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Why are TBers so against drop or detuning?

#41
Funny. When I play a riff on the A and D strings and need something lower, I drop to the E. If I'm playing a 5 or 6 and need something lower, I use the B. Downtuning is a viable option as well, But I'd rather avoid the headache that comes with dealing with tension, intonation and setup issues.

There is no line that can't played on a fiver written for C#. Pm me with the chart (or if it's tab, a recording of the song and the tabs) if you don't believe me and I'll prove it.

If you feel better playing down tuned, feel free. I think that it's more important to do what serves the music best, but I also feel that the best solution for anything below E is a fiver. They are plentiful, cheap and pretty easy to pickup.
 
#42
uhdinator said:
Here's a thought too, low E on bass is 41Hz. Most sub woofers
only go down to 30Hz. While you hear harmonics of the fundemental notes you are not getting all that is there due to
limitations of the amp and the speakers when tuning lower than low E on bass. IMO have not heard any amps that really like that much low to be honest due to this. I will research more.
Click to expand...
There are many pro players in some genres, that are tuning to low A, I don't know what that sounds like, but my low B sounds very smooth and legible through all my amps, from the little Marshal with the single 10" to the Carvin subwoofer with the 18". The fact that we might not be getting all of it isn't really at issue - it sounds good so seemingly there is some merit to it. It CAN be overused. Just like a 4 string player has to decide whether to go for the low E or go up an octave. I suppose playing 5 does open the door for going low, too often....I think that is why I got the 6, to balance that possiblity out. :)

What is the hz. of a bass/kick drum?
 
#43
MooseLumps said:
Funny. When I play a riff on the A and D strings and need something lower, I drop to the E. If I'm playing a 5 or 6 and need something lower, I use the B. Downtuning is a viable option as well, But I'd rather avoid the headache that comes with dealing with tension, intonation and setup issues.

There is no line that can't played on a fiver written for C#. Pm me with the chart (or if it's tab, a recording of the song and the tabs) if you don't believe me and I'll prove it.

If you feel better playing down tuned, feel free. I think that it's more important to do what serves the music best, but I also feel that the best solution for anything below E is a fiver. They are plentiful, cheap and pretty easy to pickup.
Click to expand...

Do you have Guitarpro?
 
#45
my band has been doing some experimenting with different tuning. We typically tune cgcf and just wrote a song in agcf. The different tunings give you different opportunities. In this new song, hitting that open A just gives this huge underlying massive tone. We're a proggy metal band, so being heavy and being to nail those opens during runs is really powerful and is not possible without the drop tuning. Our next song is probably going to be in standard tuning so now I get to search for a way to tune from standard down to A and have my strings not die.
 
#46
I'm all for different tunings in the spirit of personal preference and expression. But logically, when somebody says they drop tune because they can't play a low C or C# on a BEADG instrument, that just shows an abysmal degree of idiocy.

Downtune if it sounds good to you. But if you think C can't be played on a B string... :scowl:
 
#49
Not sure how it is being smug liking what we like. Since you say you have a 5 it sounds like you were basically just baiting the crowd. :mad: I mean, really man, why do you own a 5?:confused: My intention is to do as good a job filling the bass slot for the genre I am playing in and to encourage others to find a way to do the same. Nobody is suggesting a 4 string player is suffering without a 5th string, unless they are pondering options for going lower. 5 string basses are ONE of the alternatives that have been available for the last 3+ decades. You are welcome to tune any way you want, on as many strings as you want. A 5 string could be considered a bass with an extra upper string, tuned lower than a standard 4.:D
 
#50
I have to admit, that I don't dig the whole drop tuning thing, but I have no problem with other people doing it. My main reason for not liking it is because I played in a band with a guy who always had his guitar tuned to E flat. So the bass I used when I played with him was tuned to E flat. It meant that that particular bass was only used when I was playing with this guy.

Another time I remember using a drop tuning, was when I played in a band with a guy who used to tune his E string to D, and every chord or every song was played with the bottom 3 strings barred. The sound that came out of his guitar amp was a deep sludgy mess. The only thing I could to was tune down to D myself, and double everything he played. It was extremely boring and sounded like crap.

So now whenever someone mentions a drop tuning, I think of those two guys. I know I need to keep an open mind about these things, but there are some things that I find difficult to tolerate musically. Music where the bass just acts as a doubling instrument really just bugs me. It's as if the bassist is an extension of the other instruments.

But I digress. So now to the real reason why I think drop tunings get so much flack. I think it's because guys who play with lots of different musicians tend to not use drop tunings. Usually those guys are into more traditional styles of music, such as jazz. Now, I have always had the utmost respect for jazz musicians, and I know a fair number of jazz musicians. This is a gross generalization, but I have noticed that a lot of jazz guys look down their nose at other musicians who don't play jazz.
 
