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Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: 4hisglory on November 07, 2005, 09:13:41 AM

Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: 4hisglory on November 07, 2005, 09:13:41 AM
Well, I found my first problem (well, not really a problem, but isse) with a four string bass.  I was trying to transcribe a bass line from a CD and the first note was Eb (I kinda cheated and found it on the piano first).

When I went to find it on my 4 string, I discovered that the actually pitch wasnt on the bass, it was deeper.  Uuggghh.....
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 07, 2005, 09:17:54 AM
Oh the joy!

LOL


[edit]

Seems you need to buy yourself a 5 string.....but then you'll try to play a Bb....


Now, if you had an 8-string, you wouldn't have to worry about hitting bottom!

LOL....

[/edit]
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: djgroovin on November 07, 2005, 09:45:05 AM
I play 4 string too and that Eb plagued me also.  I looked at it as a challenge to learn to play it with the higher octave, which is good for learning fingerings, but it just doesn't sound the same.  This too has forced me to desire that B string.
Title: glad...
Post by: sonice on November 07, 2005, 03:32:31 PM
Glad to know I am not the only one with that problem.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 07, 2005, 04:08:16 PM
my problem is simular, I discovered that my deepest D is open D which is the same idea as you were just saying Eb/D# samething.

Open D is the 2nd highest string of a four string and it is my deepest  8O

I'd like a 5. we play a song called Ancient of Days in D and a 4 string does not do it justice. I'm in the market for a 5 and I think I have settled on Ibanez sr505.
Title: Are...
Post by: 4hisglory on November 07, 2005, 06:47:52 PM
Is your bass alternatively tuned??
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 07, 2005, 07:16:34 PM
nope.... explain?
Title: Re: Are...
Post by: JayZee on November 07, 2005, 07:30:21 PM
Quote from: 4hisglory
Is your bass alternatively tuned??



That is the "key" to it right their my brothers and sisters.... I have seen a 4 string bass tunes as low a Db and it sounds awesome. 8)  Its a must try if you haven't already.......Let me know what you think....... :?:


God Bless,
jayzee

www.gospelmusictrain.com
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 07, 2005, 07:42:00 PM
I was going to say drop D tuning which turns the E into a D.


4hisglory. I assume you are talking about my comment the open D is the deepest D on a 4 string EADG.

The 5th fret on the A string same octave as open D, 10th fret on the E string same octave as D on the A string and open D.

I'm confident in this conclusion but if someone has a different way of me thinking about what I just said I'm all ears..........
Title: Ohhh...
Post by: 4hisglory on November 07, 2005, 08:32:27 PM
Oohhh....duuhh...I see now. :D
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 07, 2005, 08:41:22 PM
I changed my mind I want a peavey millinium 5. with 35 in scale, hip shot bridge, active eq and p/u and much cheaper...... then the ibanez sr505
Title: Re: Are...
Post by: ladybass on November 07, 2005, 09:09:31 PM
Quote from: JayZee


That is the "key" to it right their my brothers and sisters.... I have seen a 4 string bass tunes as low a Db and it sounds awesome. 8)  Its a must try if you haven't already.......Let me know what you think....... :?:



hmmmm interesting  :idea:
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: pnguin1979 on November 07, 2005, 09:17:11 PM
Why don't you try tuning your bass down a 1/2 step.  Guitar players do this all the time.  then Eb would be right there.
Title: I am...
Post by: 4hisglory on November 07, 2005, 09:34:09 PM
I am a purest. :)    For some reason, I just believe in 4 strings regularly tuned (this may change one day).  I dont care for 8 string bass guitars either. :D
Title: Re: I am...
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 07, 2005, 09:38:05 PM
Quote from: 4hisglory
I am a purest. :)    For some reason, I just believe in 4 strings regularly tuned (this may change one day).  I dont care for 8 string bass guitars either. :D


See! There you go being prejudice!!!!


 :evil:


LOL
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: tondee on November 07, 2005, 09:43:48 PM
I have a 5-string with a standard B.  Some songs go lower than my B.  If I know ahead of time that that song is coming I just tune down the B string temporarily.  I used to tune a guitar down 1/2, like Hendrix, SRV-ish.  After a couple of years, I decided to go back to standard tuning and learn how to handle my instrument.  And that's still ongoing.  

Tony

I'm against an 8-string also.  But I'm not going to say anything because I am liable to find myself with one.  B3, did I say that out loud?
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 07, 2005, 10:01:17 PM
Quote from: tondee
...I'm against an 8-string also. But I'm not going to say anything because I am liable to find myself with one. B3, did I say that out loud?



You WILL be assimilated! Resistance is futile!


 :wink:  :lol:


Don't that 8-string look pretty, in that pic?!!

LOL  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: tondee on November 08, 2005, 07:02:47 AM
Come on.  Look at it.  It's a monstrosity.  Who, in their right mind, would want something like that???

Alright, Yea, bring it here.  Put it right here, in my hands... :D


Tony
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: pnguin1979 on November 08, 2005, 09:35:31 AM
4hisglory

If you define a purity as EADG then you will never find your Eb it's hidden below the nut.   :D
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: shmo on November 10, 2005, 04:03:42 AM
I have the same problem. You guys say to tune differently so if I dont tune EADG how should I tune the 4 strings.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: shmo on November 10, 2005, 04:04:13 AM
I have the same problem. You guys say to tune differently so if I dont tune EADG how  should I tune the 4 strings. :?
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: shmo on November 10, 2005, 04:11:38 AM
I've even tried to fix that problem with a oc-3 pedal but that its not clear
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 10, 2005, 05:41:09 AM
DADG
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 10, 2005, 10:32:20 AM
DADG
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: JayZee on November 10, 2005, 10:54:54 AM
Tune in fourths......

if your top string is a D then go up four and your second string would be a G then the next would be a C and the last string would be an F......

