tuning to A and drop D using same strings on 4 string bass?

[liam3344]

Hey guys sorry all very new to this! My question is I have a 4 string fender jazz and i've been jamming with a new band and they play songs in drop D, C, and a low AGCF tuning also. I currently have my bass set up for C using .124 as my 'E' string. The guy who set it up said to buy a 5 string string set and use this. Problem i'm having is when i'm now tuning to the low AGCF it goes out of tune quite a lot and it sounds really muddy and no definition in the low notes. Any advise as to what strings I should look into getting?? Thanks a lot guys!

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Get a 5 string bass instead and keep your 4 string bass for the Drop D stuff

 

[liam3344]

Yea everyone has told me to do that haha. I was just wondering if there way any way of doing this on the same bass thats all or is this just not going to work?

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Well... looking at the AGCF tuning, it reminds me of A standard on a 5 stringer, but then without the D string (ADGCF). What you could do is putting the 4 lowest strings of a 5 string set on your bass, and simply keep it in ADGC tuning. Just play in the same octave as the guitars if they go to drop D tuning. For Drop C, you could tune it up back again, but it will take a lot of time if you have to do this on stage. So I would suggest getting a 5 string bass instead and keep the 4 string bass for Drop D and / or Drop C tuning.

 

[whaahooo]

I second that. It is almost impossible to have all the tunings you mention with a single 4 string bass. You'll need a second bass just for the AGCF tuning.

 

[BazzTard]

or join a band that plays in GDAE , much easier hehe

I'm just being silly, but I think you already know that you can't play those tunings live with only one bass. So the very very sad news is that you HAVE to buy another bass, poor you .