tuning for 5 and 6 string basses

Here's one for the FAQ!

6-string adds a high C. Some 5s have the high C instead of the low B.

There are also some things called "six string bass guitars" (Fender Bass VI, Danelectro) that are EADGBE one octave lower than guitar. They have shorter scales and tight spacing, they are meant to be played more like a guitar.

7-strings usually add an F after the high C. Eights have a low F# below the B. Nines. . .beats the h*ll out of me. High Bb?

 

4 string normal- E A D G
5 string - B E A D G or E A D G C
B is lower than E, which is the norm for 5 string, or add a high C.
6 string- B E A D G C
(or you could go two higher on the 6 than on a 4)

Did that make sense?

jtbp

 

I tune my 6-string low B-E-A-D-G-high B (rather than C). I've been told that Tim Bogert does it this way too, but it's definitely a minority choice.

 

If i had a 6, i dont know how i'd tune it. I would probably mess around wiht it b or c. Its much easyer to do chords with it as a b as opposed to a c (which is why guitars have a b instead of a c).

Also, you can string a 5 with a low F# which would be F#-B-E-A-D-G and it would work fine, but it'd need to be set up to do it first.

 

The general rule of thumb is that basses are tuned in fourths. This isn't a tried and true rule, as many people use alternate tunings, but G's fourth is C, so the higher string would be a C string. C's fourth is F, so the next string would be F, and so forth, however high you go.