#51
I don't have a problem with people doing it as long as it doesn't ruin their bass and above all, as long as they are musical regardless of how they tune their bass. I will admit, I personally don't find musical fulfillment in a distorted bass hammering away on low C, doubled by two distorted 7-string guitars also hammering away on low Cs... but there is unquestionably a lot of power in that approach and for a certain style of music that's what is required.

Myself, I have played a 4-string for 29 years and for the last 12 of those years I have played in drop D tuning on an occasional to frequent basis. I have found it much more comfortable to stick with 4 strings and work around the odd interval on the low string, than to switch to a 5-string... and I don't need to go below a low D often enough to make it worthwhile. But again, that's just me.
 
#53
I really don't understand why people would argue over something like this. Isn't all about what you as a musician like best and what works best for the music you play.

We all play music to be creative and express our feelings and have a fun time with our friends. If one dude plays 900 string bass with it tuned every single way possible and can rock on it but you think its odd does that not make it somehow pretty cool?

Or if a guy like me has both kinds of basses a 4 and a 5 and prefers the 4 because its just something that fits me better now and if the 5 works better some other time its not like I'm gonna start yelling at my 4 and calling it bad names and see if it can beat up my 4 string.

I just really don't get it. Play what ya play and love it and quit arguing about tunings and types of basses, it makes no sense but that's just me I guess.

Mooch
 
#54
jaywa said:
I personally don't find musical fulfillment in a distorted bass hammering away on low C, doubled by two distorted 7-string guitars also hammering away on low Cs... but there is unquestionably a lot of power in that approach and for a certain style of music that's what is required.

Myself, I have played a 4-string for 29 years and for the last 12 of those years I have played in drop D tuning on an occasional to frequent basis. I have found it much more comfortable to stick with 4 strings and work around the odd interval on the low string, than to switch to a 5-string... and I don't need to go below a low D often enough to make it worthwhile. But again, that's just me.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, not everyone wants or needs it for their genres or song list. Myself, I play in a fairly melodical, peaceful genre now and I use my low notes for a smooth, pipe-organ like effect. No mashed-up sounds, no volume war with guitarists, just a strongly felt, BOOM, every now and then. Maybe I am just too stupid to learn other tunings, so I just added the 5 notes on where they didn't cause me too much trouble.:D
 
#55
Burlington said:
Explain this to me. Everytime a question is asked about drop or detuning someone has to chime in and say "Buy a 5 string".

If I could use a 5 string for all of my bands songs, I would. But given the way they are written, and the constant low C between many higher notes in many of my bands songs, it is not possible.

I'm just curious why so many here seem so high and mighty about the subject.
Click to expand...

My band plays in Drop C and I have a 5 string Spector.

I pulll it off by using light gauge stings (40-120) and I tune the entire thing UP from B standard to c standard.

This was I have a nice thick string for the low notes down to C, I keep my bass tuned in 4ths so improvising and fills are immeasurably easier, and I dont lose the high range available at the (now G#) string.

Btw... tuning is:

C
F
A#
D#
G#
 
#57
uhdinator said:
Thoughts about detuning. Yes it makes your string tension less and feels different. I think Stevie Ray drop tuned to e flat
partly because of sound and partly because he used HEAVY strings to get better tone and drop tuning allowed the heavier than normal strings to bend easier also.

Here's a thought too, low E on bass is 41Hz. Most sub woofers
only go down to 30Hz. While you hear harmonics of the fundemental notes you are not getting all that is there due to
limitations of the amp and the speakers when tuning lower than low E on bass. IMO have not heard any amps that really like that much low to be honest due to this. I will research more.
Click to expand...
good. you need to do some more research. when you do, you will find that we hear the lower notes WAAAAAAAAY more out of the second harmonic than the fundamental regardless of how low our amp goes.
 
#58
What is the big deal with playing "Pride And Joy" on a 5-string?

I get that you might want to be true to the fingering and positioning of the original, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to do it another way.

For E flat tunings like SRV or VanHalen, most bands just play them in standard pitch/tuning anyway. How many bands pull out a detuned Strat when "Pride And Joy" pops up on the set list?
 
#59
I love 4 string basses and 5, and currently only own one bass, a 5 string warwick $$. While most of the points here are good, here's what I've got to add.

Is there anyone here who plays metal/hard rock and use 5-string basses in a band with guitarists that droptune to drop-D? I know that in my band there are certain riffs, written by the guitarist, that I simply cannot finger due to when I need to hit a low D while also hitting notes higher up the neck, or fast runs that incorporate a low D (or octave low D and middle D) as a part of it. Also, there is a song where I can play it using a standard tuned 5er, but it's a pain in the *** and completely kills the mood and energy that comes from playing it with the E string tuned down, the fluidity of motion and ease of expression that comes from playing the same thing further up the neck on a 4-string.

And there is something that I think most people don't think about - buy a 5er and install a Hipshot detuner on the E string! Best of both worlds, have each whenever you want it.

And who cares what I/You/He plays anyway? :P
 

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