Tenor Bass - WOW!

[ggunn]

Once again, nothing against those who play it. But the term Tenor Bass makes me laugh.

Jumbo shrimp?

 

[Keef]

Kind of like "Military Intellligence".

 

[WoodyG3]

I don't have the bass-tremble notes played on the E string, I guess that's what I'm trying to say... Not quite, but somewhat. Without that tremble, bass, mids, and trebles don't blend together anymore.

I think I might get what you are saying. So, a B played on the second fret of the A string sounds better to you than a B played on the seventh fret of the E string, for instance?

 

[joelb79]

How is a bass a tenor? isn't that some kind of oxymoron there?

 

[acleex38]

Once again, nothing against those who play it. But the term Tenor Bass makes me laugh. Bass guitar makes sense, a guitar that plays in the bass range. But tenor bass? A bass that plays in the tenor range? Then where does the word "bass" come in? I thought bass was descriptive of the kind of guitar bassists play? I don't know what to call "tenor basses", but they certainly sound interesting and I'm glad you like them so much!

Agreed that it doesn't make much sense, but it's the term for it that Stanley Clarke used when he started using that tuning on a regular basis. He used it, it stuck, and folks like Victor Wooten (among others) have kept using it.

I love the sound of it and don't enjoy playing 6 strings, so it's the right tool if I want to go higher - I used one when we'd have a second bassist show up to our weekly jams. It was almost my main tuning at one point - it just didn't quite fit the mood of our music.

now I want a piccolo tuba.

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

now I want a piccolo tuba.

Here you go!

Link Removed

 

[notdavey]

I am surprised at how many people have sort slammed Amazing Grace for trying something a little outside of the norm (as some posters have pointed out Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten have both used this tuning on a 4).

If it floats your boat and grooves your ocean so be it. My 2 cents.

 

[stanger503]

I am surprised at how many people have sort slammed Amazing Grace for trying something a little outside of the norm (as some posters have pointed out Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten have both used this tuning on a 4).

If it floats your boat and grooves your ocean so be it. My 2 cents.

yea i definately dig what your saying on this and agree 100%....its all bass no matter what tuning it is

 

[WoodyG3]

I am surprised at how many people have sort slammed Amazing Grace for trying something a little outside of the norm (as some posters have pointed out Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten have both used this tuning on a 4).

If it floats your boat and grooves your ocean so be it. My 2 cents.

+1

Plus it surprises me how many people have never heard the term "tenor bass." I know it's a goofy term, but when guys like Stanley Clarke have been calling them that for something like 30 years, it seems like it should be a pretty well known term.

Eh, whatever...

 

[acleex38]

Plus it surprises me how many people have never heard the term "tenor bass." I know it's a goofy term, but when guys like Stanley Clarke have been calling them that for something like 30 years, it seems like it should be a pretty well known term.

That was exactly my line of thinking.

 

[keb]

I always kind of thought that "tenor bass" (along with "piccolo bass") had a kind of tongue-in-cheek thing behind it, coined for want of a better term.

Oh hell... bass, baritone, piccolo, tenor (actually, there are "tenor guitars" too, they're 4-string guitars tuned the same as a regular 6-string guitar, but missing the low E and A strings)... they're just all guitars to me.

 

[Thunderitter]

For most things other than soloing ADGC has it's limits, but I love a five tuned EADGC - best of both worlds!

The dictionary's definition of bass is: pertaining to the lowest part in harmonic music so in theory (shoot me down folks!) you can easily be a bassist playing a baritone, tenor or (do they exist in practice apart from a regular six string guitar?) an alto (piccolo?) or soprano bass!

 

[sandmangeck]

ive got a schecter elite 5 string tuned to eadgc, and its awesome, i recently got rid of the b string. i like to ability to play lead parts and hold down the bass. the low b wasnt utilized that much unles i was in the upper register. a 6 is too much for me, but the 5 is perfect!

 

[Sneckumhaw]

Plus it surprises me how many people have never heard the term "tenor bass." I know it's a goofy term, but when guys like Stanley Clarke have been calling them that for something like 30 years, it seems like it should be a pretty well known term.

I assume I'm included in that statement. Of course I have heard the term before, I just thought I'd comment here on the silliness of the term.

 

[Professor X]

For most things other than soloing ADGC has it's limits, but I love a five tuned EADGC - best of both worlds!

The dictionary's definition of bass is: pertaining to the lowest part in harmonic music so in theory (shoot me down folks!) you can easily be a bassist playing a baritone, tenor or (do they exist in practice apart from a regular six string guitar?) an alto (piccolo?) or soprano bass!

Alto bass you say... hmmmm sounds like a good idea(see my sig)

 

[T-MOST]

What would that be?

Ummmm... providing a stable but creative bottom which when locked with the drummer creates the driving force and back bone of the song. Thats if your band likes that sort of thing. Don't get me wrong I love tenor bass. But if I am playing tenor somebody better be playing "bass". That is all.

 

[alangoldstein]

i have an alto bass.

d g c f

but like one guy said on here, for live with my working band,

its 6 string hands down.

more strings the better to me, but i find 6 works best for me and my group.

when it comes to fretted, e a d g c 5 with drop D tuner, would be my personal choice but the band depends on the low B string so...

but in my solo stuff i hardly use the low b string.

i wouldnt go bashing the guy just cause his bass sounds better to him without an E string now.... geez...


but ultimately my opinion is

6 string owns for ME in all around working situations with bands. ...

b e a d g c

 

[ggunn]

I always kind of thought that "tenor bass" (along with "piccolo bass") had a kind of tongue-in-cheek thing behind it, coined for want of a better term.

Oh hell... bass, baritone, piccolo, tenor (actually, there are "tenor guitars" too, they're 4-string guitars tuned the same as a regular 6-string guitar, but missing the low E and A strings)... they're just all guitars to me.

Actually, the standard tenor guitar tuning is the same as for a tenor banjo, in fifths.

 

[WoodyG3]

I assume I'm included in that statement. Of course I have heard the term before, I just thought I'd comment here on the silliness of the term.

It is a goofy name, like jumbo shrimp. I was just surprised at the number of people who hadn't heard of tuning ADGC tuning and were putting it down or getting on Amazing Grace's case a little bit.

 

[Baird6869]

I agree. I also think that more can be done with an extra high string than an extra low string.

I couldn't disagree more.

A low B gives you the availability to play a low E at the 5th position and much more.

All 4 of my my 5 strings are strung BEADG. I went through a phase where I thought EADGC was the way to go, but now I realize the benefits are almost nonexistant.

I really don't see a benefit of a higher string (it would be a C in my case). I guess having the ability to play 5 more high notes than I currently have access to is a benefit to some, but I rarely play above my 19th fret on my G string anyways.

If I had a 6 string, I would likely play the C, but I really wouldn't need it for anything more any solo runs and octaves.