Tuning BEAD: A Difficult Sacrifice or Good Riddance?

[StonewallValent]

I love TalkBass forums. The thought of B-E-A-D occurred to me this morning, so I searched it here and voila. You guys are the bomb. It appears that there are 2 different methods discussed above; tuning down, or actually buying a thicker B string (probably in a typical 5-string pack). Obviously tuning down would be easier and cheaper, but surely that would screw up the neck in some way, right? Enlighten me, please.

Well, first time I tried BEAD, I used a five-string set, filed nut, etc. Figured neck tension would be about the same. After a bit of that (and an uptune to Db for about a week) my neck was all kinds of twisted.

I downtuned on another one later with .110 gauge strings and it worked out okay for me. Strings were rather loose, but that's all I noticed. You might want to lower neck relief some for the lower tension though.

 

[Jester's Fury]

When I jumped from a 4 to a (BEADGC) 6, I used my 4 string as a backup tuned BEAD. For the band I was in, I needed the full range of my 6, but I could fake it if need be my 4.

The 4 also helped me learn how to make use of the B string. Ex. I could stay in this tuning (on the 6) while the guitard fiddled with alternate tunings. Sort of trained my ear vs. my eyes. I even bought a couple of capos to mess around with too. I then tuned the 4 ADGC to learn how to use the C in chords and upper range solo work.

I'd gladly go back to the BEAD tuning if a band called for it. To me, it's pretty much the same "range" of notes. I could probably go lower, but I don't find it tasteful even with my "dog ear".

Just go with whatever sits in the mix..... Everybody can't be playing the same thing or stay on the same frequencies... it will come out a mess.

Semi Related: Bryan Beller tunes half a step up from the Low B. Check it out.

 

[Kwesi]

I am honestly surprised by the answers here, lol. I thought that begrudgingly tuning to BEAD was the norm but it seems like most of you guys dig it, very cool . Glad to know it isn't all suffering .

 

[OtterOnBass]

Isn't that hard on a 4-string neck?

 

[Jester's Fury]

The (.130) Tapered Low B I used at the time had less tension than the (.045) high G. 31.7 lbs B vs. the 41.9 lbs G. All that was needed was a few bridge saddle adjustments. Strings were from an old PSS60-6 set (D'addario Prism"..... ah, I miss those.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I used to play 5ers a lot. Had a Tobias and an EBMM stingray 5. I noticed however that for me at least, having that many strings kind of induced me to overplay. I figured out how to play all these neat intervals and runs that took up all 5 strings, but were just not right for the songs! I went back to 4 a little while ago and am enjoying it a lot more. Sometimes it just sounds better to play simple. Though I still do jump around on the neck a lot .
As far as B vs E tuning, I actually like C tuning as a compromise. I always find B strings to either sound lame or feel lame or both! C is a bit tighter and it lines up nicely with the songs we have that are in D or F.

 

[Count Bassie]

I used to play 5ers a lot. Had a Tobias and an EBMM stingray 5. I noticed however that for me at least, having that many strings kind of induced me to overplay. I figured out how to play all these neat intervals and runs that took up all 5 strings, but were just not right for the songs! I went back to 4 a little while ago and am enjoying it a lot more. Sometimes it just sounds better to play simple. Though I still do jump around on the neck a lot .
As far as B vs E tuning, I actually like C tuning as a compromise. I always find B strings to either sound lame or feel lame or both! C is a bit tighter and it lines up nicely with the songs we have that are in D or F.

I also don't really like the feel of a B string. Maybe the C tuning would be better... interesting.

 

[Chef]

for me, i missed the g-string more than i liked a b-string; on a 4 string bass.

i'm primarily a 5 string player; so, problem easily solved

 

[GeoffByrne]

Isn't that hard on a 4-string neck?

Shouldn't be - the tension on a BEAD should be just a bit less than EADG with a 130 B, as there's usually a lot of tension in the G

If you downtune an ordinary EADG set you'd almost certainly need to adjust the truss rod.

My experience with the bottom 4 of a 5 string set was that the truss rod didn't need it.

 

[JPSBassist]

I have a 35" 4-string that is a dedicated BEAD player.
And no... when I need it for songs that require the Lo-B string, those same songs almost never call for a note on the G.
Besides... past the 5th fret on D string... you're into G anyway.
So the answer is that I love my 4-string 35-BEAD. I can keep my finger-memory in tact and my guitars even have the same neck profile.
It's the perfect solution for me.

 

[Kwesi]

for me, i missed the g-string more than i liked a b-string; on a 4 string bass.

i'm primarily a 5 string player; so, problem easily solved

It's a nice boat to be in, isn't it ?

 

[Willem]

I still only have my first bass (4 years and counting). It's a 4 string. I started out as a pick player. When I decided I wanted to be a fingerstyle player I noticed that I could play much faster on the A, D and G string then on the E because there is a base (the lower string) where my fingers land on. Because I play in a thrashmetal band with most songs in E, it just made sense to have a B string. Not having the money to buy a 5, I had my bass set up for BEAD.
I could never do without the B string anymore as a thumbrest, as a landing spot for my index, middle and ring fingers, for the occasional D and C, but also for the fatter E-G.
Lately I'm getting more and more into playing Opeth where for some parts having a G string is easier than going up the neck, so I've decided to speed up the process of getting a 5 string bass. My plan was to buy one in 2013, but I'm gonna get one next year if all goes well.
Hope I get used to it, but I'm sure I will! I will have to work on my muting, but it'll be fun!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Wouldn't string one of my "slap basses" to BEAD, but for heavy stuff I'd imagine the BEAD tuning would hold more use than a G string does.

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Big +1 for D standard, (D-G-C-F), gives you a full step down, and you sacrifice *only* the top most 2 frets. Besides, when I played a 5, or BEAD tuned bass, I never really went below a low D anyway. It's the perfect compromise, and on top of it all, you can use a normal heavey E string for the D, like a .110, (though I use a .125)

Yes! Been thinking the same thing now for a few months. Worried that I can't adjust to transposing songs etc on the fly in a band situation.

 

[seanm]

BEAD worked great for one original band I was in. For some reason it just worked with the songs.

But most of the bands I am in are cover bands. Since the original artists used standard, I find it works best for me in standard.

 

[Wallbender]

I have bass tuned BEAD ('79 Franken-P/J). I play it on the songs in our set list that call for a low B string. Other than that, I'm happy with standard tuning.

 

[knucklehead G]

I tried a fiver for a while but the B string just seemed like a a $100 thumb rest. Drop D has always worked for me, though I'm planning a subcontrabass with a C# just for fun.

 

[ric3xrt]

Yes! Been thinking the same thing now for a few months. Worried that I can't adjust to transposing songs etc on the fly in a band situation.

I was doing this for a bit (DGCF) I just used a capo on the 2nd fret, when I needed EADG , when we did the deeper songs just took the capo off.

 

[Ric5]

Big +1 for D standard, (D-G-C-F), gives you a full step down, and you sacrifice *only* the top most 2 frets. Besides, when I played a 5, or BEAD tuned bass, I never really went below a low D anyway. It's the perfect compromise, and on top of it all, you can use a normal heavey E string for the D, like a .110, (though I use a .125)

If I played a 4 string bass it would be tuned DGCF.

 

[sonic assassin]

I tried a fiver for a while but the B string just seemed like a a $100 thumb rest.

often times it is when the song doesnt call for it. but now 4 string necks and 4 string spacing just seem daft. 4 string basses feel like childrens toys to me these days.

but when i need a low C note or dont feel like retuning for any reason, im VERY glad ive got an extra string. and a low B or C note just makes the pants feel good.