how to tune my 5 string bass

[evertonfc75]

hey

I recently joined a band as a bassist. this bands guitarists play in drop b (B F# B E G# C#)
Just wondered what was the best way to tune my 5 string bass to this?
Would it be best tuning up the strings, or would this warp the neck?

thanks

[o b s]

Everyone said I should get my bass set up after switching from BEADG to EADGC (heavy gauge to light gauge also) but I didn't know a trusted bass luthier in my area so I didn't bother, I've noticed absolutely no change in intonation, playability or any other aspect of my bass. Detuning shouldn't damage it if its a good bass.

Though personally if you are tuned BEADG I'd just leave it like that, you've got the open E and B strings and you'll lose a lot of intuition with your bass by playing an odd tuning.

[evertonfc75]

i tried de-tuning it, eg. the A string all the way down to B, but it was way too lose and flabby to play. i am tempted to tighten the strings from standard up one step, but i dont want to damage the bass by doing so.

[o b s]

I've never played with altered tunings so I can't really give you great advice on this.

[Akira]

i tried de-tuning it, eg. the A string all the way down to B, but it was way too lose and flabby to play. i am tempted to tighten the strings from standard up one step, but i dont want to damage the bass by doing so.

Why would you tune the A string down to B when you already have a low B? Tune the A string up to B.
B->B
E->F#
A->B
D->E
G->A
I don't know how well tuning up a full step will work, but you can try it.
Personally, I don't like alternate tunings because they get kind of messy like this. Plus, I think these stupid alternate tunings are completely counterintuitive.

EDIT: Yeah, it should be A. I am just stupid.

[TheIdiotBox]

If I were you, I wouldn't change tunings unless it was ABSOLUTELY necessary. Like Akira said, you already have the low B, I don't see why you would need to change anything else.

[rh15951]

Why would you tune the A string down to B when you already have a low B? Tune the A string up to B.
B->B
E->F#
A->B
D->E
G->G#
I don't know how well tuning up a full step will work, but you can try it.
Personally, I don't like alternate tunings because they get kind of messy like this. Plus, I think these stupid alternate tunings are completely counterintuitive.

The bass would be tuned B F# B E A, to keep it in fourths. Use the standard low B string and buy some light guage strings like 35-90 to tune up a step.

[TheIdiotBox]

B to F is a fifth. And if you are going to detune, I would tune to what the guitars are playing in, rather than another odd tuning.

[jordan-z]

If I were you, I wouldn't change tunings unless it was ABSOLUTELY necessary. Like Akira said, you already have the low B, I don't see why you would need to change anything else.

Because it makes learning and playing the material that the guitarist is playing waaaay easier (for me at least). And asuming he's playing metal, most guitarist do the writing and being able to just look at where he's playing each note without having to translate where ever that note may be on your instrament is less of a hassle.

[TheIdiotBox]

That's a hell of a generalisation. And personally, I'd rather spend the couple of seconds working out where to play a note differently than tune 4 strings up for no real reason.

[evertonfc75]

well the riffs would be simply too hard to play if i didnt match the tuning on the guitars. the stretches would be too hard, and it involves a lot of quick playing with open notes on numerous strings.
so what is my best bet? im thinking of just tightening the strings up a step a half.

[Akira]

If you are set on tuning like the guitarist do what I said.
I don't know where you got a step and a half though, the highest up you have to go is a step.

[rh15951]

B to F is a fifth. And if you are going to detune, I would tune to what the guitars are playing in, rather than another odd tuning.

Sorry I meant F#. B F# B E A is what the guitarists are playing in except the highest 2 strings on the guitar are not tuned to 4ths hence the G# in the guitar tuning rather than A.

And I know the low B to F# isn't a 4th, it's the same as drop D tuning just a couple of steps down... So its not really an odd tuning. Keep up.

[evertonfc75]

aha ive no idea where i got the half from. its late, thats my excuse aha. yeh i shall do that.

[o b s]

Because it makes learning and playing the material that the guitarist is playing waaaay easier (for me at least). And asuming he's playing metal, most guitarist do the writing and being able to just look at where he's playing each note without having to translate where ever that note may be on your instrament is less of a hassle.

And of course, the guitarist won't be able to read notes.

[Naveed Afzal]

Everyone said I should get my bass set up after switching from BEADG to EADGC (heavy gauge to light gauge also) but I didn't know a trusted bass luthier in my area so I didn't bother, I've noticed absolutely no change in intonation, playability or any other aspect of my bass. Detuning shouldn't damage it if its a good bass.


Same here... i play sting, and i was just lazy... but once i went and got it setup i did notice my stringers were tighter, and i loved it.

He raised my action and since i didnt ask him he gave me 2 months to bring it back and get it set up the way i prefer. Access to the C string is alot smoother now... If u do get a chance gt it set up.,

[o b s]

Same here... i play sting, and i was just lazy... but once i went and got it setup i did notice my stringers were tighter, and i loved it.

He raised my action and since i didnt ask him he gave me 2 months to bring it back and get it set up the way i prefer. Access to the C string is alot smoother now... If u do get a chance gt it set up.,

Perhaps I will then, I was planning to take my fretless bass to a luthier who is a friend of my family for a setup and a little body work this Saturday, so I'll take my TRB along too.

[Soulfly666]

If I were you I would just leave it B E A D G. You'll still have a whole octave below your guitarist to work with and that's plenty.

[TheIdiotBox]

Sorry I meant F#. B F# B E A is what the guitarists are playing in except the highest 2 strings on the guitar are not tuned to 4ths hence the G# in the guitar tuning rather than A.

And I know the low B to F# isn't a 4th, it's the same as drop D tuning just a couple of steps down... So its not really an odd tuning. Keep up.I meant it would be an odd tuning with an F instead of an F#.

If you have to tune up, tune to the guitars.

[rh15951]

I meant it would be an odd tuning with an F instead of an F#.

If you have to tune up, tune to the guitars.

I meant F# not F, re-read my post and TS post.

[TheIdiotBox]

Well I know that now since you corrected it, but at the time I didn't. I even acknowledged it in my fourth post.

[rh15951]

cool cool

[jordan-z]

well the riffs would be simply too hard to play if i didnt match the tuning on the guitars. the stretches would be too hard, and it involves a lot of quick playing with open notes on numerous strings.
so what is my best bet? im thinking of just tightening the strings up a step a half.

ya if hes playin techy stuff it could be hard to make the stretches