• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What strings for drop tuning?

T

taygunov

May 8, 2008
273
1
#1
My group is playing in 2 steps down (C F D# A#) and me being a 'standard' guy for most of my playing time, I'm kinda clueless here.

I was thinking putting on B E A and D strings and tuning them up half a step, would that be alright? Or should I just get a really heavy gauged regular set of EADG strings?
 
#4
taygunov said:
My group is playing in 2 steps down (C F D# A#)
Click to expand...

That should be C F A# D# or C F Bb Eb :)

To clarify and avoid confusion, the widely accepted meaning of 'drop tuning' is where the lowest string is detuned by a wholetone relative to the other strings, so the lowest interval is a fifth.
Drop D = DADG
Drop C = CGCF

I recommend buying 4 single strings. My suggestion would be 130 95 70 50. The gauges look strange but if you look at the D'Addario tension charts here: http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf you will see the strings have roughly equal tension, and tension similar to a 100 E.
 
#7
I play on DR DDT5 Heavys. Just put them on and switched to a heavier gauge since my neck is 37" long. I am in heaven with these things! Completely changed the sound and doubled the power in the sound. I won't put anything else on my Dean for now on.

By the way we are tuned down as well and mostly metal and progressive rock.
(A,D,G,C,F) since I am on a 5-string
 
#15
I play in a stoner Rock band tuned in C,G,C,F.... I play standard Rotosound swingbass Nickle 100- 45 gage.
Most people don't belive me when i tell them, but it works for me, easyer on the hand and fingers!!!!
At the end of the day its what you are comfortable with as 80% of your tone is in your fingers! So i believe!!!! ???
 
#17
Here's what I don't understand about people who say they don't like playing heavier gauge strings. Say they have a bass tuned EADG with 40,60,80,100 strings. They want to to go to a lower tuning so it's suggested that they go with 55,75,95,115 strings to maintain roughly the same tension, but they don't want to do that because the strings are too big. Yes, they're bigger, but the 55,75, & 95 strings are still smaller than the old 100 E-string that they didn't have issues with.

So what's the big deal? The 115 is the only string that would be bigger than anything they'd played before. Seems like this is more of a mental hangup than a physical one.
 
#18
Thunder Pulse said:
That's a 35" scale bass. Is that what you meant? I didn't understand your 37" neck comment.
Click to expand...

Well my neck is 37" long, trust me I measured it. I picked up the bass at a small guitar shop a while back without any knowledge of the instrument. Only that it sounded amazing and played really smooth. It could be one of their signature basses, I'm not real sure. I have not seen it on their website though.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back