Heavy in standard tuning?

[SteveXFR]

In the past Ive always tuned down to C or lower for anything heavy. I know where im going when its low but the guitarist im playing with now doesn't want to tune more than a semitone below standard. 

Its a new challenge for me so ill give it a bash but I need some inspiration. Classic 70's and 80's stuff doesn't really do anything for me (Sabbath being the exception) and were not going to be playing thrash, death or black metal. 

Has anyone got any recommendations for doom and stoner metal in standard tunings? All I can find is Clutch

 

[Supernaut]

Pretty sure Fu Manchu use D standard. 

[SteveXFR]

Just now, Supernaut said:

Pretty sure Fu Manchu use D standard. 

 

Thanks. I like a bit of Fu Manchu. Id just assumed they'd be in C

[Jackroadkill]

Red Fang tune in standard, I believe (and maybe Green Lung as well).

[Stofferson]

Not doom, more stoner and other things, we play in Eb standard!

Syncolima example tune

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I have a question for all the beard twitchers out there regarding this subject ..

I have one of my basses setup b-e-a d . Would that work with all the other tunings mentioned above ??

with all the variations it can get a bit Lionel messy , so for me ( who is not bothered about bands anymore) it’s either standard tuning or BEAD .

[velvetkevorkian]

1 hour ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

I have a question for all the beard twitchers out there regarding this subject ..

I have one of my basses setup b-e-a d . Would that work with all the other tunings mentioned above ??

with all the variations it can get a bit Lionel messy , so for me ( who is not bothered about bands anymore) it’s either standard tuning or BEAD .

Yes, with a side of it depends - if you can transpose as required, and don't rely on being able to hit open strings it works just fine. I played a 5 string in standard BEADG tuning in a band with guitars tuned to D standard for years.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

31 minutes ago, velvetkevorkian said:

Yes, with a side of it depends - if you can transpose as required, and don't rely on being able to hit open strings it works just fine. I played a 5 string in standard BEADG tuning in a band with guitars tuned to D standard for years.

Thanks for that ! 🙂

I did have a 5 string many moons ago , and hardly used it in rehearsals or a band situation. Of course I as told by all and sundry “ you don’t need a 5 string “😮‍💨

In one of the bands I was in , the 2 guitarists were putting hair bands on my bass for 2 or 3 songs ,giving a capo effect . I assume that if I had a 5 string or was confident enough to go BEAD  everything would have been more immediate. On one occasion it was funny when one of the guitarists in one of the other bands heard me playing an open B on my 5 string “ what note is that ?” 😆

All this was in rock cover bands. The good thing I guess by lounging around at home , is that it’s either BEAD or EADG basses whatever mood I’m in 🙂

[thodrik]

Lots of Sabbath stuff is in e flat. A few stoner bands play in drop C sharp so the drop D equivalent of a half step down. I have heard a few stoner bands play in drop D too, but more in the prog/psychedelic side rather than doom. 
 

Some of Queens of the Stoneage stuff is in standard. Most of Alice in Chains is a half step down. Monster Magnet too. 95% of all Tool songs are also in drop D.
 

You can certainly play heavy music while not downtuned. 

 

Honestly, if I really wanted to play heavy stoner/doom music and the guitarist wasn’t willing to tune down then I would just find a new guitarist.

[SteveXFR]

8 hours ago, Jackroadkill said:

Red Fang tune in standard, I believe (and maybe Green Lung as well).

 

I know some Red Fang is tuned really low, possibly A# and Green Lung mostly use C

[Musicman666]

i like standard d ...it just means you have lower open strings ...you can still play in standard tuning easily enough ..throw a capo on the second fret if you like ...instant shortscale. 

[bassbloke]

First Obituary album is in standard tuning, as is a lot of Opeth's blackwater park.

 

Eb is my favourite and is what current band uses. Adds just the right amount of menace but still sounds snappy enough.  Worked for some of the greatest Stevie Wonder songs so must be good.