String Choice for Drop C?

[Adiemusman]

Hi All

I recently joined a band that has all songs in Drop C. I have a 5 String bass and naturally, I want to match the lower 5 strings of the guitar, so it would be C - G - C - F - A, which basically means all my strings need to be tuned up by either a half step for B/C and 3 half steps for the other strings.
Now just tuning to that setup wil make my strings very tight which makes my life a living hell as a fingerstyle player that likes to play fast passages on all strings and also bends high up the neck etc. as I am used to strings that have a bit of slack in them, like on a regular tuned bass with regular strings.

For downtunings, usually you use thicker strings to compensate the lack of tightness but here it's the opposit. Logically speaking I probably should use thinner strings but it sounds kinda weird and with the high price of bass strings, I am limited to experiment.

Does anybody have a tip or experience here on what would be the best choice of string thickness?

 

[John Bess]

Dude forget all that. I played a 5/6 string in a band tuned to C. I just left my bass tuned to B and wrote my lines that way. I can't stand drop tuning. Throws off years of practicing. It means you can't just double the guitar player. You have to create your own parts, but it works.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Your tuning doesn't have to match the guitars tuning.
C is the first fret on the low B.
You don't have to adjust anything as long as they don't drop below B.

 

[christhebass]

If you want to match you can get a 6-String set, stash the E string somewhere and tune the B String up half a step and the downtune the others a whole step. I did this using some Daddario EPS set

 

[Adiemusman]

Thanks for the many replies so far! I usually always try to differ myself from the guitar and I do it in this band as well. But Leaving my setup on a regular B won't cut it, I already tried that too. There are fast parts and some rather difficult runs and some of the lines I have to match in order to make it sound good and some need an open C at all cost. Also, I need the C to be the open ringing note anyway, it just sounds much better than being fretted and it's just much easier to play that way. Also better sounding when recording the stuff. It needs to work with adjusting the string thickness

 

[Vinny_G]

Thanks for the many replies so far! I usually always try to differ myself from the guitar and I do it in this band as well. But Leaving my setup on a regular B won't cut it, I already tried that too. There are fast parts and some rather difficult runs and some of the lines I have to match in order to make it sound good and some need an open C at all cost. Also, I need the C to be the open ringing note anyway, it just sounds much better than being fretted and it's just much easier to play that way. Also better sounding when recording the stuff. It needs to work with adjusting the string thickness

Maybe you could try these ones? [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[JimmyM]

The problem is who's going to know what gauges suit you best except you? Nobody, that's who. So I'm afraid there will have to be a little experimentation on your part.

 

[rumourzbass]

I am going through the same issue now with Drop C tuning.....just ordered a 6 set and going to set the b string aside and use the 105 through 35 set tuned C G C F Ab.

Already tried DDT 120 thru 40 set and they are too stiff

Will post again once the strings arrive

 

[hbabels]

These are what I’ve found work for me
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More and more companies are offering
4 string BEAD sets as well and the lighter versions of those work great for Drop C.

I’ve also had good results from 50-110 Rotosounds and 50-110 DR HI Beams and Low Rider sets but the D’Addario have been my fav for a while. And on my Basses at least no but mods required

I know some people here LOVE to go on about how you don’t need to tune that way, I get it but for some styles of music and bands the way certain riffs go it makes a lot more sense to do so , so if that’s your case go for it and getting the right strings for you definitely makes it sound / feel better

Fretnation.com is a great source for weird strings sets or even building your own custom set from single strings.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Install one of these.
Tune the low B up to C.
Then use the detuner to drop to B when not in use.
Bass Xtenders

 

[DistortedBass]

You could also go in the opposite direction. Tune your usual E string to C and the ones above it like you were playing a drop tune 4, and then do your B string as a G. That gives you the tuning you want, plus the ability to go lower and write counter point lines or notes. I have a 36" scale that I do that with and it's given me some great options I wouldn't normally think of. I tune a number of basses to C and C# and use standard medium strings. I don't like the sound of really heavy strings, and if you get strings with decent tension, your finger style won't suffer.

 

[knumbskull]

If it was me, i’d buy singles:

120
90
70
50
30

or 125 for the low C if you prefer more tension.

 

[knumbskull]

Ps to respond to a couple of points raised so far:

if you don’t have that extra leap in string gauge for the low string, you're going to get more uneven tension than usual. This might be fine but if it’s a long term thing, why not do it properly?

re: the “just play normal 5er tuning” comments, this might work ok for some styles of music but is really not suitable for others (especially faster, heavier stuff). Yes, i’ve tried it.

the other option is to use a thin 5er set and tune the whole thing up a semitone. You won’t be exactly the same as the guitars but you’ll have that all important low C for pedalling on (and you won’t have to adjust for the 5th interval instead of 4th on the low string)

 

[ixlramp]

If you must use a pre-packaged set, use a 6 string set and dispose of the E, not the B.
Tune the B up 1 semitone, Bs are usually low tension so this works well.
Tune the ADGC down 2 semitones (3 for the C), ADGC strings are usually tight, so this also works well.
The result in drop C will be far more tension-balanced than a conventional string set.

But ideally, do not waste E strings, buy singles, it may not be any more expensive.

You certainly should not tune up standard gauges by 3 semitones (apart from typically loose B strings), that will be excessively and dangerously tight. Standard gauges are already very tight.

 

[redneck2wild]

I would purchase single strings to get similar tensions.

D'Addario String Tension chart:
https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/pdfs/accessories/tension_chart_13934.pdf

GHS String Tension chart:
http://www.ghsrep.net/uploads/2/2/2/5/22258814/ghs_bass_string_guide.pdf

D'Addario Nickelplated Rounds singles example:
C : 0.125 : 35.2 lbs
G : 0.080 : 33.3 lbs
C : 0.060 : 34.1 lbs
F : 0.045 : 34.0 lbs
A : 0.035 : 32.4 lbs

GHS Bass Boomers singles example:
C : 0.120 : 35.1 lbs
G : 0.080 : 35.7 lbs
C : 0.060 : 33.5 lbs
F : 0.045 : 35.6 lbs
A : 0.035 : 32.7 lbs

Purchasing a 6 String set and not using the E string may also work.
6 String D'Addario set: .130, .080, .065, .045, .032
6 String Boomer set: .126, .080, .065, .045, .030

 

[Thir13teen]

Dude forget all that. I played a 5/6 string in a band tuned to C. I just left my bass tuned to B and wrote my lines that way. I can't stand drop tuning. Throws off years of practicing. It means you can't just double the guitar player. You have to create your own parts, but it works.

I agree 100%. My band was C# F# B E & then (the guitarist) started lowering his E string to B. I was using a Zon Sonus Special IV but got sick of the string floppiness so I bought a American made Fender Jazz V. I converted all my parts so I could play in standard BEADG but at rehearsal he's watching my hand and it was messing him up. I told him just play it the way you normally do and don't pay attention to where my hand is because it's not going to match where you are at.