Tuning the Bass

[peaveyorangegretsch]

When you are playing in a band where the guitars are downtuned to something like cgcfgc do you tune your bass to cgcf or on a 5er would you tune cgcfg or cfa#d#g ?

[Lfalex v1.1]

I'd probably tune to C standard on a 4;

 

C,F,A#,D#

 

The five I'd leave in Standard B,E,A,D,G

 

Primarily because I like to keep my fingerings patterns consistent.

 

Edited February 5, 2024 by Lfalex v1.1

[MartinB]

I agree - C standard on a 4 string would be my preference. But it may depend on the songs. Assuming this is some kind of metal, that there'll be fast riffs that use the open G string, and that you'll be expected to follow the rhythm guitar, you may end up finding it easier to play in D-drop-C (i.e. C, G, C, F).

[MacDaddy]

Decent speakers, regular tuning, and an octave pedal 😉

[peaveyorangegretsch]

You prefer using the open 3rd string instead of the 5th fret on 4?  I seem to get better tone with the fretted note and easier to keep it from ringing out so bad.

[fretmeister]

16 minutes ago, peaveyorangegretsch said:

You prefer using the open 3rd string instead of the 5th fret on 4?  I seem to get better tone with the fretted note and easier to keep it from ringing out so bad.

 

That's just practice.

[asingardenof]

On a fiver I'd leave it as BEADG, but then when I'm figuring out a song I usually try and do it so I can avoid playing open strings in case I ever need to play it in a different key.

[BigRedX]

Depends on whether you are supposed to play in "unison" with the guitar(s). 

 

If it's not mandatory I would stick with standard tuning on a 5-string. In the past when playing with guitarists using down tuning if I'm not tuned to the same root notes as them it makes for more interesting song arrangements. 

 

However that may not what the rest of the band want.

[borntohang]

If I'm just playing music generally, say at an open jam where there are lots of keys, then I'd stay in standard for convenience. If I'm playing something particularly 'guitaristic' like metal or rock where there is a lot of riding open strings involved or the downtuning is part of the tone, then I'll drop. 

[Doctor J]

If it's metal and they're playing that low C a lot, I'd tune to C too.

[christhammer666]

i was in a band that played drop c . i tuned the b on the 5 to c cos there was a lot of droning open c notes

[MichaelDean]

I'm playing in drop C in my band and was using CGCFA#. I found the highest string wasn't getting used, so I've tuned that up to a C as well. Now I'm using CGCFC and I really like having easy access to the three octave spread super easily. 

 

Drop G was discussed on the band chat earlier... For my usual string brand, they recommend a .160 for that. That's just getting on for a suspension bridge support, not a bass string!

[Doctor J]

I've got a .149 for a B which I've used as low a G# every now and again.

 

If I needed a low G all the time a .160 makes a lot of sense. I'd do it.

 

Bigger is better the lower you go 🙂

Edited February 6, 2024 by Doctor J

[SteveXFR]

I'd tune the 5 string down as well. I assume you're playing metal and there will be lots of playing riffs off open string which gets really tricky if you're not in the right tuning. 

Playing something like Reign In Blood would probably be impossible if you aren't in the same tuning as the guitar or have 8 fingers 10 inches long

[Count Bassy]

you can tune a bass?????

[StickyDBRmf]

41 minutes ago, Count Bassy said:

you can tune a bass?????

That was the question I was waiting for.