Telebass Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Does anyone here use this method as their basic tuning, down to D-G-C-F ? Probably a pain in these days of 5ers, but I seem to remember Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad using this. Keep thinking of trying it, but have not yet mustered the courage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I play my 5 string: A C G C F and my 6 strings: A C G C F A sharp. I love it. It suits our music and my technique. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Sure do! We drop to CGCF for some songs. I use 50-110 gauge strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh3184 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 We've got everything down a semitone at D# G# C# F# and it works just fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Have on occasion detuned the E to D for Muse tracks. Don't think I have the appropriate strings on for it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I used to when I played a 4 string in a band with guitars in D. Got a 5 string and never looked back- I don't see the attraction and it makes it a pain in the ass to play with other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I used to keep my 6 strings tuned down a step, the guitarist in one of my old bands used to play in drop D and used loads of open D riffs so I needed an open D string but didn't want to screw with my intervals between strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman69 Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 No big deal to drop a half-step during a gig once its helping the vocals.. otherwise theres no point. Punters dont hear it. We find Lizzy covers just sound wrong unless dropped, SRV and Jimi also. Its a love-thang!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman69 Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Sorry Telebass.. I should pay more attention to the OP! Cant drop a full step on my bass without a change of strings, things start flapping about and its just too out of control. Depends on the style.. might suit some heavy dub stylee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 [quote name='Telebass' post='740399' date='Feb 9 2010, 09:44 PM']Does anyone here use this method as their basic tuning, down to D-G-C-F ? Probably a pain in these days of 5ers, but I seem to remember Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad using this. Keep thinking of trying it, but have not yet mustered the courage![/quote] Just a D-Tuner on the Wal to allow me to switch from EADG to DADG G&L tuned down a semitone for Alibi - it make the vocals a tad easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 I've done a few gigs where I've dropped down either a tone or semitone (usually when it's a thrown together band without a strong singer).Other times I just use the Hipshot extender on my Jazz Bass. The one thing that really annoys me about drop tuning is when people still refer to the notes as though it was in standard tuning. If I'm in drop D the 3rd fret is an F not G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 [quote name='Doddy' post='740557' date='Feb 10 2010, 02:01 AM']The one thing that really annoys me about drop tuning is when people still refer to the notes as though it was in standard tuning. If I'm in drop D the 3rd fret is an F not G.[/quote] How lazy! I can't see how that would work for them. That's potentially eight notes they've lost. Careless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 [quote name='Dread Bass' post='740403' date='Feb 9 2010, 09:49 PM']I play my 5 string: A C G C F and my 6 strings: A C G C F A sharp. I love it. It suits our music and my technique.[/quote] Weird, I didn't know anyone else did that! Mine's the same intervals but a semi-tone higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottle Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 [quote name='Telebass' post='740399' date='Feb 9 2010, 09:44 PM']Does anyone here use this method as their basic tuning, down to D-G-C-F ?[/quote] Yes!!!! (See my siggie) Seriously, tried drop-tuning my Ibanez (DADG), but found I was messing all my standard shapes up in this tuning, so when I got the Squier, the first thing was to down-tune the whole bass so it's still tuned in perfect 4ths (quick trussrod adjustment, kept the standard strings on). Main reason for this is a lot of the music we play in church benefits from me being able to play the low D if in the key of Amaj or F#m (which is a lot!!) or Dmaj (can play the open string as a root note then go to the 3rd, 5th and octave relatively easily). Still, if I went back to a 5 string I might have to look at ADGCF (or possibly a 4 string tuned ADGC) - it allows some extra flexibility without sacrificing a lot at the far end of the fretboard (who really goes above the 20th fret anyway? ) Anyway, YMMV. Give it a try! HTH, Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc62 Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Just watched a Doobie Brothers video, and their bassist Skylark seems to tune down a whole tone. I tried detuning after getting rid of my 5-string but can't get on with it. I find that at some point I take my eye off the ball and move my fretting hand to get me a D, only to hit a C. I'm told it's due to having perfect pitch but I don't believe that's anything to do with it - I just couldn't be arsed to persevere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 In my metal band we're tuned down a step and a half, so C# standard. My other band we tune a half step down for the singer's benefit, so D# standard, and one song there we drop tune, so end up in drop C#. I do this all on the one bass and it's manageable with 45-105's, although I would prefer a bass specifically set up for each band really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatback Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I should really do this, our singer sings a lot in G, so I could do with a low D. Detuning all strings, ok, but drop tuning would give me anervous breakdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_nottm Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 A somewhat related question. In my (now on a break) covers band everything was 1/2 step down to help the singer hit some of the high bits. All fine, no issues with that. What would you recommend setting up differently on a bass that I would be using tuned this way? Different strings? Action? anything else. I haven't made any changes, and it seems fine, but just wondering..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dumelow Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 i play in flat with my band - Eb Ab C Gb....but we tune the Eb down a tone for some songs so Db Ab C Gb nothin special tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 [quote name='Steve_nottm' post='742298' date='Feb 11 2010, 05:18 PM']A somewhat related question. In my (now on a break) covers band everything was 1/2 step down to help the singer hit some of the high bits. All fine, no issues with that. What would you recommend setting up differently on a bass that I would be using tuned this way? Different strings? Action? anything else. I haven't made any changes, and it seems fine, but just wondering.....[/quote] Totally depends on how the bass feels to you. I ended up favouring slightly heavier strings, but that was pretty much the only change- as ever though, YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 [quote name='Steve_nottm' post='742298' date='Feb 11 2010, 05:18 PM']A somewhat related question. In my (now on a break) covers band everything was 1/2 step down to help the singer hit some of the high bits. All fine, no issues with that. What would you recommend setting up differently on a bass that I would be using tuned this way? Different strings? Action? anything else. I haven't made any changes, and it seems fine, but just wondering.....[/quote] Check your intonation too, changing string tension (including by keeping the same tuning but changing string gauges) can sometimes send it a bit out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sshorepunk Posted February 12, 2010 Share Posted February 12, 2010 I have a Jap P bass tuned down to D G C F, leave it like that all the time, for using on one song we do when the geezer who wrote My Star with Ian Brown plays with us. I rarley play the P for anything else, so have the luxury of leaving it in that tuning, 45-105 strings are used. Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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