Never use my G string

[SteveXFR]

I realised that I don't touch my G string (the one on my bass) while playing with either of my metal bands or while playing any of my favourite covers at home. Is this unusual?

I play notes that exist on the G but find they sound better on the D or A string. I have quite a bright tone with quite a lot of high mids so maybe Ive made it unusable. Whatever the reason, I replaced a probably unused G with the rest of my strings earlier. 

[ezbass]

I use the G quite a lot in my band, but that’s down to the genre (Mod, Northern Soul, etc) and the original recordings use that part of the neck quite a bit it seems (early systems being less able in the low hz dept). However, I reckon I could go a gauge heavier on the G, just for a more even tone (I already use 45-100 to try & achieve that). 

Edited 19 hours ago by ezbass

[James Nada]

If I didn't use the G I'd replace it with another E the same octave as the regular E.

May as well have a spare ready to go.

 

[Lozz196]

I’m pretty much the same, rarely use the G, preferring the thicker sounding notes of the A & D strings. On some songs this isn’t practical but whenever possible avoid the G.

[mr4stringz]

Given that’s the case and with you being in metal bands I’d be tempted to go BEAD. Loved my time playing in that tuning for a few years.

[Reggaebass]

8 minutes ago, mr4stringz said:

Given that’s the case and with you being in metal bands I’d be tempted to go BEAD. Loved my time playing in that tuning for a few years.

Ive got one jazz strung permanently like that, I like that tuning 

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

I realised that I don't touch my G string (the one on my bass) while playing with either of my metal bands or while playing any of my favourite covers at home. Is this unusual?

 

I don't think so. I am in a general cover band and a metal band. The metal band almost never go past the first 2 strings, the cover band does all of them. I guess metal just stays in the mud!

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

53 minutes ago, mr4stringz said:

Given that’s the case and with you being in metal bands I’d be tempted to go BEAD. Loved my time playing in that tuning for a few years.

Good shout ! I have this setting on my Warwick corvette . Had it done a couple of months ago, and wondered why I didn’t do this much sooner!

[SteveXFR]

57 minutes ago, mr4stringz said:

Given that’s the case and with you being in metal bands I’d be tempted to go BEAD. Loved my time playing in that tuning for a few years.

 

I have done that in the past. The only thing that puts me off now is the thought of modifying the expensive bridge and brass nut on my Spector to accept the heavier strings and the cost of putting it back to original. Maybe I should trade it for a 5 string.

[itu]

57 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

...and the cost of putting it back to original. 

I have my Status MM4 neck that Rob built to BEAD tuning. I use it now with EADG tuning and obviously thinner strings. Works like a dream. No need to modify anything. 

[SteveXFR]

6 minutes ago, itu said:

I have my Status MM4 neck that Rob built to BEAD tuning. I use it now with EADG tuning and obviously thinner strings. Works like a dream. No need to modify anything. 

 

Id need to file the nut and bridge to accept the thicker stings. I can only just get a .110 string in the E string slot in the bridge. 

[itu]

Bridge needed just some filing, and nut was made by Status. E (.95) and B (.120) are interchangable without issues. No buzzing or any other unwanted moving. 

[Mottlefeeder]

I had been playing BEADG fives when I decided to try fretless. I started with a borrowed BEAD four to see how I got on and the band almost immediately added 'Crazy little thing called love' to the set list. That triggered a rethink and I quickly moved on to a BEADG five fretless. Unfortunately I found it was not for me, and I now only play fretted fives.

David

[Ed_S]

For me it's more that I don't like the sensation of playing on the string closest to the floor whatever it's tuned to; if I play a 6 I'll find myself happily incorporating the G which I'd normally avoid on a 4 or 5. As it stands I play 5s which I mostly treat as BEAD 4s, but I can't actually use one of those because I treat them as 3s.

[Mrbigstuff]

Not sure how I’d cope without G strings….

[super al]

I play 5 string basses mainly and used all the strings when playing in a function band (I resisted 5 string basses until the keyboard player said "you wouldn't need to change bass mid set if you had a 5" lightbulb moment 😄).

 

Now I'm in a rock band I think in 2 songs I use the B string and never use the G string at all. I could go back to a 4 string and occasionally do in rehearsals but I'm scared I'd have to sell my lovely 5s. 

 

Could you use the G string for your other passion @SteveXFR ? Are G strings any good as brake/gear cables? 😄

 

 

[Downunderwonder]

Your G string is all yours.

[Leonard Smalls]

11 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

. I guess metal just stays in the mud!

Unless, of course, it's Mudvayne...

And I tend to use the G string all the time. It's useful for excessive widdling.

[SH73]

Depends which Iron Maiden song I play , it's used a lot.

[Hellzero]

Buy a 3 strings bass, or start a D-A-D cover band. 😂😉

 

Funny as it's often the opposite, the thicker string being used as a thumb rest...

 

Strange that you find that the notes normally played on the G string sound better on the D string as they lack depth and harmonics (you can't change the laws of physics).

 

That said, if it suits your needs and playing, why bother except for that unused string you throw away at each strings changing.

 

Perhaps, just buy 3 new separate strings instead of a full set or ask Newtone to make you 3 strings sets.

 

PS: I've always used all the strings on my sixer (fretless) basses, but that's the way I play and I guess that's certainly why I exclusively play piano now as I wasn't a frustrated guitarist, but a frustrated pianist. 🤦🏻🤪😂

[Beedster]

On fretted I tend to use the G a lot when I'm playing flats where I find the tone quite full, less so with rounds. On FL I use the G a lot

[SimonK]

On both five and four string basses I tend to play all root notes on the E and A strings. I find the other strings (D, G and then the low B on the fiver) work better for accent stuff - either popping the higher octaves or playing something widdly up high, or with the low B really using it as an accent when trying to build the dynamics - kind of like a bass drop!

 

So personally I stick to standard tuning, although do agree my E and A strings get the most use.

[jezzaboy]

I`ve played ac/dc stuff live for the last 10 years and the G string is somewhere on a beach, under a sun shade with a pina colada wearing Ray Bans! 

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

Speaking of basses tuned BEAD , some of you may have noticed Warwick Taranis Bass tuned this way from the factory . I saw the  YouTube review by Jonny Dribble ,who thought it was overproduced for what it was . Trouble with the Chinese Warwick’s is that they never seem to be in stock for some reason.

 

Speaking of 5 strings , I’m torn between getting one to complete the collection …or just forget about it due to my BEAD Warwick 🤔

[Stu-khag]

I used to use it a lot as it was the only way I could hear myself by playing - funnily enough I saw a video of peter hook saying the same thing yesterday.

this is me playing for way too long solely on the G and D string