SteveXFR Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 I was wondering, are open tunings a thing on bass? Would there be any benefit to using them since we don't really play chords much? I was talking to a guitarist today who suggested trying it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 I don't think open tunings are much help on bass (too muddy).... but alternative tunings might be usefull. For example making open notes available to use as a drone, or open notes which you can play between fretted notes. Or to make certain sequences playable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawford13 Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 5 minutes ago, Nail Soup said: I don't think open tunings are much help on bass (too muddy).... but alternative tunings might be usefull. For example making open notes available to use as a drone, or open notes which you can play between fretted notes. Or to make certain sequences playable. Totally agree with this. I generally try to avoid using open strings as none of my basses have a zero fret so you can hear the difference in open strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 I use them in solo stuff, usually along with a capo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamg67 Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, SteveXFR said: I was wondering, are open tunings a thing on bass? Would there be any benefit to using them since we don't really play chords much? I was talking to a guitarist today who suggested trying it. I always thought of open tunings being for chords - they're designed to give you a chord from just open strings (or capo'd or with a slide). On bass, the notes of a triad being on the same fret isn't that big a help is it? Edited April 3, 2021 by adamg67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted April 4, 2021 Share Posted April 4, 2021 10 hours ago, Nail Soup said: I don't think open tunings are much help on bass (too muddy).... but alternative tunings might be usefull I keep wondering aloud if anyone's tried tuning a six string BD#GBD#G - same range as a five string, but with only a major 3rd from one string to the next, easier to get an immaculately smooth legato line - but for some inexplicable reason, I always just get totally ignored 😢 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted April 4, 2021 Share Posted April 4, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted April 4, 2021 Author Share Posted April 4, 2021 I thought that would be the answer. I'll stick with standard tunings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StickyDBRmf Posted April 4, 2021 Share Posted April 4, 2021 Tim Bogart tuned his 6-string w/ a third,(B to B), I tune my basses every which-way to suit my whims, also Joni tunings on my guitars. I play the Stick so that stays the same, althought I throw a capo on it from time-to-time, 'cause the the strings are muted on it 'cause there's too damn many...Play around, especially if you have more than one instrument, drop-D is always a hoot. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 Does it have to be in tune? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.