in standard EADG tuning. There is a common misconception that the lowest string of your bass must be tuned to the key of the song. This is not true. Furthermore there is no strict requirement that you use the same tuning as your guitarist, or that you use the same tuning as the original bassist when you are playing a cover song.
   
2. Your choice of tuning does not (in and of itself) determine your tone. When you hear a bassist whose tone sounds good to you, it because of their technique and their choice of gear (not their tuning). If you choose equal tension strings, and give the bass a proper set up, then you can change the tuning on your bass without changing your tone. (The corollary of this is that it is also possible to change your tone, without changing your tuning.)

Another tuning I see is CGCF, is that something that can be experimented with without physically modifying the bass? (Aside from some setup adjustments as needed)

 

[Mushroo]

Another tuning I see is CGCF, is that something that can be experimented with without physically modifying the bass? (Aside from some setup adjustments as needed)

You would just have to do a new setup, including possibly cutting the nut if the new strings are too thick.

 

[RemoteOutpost]

You would just have to do a new setup, including possibly cutting the nut if the new strings are too thick.

Oh, I thought it could be done with a standard set of strings. My bad!

 

[bassicmike]

Go for it.

If BEAD is gonna give you musical joy, then that's what you should learn.

Rock the (really) low-end.

 

[Mushroo]

Oh, I thought it could be done with a standard set of strings. My bad!

You could but the strings would be floppy and different in tone. Maybe it would work as an experiment, but if you liked that tuning and wanted to use it all the time, I think you'd be happier with a more appropriate set of strings.

 

[RemoteOutpost]

You could but the strings would be floppy and different in tone. Maybe it would work as an experiment, but if you liked that tuning and wanted to use it all the time, I think you'd be happier with a more appropriate set of strings.

Hey I'm from MA too! Right on the RI border!

 

[bassicmike]

Go for it.

If BEAD is gonna give you musical joy, then that's what you should learn.

Rock the (really) low-end.

But don't call the first fret on the B string "F". It's not. It's "C".

Always has been, always will be.

Learn the actual notes on the fretboard. It'll pay dividends down the line.

 

[bassicmike]

MA represent!