How are you tuned?

[6stringapprentice]

I am about to rotate strings tonight or tomorrow and I am wondering how you guys are tuning. I think I am the only bassist in this area still tuned to Standard BEADGC. Everyone else is tuned a half step down.

[Kelz-Da-Basshead]

I tune to standard BEADG but I wanted to move down a half step last week when we played praise him in advance by Marvin Sapp.  Cuz that open B string can add so much to power to a song. I love deep notes so much.

[floaded27]

im tuned regular. refuse to have it any other way. recently bought a 5 string bass used that was tuned EADGC and because before i had thought about having 1 bass tuned that way. i hated it.

i think people get on the bandwagon of tuning down because other people do it. it all depends on how u play. having the lower notes means nothing to me because i hate playing open strings.

6string, tune how YOU want, forget what everybody else do.

[Quebass86]

Standard BEADG

I too don't like playing open strings, however I guess if I really worked on it my playing abililty would probably improve......

[rEaLiTy|cHecK]

i tune flat (half step down) but its cuz i feel like the strings give a different tone (one i like more) due to the difference in the tension. having the low Bb is nice, but i dont use it as much as i used the open B when i had it. i feel like when i had the open B i was always so tempted to hit double stop chords over it and stuff, now i use it far less. the open Eb is actually more of a cool thing for me, but it also doesnt really matter in a way. lol it's hard to explain how i feel about it

[ddwilkins]

I'm tuned a half step down and I dare someone to jump on my bandwagon. Naw, seriously though, I like the string tension. I've been playing this way so long, that I get confused if I tune standard. I did try a whole step down a few years back, but that didn't sit with me. If I'm not mistaken, Gouche and Mo Fitzgerald tune a whole step down.

[jpeeze]

I tune half down just for the Bb and Eb. I love that slide up or down to the Bb & Eb that?s the only reason I tune down. I never really paid attention to the string tension.

[Fingers!]

I love the B-flat tuning (I also love the loose string tension feel) but I have a hard time communicating with others in real time.  So, at this present moment, communication is more important than the strong bottom sound.  So I went back to standard tuning - for now...

[ddwilkins]

I love the B-flat tuning (I also love the loose string tension feel) but I have a hard time communicating with others in real time.  So, at this present moment, communication is more important than the strong bottom sound.  So I went back to standard tuning - for now...

Can you explain why communication is difficult in your case? I don't find a problem communicating because if I'm showing someone something, I tell them the notes, and not the positions because I may play the note in a different position than they do. Nor do I use tabs.

[webster808]

Standard BEADG...i didnt like open strings either, but practice more with it, it frees your hand to do a lot with melodies in songs.

[Fingers!]

Can you explain why communication is difficult in your case? I don't find a problem communicating because if I'm showing someone something, I tell them the notes, and not the positions because I may play the note in a different position than they do. Nor do I use tabs.

Let’s say that things are flying all over the place musically and we’re in the heat of it during a service, and someone call out “G” real fast.  Before I can think about it, I’m at the E-string 3rd fret, not the 4th fret.  By the time I realize what’s happening, that note is in the air. 

When I get better, I’m going back to it.  I think I like that whole-note-down!  Oh my!!

[floaded27]

Can you explain why communication is difficult in your case? I don't find a problem communicating because if I'm showing someone something, I tell them the notes, and not the positions because I may play the note in a different position than they do. Nor do I use tabs.

well it might be ur used to the notes in a different place. when i played on someone's flat-tuned bass i was good (because i play in patterns) but as soon as someone started calling out notes for me to get the song, i was a mess. im not that quick on my standard fretboard (only pay attention to notes when playing with certain people so i dont get that practice that often) but i was drawing a blank on a fretboard tuned flat.

[ddwilkins]

Let’s say that things are flying all over the place musically and we’re in the heat of it during a service, and someone call out “G” real fast.  Before I can think about it, I’m at the E-string 3rd fret, not the 4th fret.  By the time I realize what’s happening, that note is in the air. 

When I get better, I’m going back to it.  I think I like that whole-note-down!  Oh my!!

I see where you're coming from, although, you I'm seeing wierd symbols in your post , because I had that problem at first. The thing that helped me get past it was to continue to practice with the flat tuning until I learned the fret board that way. So, my suggestion to you and anyone else is to practice the way you plan on playing. Either tuning is fine as long as you get the final result. The low A will produce the brown note if your cab can handle it.

[mjl422]

I tune flat.  Mainly because of the looser tension.  I was starting to develop wrist problems with standard tuning.  I don't play open strings too much so, that's not an issue for me.

[jeremyr]

I tune half down just for the Bb and Eb. I love that slide up or down to the Bb & Eb that?s the only reason I tune down. I never really paid attention to the string tension.

Same thing here!!!!!!  I play in C# ALLLLOOOOOOTTTT and you can't beat dropping that low Bb (the 6) on them.

[isthatagirlonthebass]

I am about to rotate strings tonight or tomorrow and I am wondering how you guys are tuning. I think I am the only bassist in this area still tuned to Standard BEADGC. Everyone else is tuned a half step down.

Standard Here

[jpeeze]

Let’s say that things are flying all over the place musically and we’re in the heat of it during a service, and someone call out “G” real fast.  Before I can think about it, I’m at the E-string 3rd fret, not the 4th fret.  By the time I realize what’s happening, that note is in the air. 

When I get better, I’m going back to it.  I think I like that whole-note-down!  Oh my!!

Just keep playing tune flat it will come. I had the same problem for along time. It will take awhile to re learn your notes. The only way you are going to get it is to keep playing that way.

[Steelpulz]

I didn't want to tune down. That's why I got a 7-string, tuned Low F# to C.

[Torch7]

Standard.

[Kelz-Da-Basshead]

I was thinking about getting a six and tuning it F# to G for some more deep notes.