Standard E and Standard Eb in the Same Set? - How Would You Do It?

[Dan Dare]

6 hours ago, Sean said:

1. One Eb standard, one E standard tuned bass. If one is needed as backup there's a tuning delay involved.

 

This is what I do. Our singer likes Eb. I've never broken a string (thus far, at any rate) or needed a back-up instrument on a gig.

[Sean]

4 minutes ago, Dan Dare said:

 

This is what I do. Our singer likes Eb. I've never broken a string (thus far, at any rate) or needed a back-up instrument on a gig.

 

I saw a bassist’s Hipshot Xtender fall apart during a gig last week. It was a proper ticketed gig with about 150 audience. He didn’t have a spare bass. Awkward. 

Edited March 20 by Sean

[tauzero]

I play a 5-string, so that's what I'd use (in BEADG tuning). If there was some reliance on open strings when in Eb, I'd put a capo on the 4th fret.

[Terry M.]

9 hours ago, Sean said:

After searching for ages, a decent band has approached me and I'm going to a rehearsal with them to see how we gel.

 

Most of their songs are down a semitone (half-step) from the originals and there are 2 or 3 that are in the original key.

 

It seems a bit unusual to me. All songs are typical rock songs

 

Although, the first meeting will be all songs played on an Eb Standard tuned bass, how would you approach this for a gig situation?

 

I see my options as:

 

1. One Eb standard, one E standard tuned bass. If one is needed as backup there's a tuning delay involved.

 

2. A B standard 5-string. Loses all the open string "opportunities" of many of the songs. Backup bass is same config. No real low-B requirements in the set.

 

3. An Eb Standard bass but learn the original pitch songs up a semi-tone and get used to it. Backup bass is same config.

 

What would you do?

 

 

 

 

Option 2. Bearing in mind I don't play 4 strings anymore. Having a low B isn't just about the 5 extra notes however. It can be used for economic (movement) reasons also. 

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, tauzero said:

If there was some reliance on open strings when in Eb, I'd put a capo on the 4th fret.

Can this be explained please? Why would there be reliance on open strings in Eb on a 5 string? Genuine ignorance so please bear with me 😊

[ezbass]

If there are only a few songs in standard tuning, I’d go Eb tuning and just play those few a semitone up.

 

Conversely, you could X-tender crazy and have 4 fitted! Very Michael Manring.   

[James Nada]

I'd try and convince the band to all the 'standard' songs a semi-tone lower, or vice-verse. Practically must win!

 

If that fails, I'd go for a bass in each tuning, with a pitch shift pedal in case one of the basses fails.

I'd also try and structure the set into blocks of the same tuning - it'd add to the complication and restrict spontaneity but that's got to be accepted if the practicality argument is lost.

[Johannes]

What is the problem? Simple and proven solution is a 5-string bass. If You want to stick with a 4-stringer, just play E flats an octave higher and try to imagine how much easier life could be with a 5-string bass. No pun intented, it’s just how I see it.

[simonlittle]

Presumably if only a few songs are in the original key (and thus back to standard tuning), the guitarist will need to either tune back up or switch guitars. Either way you have time to make a change too. If it were me I’d just retune with a tuner pedal. That way you can mute the bass and wack it up or down. Can’t take any longer than switching bass…
 

[Elfrasho]

Edited

 

I thought the music you were playing was classic rock. Dunno where I got that from

 

 

I would probably just match what the guitarist does. If he can play those tunes a step up then chances are it will sound and play fine a step up on bass too.

Edited March 20 by Elfrasho

[Sean]

15 minutes ago, Elfrasho said:

Edited

 

I thought the music you were playing was classic rock. Dunno where I got that from

 

 

I would probably just match what the guitarist does. If he can play those tunes a step up then chances are it will sound and play fine a step up on bass too.

Yep. After talking to the guitarist, that's what I've decided; same as him.

[SumOne]

Unless the low Eb is essential, just play that note up a 3rd, 5th, or octave.

[TimR]

3 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Can this be explained please? Why would there be reliance on open strings in Eb on a 5 string? Genuine ignorance so please bear with me 😊

 

If the original is in Eb on a 4 string then (for example) octaves from open Eb to 12th fret Eb are easy to play. On a 5 string the Eb is no longer an open string so you're jumping from 4th on B to 11th fret on E. 

