What do you do with notes below the E on a 4 string?

[Jhengsman]

If I have time then I try to find the best place in the phrase to jump up. If not then that single note, or notes lower than D since I tune down my4 strings a step is jumped up

 

[lbbc]

Go up an octave

 

[Kubicki Fan]

The Kubicki Ex-Factor goes to a D. If lower notes were needed I`d de-tune it.

 

[bherman]

Above for me. To be honest, I think that its only bass players (and sound guys) who like to hear those sub-sonic notes.

 

[ToneMonkey]

It’s an existential question: on 4-string basses there are notes below E.

 

[jamro217]

Rest.

 

[Ken Morgan]

My PBass has a Hipshot D Tuner, works like a charm

 

[BassChuck]

Just take it up an octave. You might need to take other notes up before and after the Eb or D just to keep a line intact.
This is not a new problem for bassists. Back in Mozart and Beethoven's time they often did not write a special separate part for bass, just gave them a cello part. That way the bass played the same part as the cello, but would sound an octave below the celli. Since the cello goes down to written 'C' below the bass staff, the bassists of the day had to deal with it and did so by taking the lowest notes up an octave.

 

[2112]

For song-to-song changes, this works:
View attachment 4088264
Digitech Drop. But that is potential disaster if anyone forgets to turn it off for songs in standard tuning, so we don't change tunings during sets.

Digitech Drop has a momentary setting, so it can even be used phrase-to-phrase or even, with enough practice, note-to-note. Love this pedal!

 

[Richard Martin]

Above for me. To be honest, I think that its only bass players (and sound guys) who like to hear those sub-sonic notes.

Some songs just don't sound right if you don't go to that low D.

 

[iiipopes]

D-Tuner

 

[Bob_Ross]

Play an octave up

^^^this

 

[rufus.K]

Octave up

 

[electracoyote]

Some songs just don't sound right if you don't go to that low D.

Good point. And the general listening public has become acclimated and accustomed to notes below standard E in several genres of pop music. If you are in a mainstream variety cover band, you will see it in a good number of songs. Those with this kind of experience know you can octave up if you want to, but the sound will change sufficient to alter the whole feel and dynamic of the song in an unpleasant and even disorienting way.

 

[AFRO]

If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand the answer.

The comment that spurred this response is kinda surprising for me, cause I like and appreciate Malcom's presence on this forum..

but where I am from..

"You serve the song" not the other way around. YMMV obv

and I only play a 5er for this very reason

 

[Jefenator]

I'll be experimenting with tuning in 5ths here, soon: C-G-D-A. So I'll be good to go down to low C on a 4-string - actually, low Bb with the detuner.

 

[Lownote38]

Grab a 5 string.