Tuning a 5-string to C#

[RGerhart]

There are a few legit reasons to detune for a song

• because you like the tone
• because you like the string feel
• to more easily double the guitar chugs*

"because the tabs are detuned" is not really a good reason

* this song does not sound like it necessarily needs an open C# to chug-double, with 5 string

Having played "Judith" in a variety of ways, including tuned up to drop D; tuned down a half-step and in drop (C#-G#-C#-F#); and with a standard five string; I can say that the song just sounds better and plays better with a four, tuned down. Something about it just works better.

 

[MCS4]

If I were gigging in a band that played in C# standard exclusively, I would tune up so my low B was a C# and adjust my string gauge accordingly.

If I just wanted to play a song or two at home I would just transpose. As someone who has gigged in detuned rock/metal bands for decades I am all in favor of retuning a bass to make life easier, but I don't generally want to do it for just one song.

 

[monsterthompson]

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Not being that familiar with the song but seeing this I’m mostly okay with playing without retuning (shifting positions) suggestions except for a couple of sections. These open string low notes might be annoying to fret on the B string depending on the timing. I’d normally be in the “retune” camp to learn the riff fingering, but for one song with this tab, I wouldn’t sweat it. If there was a band involved and more songs that used C# then I’d drop tuning so the E string was down to C# over tuning the B up to C#. Either would require new strings and a few adjustments.

 

[JoeyFab]

One of the reasons that I like playing a 5-string bass is that I typically don't have do do any alternate tuning for different songs, I just learn to play them differently. Another reason is that I've played with guitarists who use a pedal to detune, but then sometimes forget to click it back up to standard tuning before starting the next song. All I have to usually do then is just play the song a fret or 2 down from how I learned it, all while flashing the guitarist the stink-eye

However, for a song like "Slither" by Velvet Revolver, where it's in drop D tuning and there's a LOT of open playing on the E (actually D) string, I've found that playing a detuned 4-string bass works best.

 

[micguy]

In C# standard tuning, you open strings will be C#, F#, B, E , and A

The good thing about that is that a 120 or 125 will have a decent tension, so you will be able to easily find 5 string sets where the lowest string isn't floppy. The bad news is all the other strings will be about 25% higher tension than normal, and thus put a lot of tension on your neck, unless you get custom gauged sets to manage that.

 

[BrianVengeance]

If he's playing heavier stuff he'll be buried by the guitar player(s) chugging/djenting through halfstacks, so it won't matter what he does.

(laughs in metal bassist)

This is why you bring a bass amp and cabinet powerful to sterilize small mammals within 400 meters. They learn quickly. Now the drummers…

 

[Guitalia]

(laughs in metal bassist)

This is why you bring a bass amp and cabinet powerful to sterilize small mammals within 400 meters. They learn quickly. Now the drummers…

You're joking, of course. But:

Unfortunately, at big shows, FOH engineers cut everything out of the bass below 80 Hz to make room for the kick. And you have to keep the bass amp, if any, at a low level to avoid messing up the sound in the house. At least that's my experience.

At small shows in small rooms, sure, maybe anything goes, especially for bands playing for free. I don't know much about that scene.

 

[BrianVengeance]

You're joking, of course. But:

Unfortunately, at big shows, FOH engineers cut everything out of the bass below 80 Hz to make room for the kick. And you have to keep the bass amp, if any, at a low level to avoid messing up the sound in the house. At least that's my experience.

At small shows in small rooms, sure, maybe anything goes, especially for bands playing for free. I don't know much about that scene.

To wit, but if you have FOH support then it’s the engineer’s job to fight with the guitarists.

 

[Greenman72]

The proper Talkbass response is that you need a 4-string tuned Eb for GNR, a 4-string tuned C# for APC, and the 5 string is for the rest.

Oh—don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.
BEAD
C# F# BE
D# G# C# A#.
EADG (x2)

BEADG (x2)

BEADGC

EADGBE. (A Hooky bass)

 

[Yahboy]

I have a regular (BEADG) 5-string bass.

I want to play Guns & Roses, who plays in D# tuning. No problem. I lower everything down one half step.

Now I want to play "Judith", by A Perfect Circle. The tabs are written in C# standard. (C#, F#, B, E)
What do you do?

(Note - I'm just now making the switch from 4- to 5-strings, hence the question.)

Get another 4 string bass @35 scale for c# std.

 

[jutty17]

I played for years in an all original metal band that tuned to C#. I can tell you transposition is impractical, as the riffs pedaled off open strings a lot. I can read and transpose just fine, but it's very inefficient to pedal 16th note riffs at 180 or more bpm off a fretted note, which was initially what I tried to do.

I recommend you tune down the E string to C#, especially if you're used to playing a 4, The B goes down to F# and gets pretty floppy (at least on my bass), but I didn't have to use it that often. Instead, if I wasn't pedaling i used the lowest string to position myself ACROSS the fretboard instead of ALONG it. It's an approach you get used to over time playing a fiver.

It really helps if you have a bass specifically dedicated to this: setup, string height/action and neck relief and intonation are all impacted by the lower tension. Every time you change the tuning, you mess with the set up, best to just set it and leave it if you can.