[tauzero]

3 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Can this be explained please? Why would there be reliance on open strings in Eb on a 5 string? Genuine ignorance so please bear with me 😊

 

In my case, it was "Whole lotta Rosie" - the main riff was a pig to play on a standard tuned 5 string when the band was playing in Eb tuning so I put a capo on 4. They've gone back to standard tuning for it so the capo is back in the bag. It would also be relevant if there were particular harmonics to be played.

[tauzero]

19 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

If the original is in Eb on a 4 string then (for example) octaves from open Eb to 12th fret Eb are easy to play. On a 5 string the Eb is no longer an open string so you're jumping from 4th on B to 11th fret on E. 

 

Why on earth would you do that and not 4th on B to 6th on A?

[Chienmortbb]

12 hours ago, Sean said:

A B standard 5-string. Loses all the open string "opportunities" of many of the songs. Backup bass is same config. No real low-B requirements in the set.

I always think the idea of the Low B is not to use the low B but to allow you to go a few semitones below E.

[Sean]

1 minute ago, Chienmortbb said:

I always think the idea of the Low B is not to use the low B but to allow you to go a few semitones below E.

One of the originals bands I play in does a lot of songs in Drop B tuning. I'm hammering up and down a Bm scale with a low B ringing out a lot. It was only when I started playing this stuff I realised that a low F# would do for me what a low B does for what you're talking about. Hypothetically, of course.

[peteb]

4 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Can this be explained please? Why would there be reliance on open strings in Eb on a 5 string? Genuine ignorance so please bear with me 😊

 

21 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

In my case, it was "Whole lotta Rosie" - the main riff was a pig to play on a standard tuned 5 string when the band was playing in Eb tuning so I put a capo on 4. They've gone back to standard tuning for it so the capo is back in the bag. It would also be relevant if there were particular harmonics to be played.

 

The example I was going to use was Slither, which would be near impossible to play authentically on a bass in standard tuning or a 5 string! A lot of riffs utilise open strings, especially on guitar, but also on bass. 

 

[Lozz196]

6 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

 

The example I was going to use was Slither, which would be near impossible to play authentically on a bass in standard tuning or a 5 string! A lot of riffs utilise open strings, especially on guitar, but also on bass. 

 

Yep, my Hipshot Xtender makes this song a doddle, without it I’d either have to detune the E to D or play the whole song an octave higher.

[MacDaddy]

I'd use Shuker no3 and open the first clasp for open Eb and put it back for standard E .

 

[peteb]

12 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yep, my Hipshot Xtender makes this song a doddle, without it I’d either have to detune the E to D or play the whole song an octave higher.

 

But as you will know, playing it an octave higher doesn't sound right. A mate of mine put a Hipshot Xtender on the E string of a 5 string bass, for playing this song and stuff like Soundgarden (where loads of songs are in Drop D). 

 

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, TimR said:

 

If the original is in Eb on a 4 string then (for example) octaves from open Eb to 12th fret Eb are easy to play. On a 5 string the Eb is no longer an open string so you're jumping from 4th on B to 11th fret on E. 

Okay but the 6th fret on the A string is nearer? 

Edited March 20 by Terry M.

[Terry M.]

39 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said:

I always think the idea of the Low B is not to use the low B but to allow you to go a few semitones below E.

The low B is there to be used. I use it in church a lot 😊

[peteb]

I would suggest that the OP insists the band makes its mind up and commits to one tuning or the other, with presumably Down 1 (i.e. in Eb) being the way to go. 

 

I play in different bands that play in different tunings, so I have some basses set up in Concert (using 50 - 105 gauge strings) and others down 1 (55 - 110 strings). I do have a P bass with a slightly higher action in Concert than my other basses, so I have the option of tuning it down for certain (mainly blues) gigs. 

 

Edited March 20 by peteb

[Len_derby]

18 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Yep, my Hipshot Xtender makes this song a doddle, without it I’d either have to detune the E to D or play the whole song an octave higher.

Yes, I agree with you and @peteb on this one. When my covers band play Slither I drop my E string to a D. However, last summer I watched a local cover band play it and the bassist played It on a five string with no attempt to put the low D drone in the verse. The crowd loved it, and I doubt the rest of the band noticed or cared. Moral, we make things unnecessarily difficult for ourselves. 
But, I’m going to carry on trying to do it properly as I’m sure you guys are too.