Just wondering what other tunings are safe to tune too on a 5 string bass other than the regular beadg ? I'm curious because I wanted to try out some different ones to give myself options, thanks fam
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what are safe tunings for a 5 string bass
- Thread starter reggie hall
- Start date
Any tuning is safe as long as you're careful about selecting the proper gauges according to how you want them tuned.
What's your intent with altered tuning? What to go lower? Higher? Need different intervals for the type of music you play???
Almost anything can be safe....
Almost anything can be safe....
What do you mean by "safe"?
"Safe" as in, the string won't break?
"Safe" as in, it won't hurt your bass?
"Safe" as in, it will sound good and help you get gigs?
My experience (and this is just one person's experience, so take it with a grain of salt) is that, "down tuning" (loosening the strings to lower their pitch) is always safe for the bass and safe for the strings. You do it every time you change strings. Will it sound good and help you get gigs? That's up to you and the style of music you're into.
"Up tuning" (raising the pitch of the strings) is more likely to cause damage to the string and/or bass. I find that I can up tune a string by a half step or a whole step, no problem. Raising a string more than a whole step starts to feel "danger zone" to me like the string might snap.
My comments above are assuming that you keep the same set of strings on your bass. Michael_t has the best answer of all, that if you choose your string gauges carefully (and properly set up the instrument), you can use any tuning you like.
"Safe" as in, the string won't break?
"Safe" as in, it won't hurt your bass?
"Safe" as in, it will sound good and help you get gigs?
My experience (and this is just one person's experience, so take it with a grain of salt) is that, "down tuning" (loosening the strings to lower their pitch) is always safe for the bass and safe for the strings. You do it every time you change strings. Will it sound good and help you get gigs? That's up to you and the style of music you're into.
"Up tuning" (raising the pitch of the strings) is more likely to cause damage to the string and/or bass. I find that I can up tune a string by a half step or a whole step, no problem. Raising a string more than a whole step starts to feel "danger zone" to me like the string might snap.
My comments above are assuming that you keep the same set of strings on your bass. Michael_t has the best answer of all, that if you choose your string gauges carefully (and properly set up the instrument), you can use any tuning you like.
Thanks I play gospel music and the c note is at the very top on the b string I would like to just transpose it down a step or two
I string my 5 string EADGC.
Some string basses in 5ths, rather than 4ths.
Any alternate tuning can be learned.
Use the right gauge strings--don't stray more than a step either side of its intended pitch.
Keep an eye on neck bow for a while after any string change--tension changes will cause more or less relief.
Some string basses in 5ths, rather than 4ths.
Any alternate tuning can be learned.
Use the right gauge strings--don't stray more than a step either side of its intended pitch.
Keep an eye on neck bow for a while after any string change--tension changes will cause more or less relief.
How do you mean? You're intending to alter your tuning to play songs in different keys?
I often re tune my 5-string from BEADG to CEADG. This allows me to play the low C as an open (unfretted) string. Such a small change in pitch (only one half-step or minor 2nd) does not require special strings and hasn't seemed to damage my bass.
[QUOT"Mushroo, post: 18597747, member: 90845"]I often re tune my 5-string from BEADG to CEADG. This allows me to play the low C as an open (unfretted) string. Such a small change in pitch (only one half-step or minor 2nd) does not require special strings and hasn't seemed to damage my bass.[/QUOTE]
That tuning may do the trick
That tuning may do the trick
Back when I played in a Djent/progressive metal core band (ridiculous genre loloolol ) I tuned ADADG and my other bass AEADG my Ibanez handled it fine, just maybe an adjustment of the action
I tune a few of my four strings to DGCF or C#F#BE and string them with heavy gauge strings. I did that because I just can't get five strings to work so I've never tried it with a B string but I would assume that you could follow suit
Detuning is always safe.
A 'standard' bass set (.130-.045/,050) is already high tension so tuning up is risky. The only danger for the instrument is the total tension of the set, you can use a tension chart to make sure the total tension doesn't exceed the total tension of a heavy 5-string bass set (.135-.050).
Low Bs are usually looser than other strings so 1 semitone up is ok for that string (if it's .135 or less).
Higher strings could go up 1 semitone if they are not already 'heavy' gauges.
A 'standard' bass set (.130-.045/,050) is already high tension so tuning up is risky. The only danger for the instrument is the total tension of the set, you can use a tension chart to make sure the total tension doesn't exceed the total tension of a heavy 5-string bass set (.135-.050).
Low Bs are usually looser than other strings so 1 semitone up is ok for that string (if it's .135 or less).
Higher strings could go up 1 semitone if they are not already 'heavy' gauges.
You can also do interesting things with Hipshot d-tuners (without getting really crazy like Michael Manring and his Zon Hyperbass).
- If you put one on the "B" string on your fiver, you could tune default to C, and set up the Hipshot to drop half-step to B. I know Will Lee on his 4 string uses it to drop 2 steps, from EADG to CADG, which also gives you that lower C if you prefer than over a five string.
Anyway, just another option.
Later
Rob
- If you put one on the "B" string on your fiver, you could tune default to C, and set up the Hipshot to drop half-step to B. I know Will Lee on his 4 string uses it to drop 2 steps, from EADG to CADG, which also gives you that lower C if you prefer than over a five string.
Anyway, just another option.
Later
Rob
None of my 5ers have ever exploded as a result of me tuning them in any way. Here's a great quote I heard in person 3 years ago:
"A lot of people don't realize just how strong and resilient an instrument the bass guitar is; you can really push and pull on it and it bounces right back." -Michael Manring, at a clinic, talking about alternate tunings.
"A lot of people don't realize just how strong and resilient an instrument the bass guitar is; you can really push and pull on it and it bounces right back." -Michael Manring, at a clinic, talking about alternate tunings.
How about C F A# D# G# ?
Check http://www.frettedfriendsmusic.com/MWB4USL.pdf
With my 4s and some of the music we play I'm using alternate tunings all the time.
Check http://www.frettedfriendsmusic.com/MWB4USL.pdf
With my 4s and some of the music we play I'm using alternate tunings all the time.
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