Tuning in Tritones? F#CF#C

[Les Fret]

I am experimenting a lot with alternate tunings. For this track I tuned my bass in F#CF#C (from low to high). So that in tritones instead of regular fourths. It's a rather weird tuning but it generates some new ideas and sounds. Anyone else tried this tuning? Or other alternate tunings? Bass starts at 0:30.

 

[Bob_Ross]

The two guitarists and the bassist in the Swiss band Sonar apparently all use tritone tuning, and while there's nothing overtly "tritone-ish" about their music, it is imo quite compelling.

 

[Les Fret]

The two guitarists and the bassist in the Swiss band Sonar apparently all use tritone tuning, and while there's nothing overtly "tritone-ish" about their music, it is imo quite compelling.

Ok thanks. What a coincidence. I just checked them out last week since I love David Torn’s guitar playing. Didn’t know they used tritone tuning. I like their music.

 

[Beej]

I am experimenting a lot with alternate tunings. For this track I tuned my bass in F#CF#C (from low to high). So that in tritones instead of regular fourths. It's a rather weird tuning but it generates some new ideas and sounds. Anyone else tried this tuning? Or other alternate tunings? Bass starts at 0:30.

Very cool, I really enjoyed that.

 

[Rayjay]

I knew a guy who tuned D Ab D Ab

 

[mambo4]

That sounds very cool. I can see how slapping/popping with odd tunings yields new stuff.
Weird tunings always interested me

but it takes about one minute before succumb to frustration
from an inability to play what I hear in my head, or go by feel
my ears, brain and fingers are just more instinctive with EADG

 

[bassbrad]

Interesting tuning I will add to my "must try this list". Love the track as well very King Crimson-ish

 

[Albert Ross]

Sounds good to me!

 

[Cal03]

There's an older thread discussing the idea. I briefly tried it out for curiosity's sake, and it's surprisingly a lot more useable than it seems, though it does take some time getting used to.

 

[Les Fret]

Thanks you all for the comments!

There's an older thread discussing the idea. I briefly tried it out for curiosity's sake, and it's surprisingly a lot more useable than it seems, though it does take some time getting used to.

Thanks. I am gonna read that thread. It sure is useable. Maybe not for all songs but like with any alternate tuning it has its charms and evokes a certain mood. It's not for your average cowboy chords for sure .

 

[Les Fret]

That sounds very cool. I can see how slapping/popping with odd tunings yields new stuff.
Weird tunings always interested me

but it takes about one minute before succumb to frustration
from an inability to play what I hear in my head, or go by feel
my ears, brain and fingers are just more instinctive with EADG

As with any other tuning you have to stay in there for a while and hang in there. Eventually something will stick. I have several alternate tunings that I use both on guitar and bass.

 

[Discount Bassy]

I am not certain, but I believe Michael Manring tuned in two stacked perfect fifths an octave apart for some of his Hyperbass compositions.

The even split of the octave is enticing, but not something I need on my goto 6's. If I did any variations in tuning on them, it would be via multiple drop tuners with multi-step capabilities. I love the idea, but not enough to invest out of whimsy.

 

[jamro217]

I knew a guy who tuned D Ab D Ab

My wife applies her makeup like that. In response to the OP: I don't suggest using this tuning on the Mothman bass. Just too risky.

 

[pfschim]

I don't alt tune. I have to wonder if there is really something you can't play in regular tuning that alt tuning and this tri-tone tuning provides ... particularlu with the tapping technique the OP used in his sample track ?

Even though I am a pretty comitted standard tuning player, I'm not shading the idea. I get that guitar players regularly use alt tunings, and someone above mentioned Manring's stacked 5ths.

hmmmm

 

[Dust2Dust]

I myself couldn't deviate from standard, but I love that song

 

[superheavyfunk]

but it takes about one minute before succumb to frustration
from an inability to play what I hear in my head

Discomfort is the body/mind’s way of letting you know that you’re growing

 

[Hertz]

Great Track.

 

[Riff Ranger]

As with any other tuning you have to stay in there for a while and hang in there. Eventually something will stick. I have several alternate tunings that I use both on guitar and bass.

This was way cool. You’ve got to get a bass vi type thing in your mix, like the Ibanez SRC6MS we’ve discussed

I don't alt tune. I have to wonder if there is really something you can't play in regular tuning that alt tuning and this tri-tone tuning provides ... particularlu with the tapping technique the OP used in his sample track ?

Even though I am a pretty comitted standard tuning player, I'm not shading the idea. I get that guitar players regularly use alt tunings, and someone above mentioned Manring's stacked 5ths.

hmmmm

Other than the obvious cases where parts call for notes beyond the typical range of a given instrument, the notes will simply sound different at different positions on the neck, or even just with the change in string tension.

You could observe the last case without even tuning differently by just swapping out your usual strings for a lighter or heavier set. Certainly, if you want to play a part originally played in DADG on a 5-string tuned BEADG, the notes are all there, but the open and fretted D1 will sound noticeably different.

Then consider that some parts are simply easier to play in nonstandard tunings. I’ve written a number of songs in GCGCF that rely heavily on open strings sounding at those nonstandard pitches and while the actual notes played are mostly within range in BEADG, the parts would be really tricky. Even if you can cleanly fret all those same notes, they will still sound noticeably different for the reasons I’ve just related. Now imagine that in the hands of a virtuoso like Manring

Finally, alternate tunings simply force you to think differently and break out of your habits, which often leads to brand new ideas and approaches.

I note your lack of shade, and I assure you I reciprocate in my reply

 

[pfschim]

This was way cool. You’ve got to get a bass vi type thing in your mix, like the Ibanez SRC6MS we’ve discussed


Other than the obvious cases where parts call for notes beyond the typical range of a given instrument, the notes will simply sound different at different positions on the neck, or even just with the change in string tension.

You could observe the last case without even tuning differently by just swapping out your usual strings for a lighter or heavier set. Certainly, if you want to play a part originally played in DADG on a 5-string tuned BEADG, the notes are all there, but the open and fretted D1 will sound noticeably different.

Then consider that some parts are simply easier to play in nonstandard tunings. I’ve written a number of songs in GCGCF that rely heavily on open strings sounding at those nonstandard pitches and while the actual notes played are mostly within range in BEADG, the parts would be really tricky. Even if you can cleanly fret all those same notes, they will still sound noticeably different for the reasons I’ve just related. Now imagine that in the hands of a virtuoso like Manring

Finally, alternate tunings simply force you to think differently and break out of your habits, which often leads to brand new ideas and approaches.

I note your lack of shade, and I assure you I reciprocate in my reply

sadly, my level of virtuosity is not even in the same universe as Manring

 

[Riff Ranger]

sadly, my level of virtuosity is not even in the same universe as Manring

Nor is mine