I tune my E string down to D, then tune the other stings to that D, just as you would if it were an E. 5th>Open.. It sounds great one you dial in the setup..
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Three hours to my first ever gig and...
- Thread starter Tazz
- Start date
Send him the following reply.
"Tune? How do you do that?"
"Tune? How do you do that?"
I would have told him, "My bass was in tune when I bought it. I don't see any reason to mess with it now."
haha this gave me a good little chuckle. I haven't played many gigs but I've seen plenty of live music. All professional musicians tune onstage. Some of the top level stadium type acts have guys constantly handing them guitars, but I don't think the OP's band is that fortunate yet. 
I had to do this last night!! Tuned pre set - walked on - started the song (all around 12th fret on A and D strings - slide down the E to play a low A - bang, 2 steps out, I'd knocked the E tuner when tuning the A - first time EVER!
Quick retune whilst ringing and just sounded like an intentional bend - thank god it was almost a perfect G lol
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
So the first ever gig, with the worried about tuning guitarist has passed by now. How did it go?
I get this text from the guitarist
"Make sure you tune your bass now. Don't want to be tuning in stage before we start our set. Bad image"
I don't even know where to begin
Tell him not to worry, you just had new strings put on by a tech in a guitar shop and the installation price included a free tuning--- good to go.
Unfortunately, that is SO true. I always say that I'm a great believer in Bell Curves... not in a good way either.
Before I opened the thread, I thought this was going to be about the 3-hour trip to your first gig. I was all ready to advise you to quit that band.
After reading the OP, I remain ready to advise you to quit that band.
After reading the OP, I remain ready to advise you to quit that band.
could it be that he possibly means to at least tune silently? if youre onstage tuning with the whole audience hearing it, yea... i find that fairly unprofessional.
do you tune silently?
do you tune silently?
Well it's a couple hours after the gig and it really couldn't have gone much better. Second band of a three band bill and we get the best crowd response of the night. Partly because 90 percent were there to see us though.
I totally agree with you guys. I tuned as usual and his clip on tuner got the job done, I think it was mainly nerves and him trying to get a smooth seamless set. It's was also the bands return to gigging after a couple months.
I've only got one crappy pic to share. We're waiting on the high quality ones from the drummers brother who is rather handily a photographer!
EDIT: The joy of being a black guy in front a black background
glad the gig went well, however I couldn't help but notice how your singer and guitarist are staring at the ground in the pic....a telltale sign of fear/nervousness on their part