Try Db-Gb-B-E also............

It takes a bit getting used to.........


God Bless you,
jayzee


www.gospelmusictrain.com
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: JayZee on November 10, 2005, 04:26:08 PM
:lol:  :lol:

thats the beauty of the relative fourth....... :wink:

jayzee
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: pnguin1979 on November 10, 2005, 06:07:55 PM
Eb, Ab, Db, Gb.  the notes at the first fret would be EADG
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: funkinater on November 13, 2005, 04:38:25 PM
What's up!
I tune my bass down a whole step on all six strings.  That way I have the lowest note that the keyboard has.  It's helped on many occasions.  If it's good enough for Andrew Gouche and Reggie Young.  It's good enough for me. :)

funkinater
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 13, 2005, 06:01:42 PM
Quote from: funkinater
What's up!
I tune my bass down a whole step on all six strings.  That way I have the lowest note that the keyboard has.  It's helped on many occasions.  If it's good enough for Adrew Gouche and Reggie Young.  It's good enough for me. :)

funkinater



Are we talking 88 keys?
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: funkinater on November 13, 2005, 08:08:33 PM
If I'm not mistaken isn't the lowest note on a piano A?  If so that's the lowest note on the B string if you lower it a whole step.

Funkinater
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 13, 2005, 08:29:37 PM
Yea, but the lowest not on a your bass, even tuned a whole step down, would still be an octave above the lowest note on an 88key piano.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: funkinater on November 13, 2005, 08:43:09 PM
Well I've just learned something.  In my logic, I couldn't imagine another octave lower than the Low A on a bass.  Wouldn't it almost be unaudible?
I'll have to check that out.
Thanks for the info

Funkinater
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: Davelong on November 13, 2005, 08:43:29 PM
Actually, I think Funkinator is right - tuning the low "B" down a whole tone would be the low "A" on the piano.

The confusion is due to the fact that the bass is written an octave ABOVE it's sounding pitch.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: funkinater on November 13, 2005, 09:07:01 PM
Thanks Davelong,
I thought I was losing my mind for a minute.
I didn't want to argue the point until I looked into it further.
Seeing as B3Wannabe is pretty knowledgeable and all  :)

funkinater
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 13, 2005, 09:28:39 PM
LOL @ knowledgable


I'll recant.  :lol:


 :wink:
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: Davelong on November 13, 2005, 10:41:59 PM
Yep, he's knowledgeable and I've seen and heard lots of really cool music that he's done on his website, but Funkinator, you've definitly got some cool stuff happening, too!  I loved what you did with the drumloop on the recent "bassoff" or whatever it was called.  That sounded great!
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 13, 2005, 11:27:02 PM
You know. It just didn't sound the same to me.....


When I hit my F#, it didn't sound as deep as the F# on the piano, it seemed higher, for some reason, but now that I listened closely, it is deeper.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: MikeGee on November 14, 2005, 05:37:46 AM
It might sound different because of the lenth of the string, if i'm not mistaken your F# is much shorter then the F# found inside of a piano.

just a thought nothing of importance.


Had a thought today again nothing of importance,   5th fret on the E string is the same octave as open A but they sound a lil different, maybe cuz of the string length?
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 14, 2005, 07:02:02 AM
Yea. I thought of that too.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: tondee on November 14, 2005, 01:56:41 PM
Quote from: funkinater
I tune my bass down a whole step on all six strings.  That way I have the lowest note that the keyboard has.  It's helped on many occasions.  If it's good enough for Andrew Gouche and Reggie Young.  It's good enough for me.  


How do you know that??

Tony
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: WmDekooning on November 14, 2005, 02:45:22 PM
I play a Steinberger copy tuned BEAD.

A little slushy feeling, but I get what I need and I get to carry a bass lighter than my 5 string.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: katstrat on November 17, 2005, 08:33:42 PM
Quote from: WmDekooning
I play a Steinberger copy tuned BEAD.

A little slushy feeling, but I get what I need and I get to carry a bass lighter than my 5 string.


 I've heard of this,but never tuned my bass to this tuning. I always tune my bass a half step down....Eb,Ab,Db ,Gb. When I have to follow the pianist,it makes it easier to follow the b notes. I just have to remember that I'm not in standard tuning.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: B3Wannabe on November 17, 2005, 10:22:52 PM
I used to tune my second bass like that, but now that I have the 8 string, if I need something deeper, I can just grab that.
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: tondee on November 18, 2005, 06:50:50 AM
Quote from: B3Wannabe
I used to tune my second bass like that, but now that I have the 8 string, if I need something deeper, I can just grab that.


Yea, there he goes again.  He won't let anyone touch it but he keeps talking about it.  :lol:

I gotta go and find one of those things, see what it's like.  Sometimes when the B3 player need me to be somewhere, like, right now, he would play a particular way and catch my attention.  Occasionally, he'd do things BELOW me then get frustrated because I can't follow him...

Tony
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: bradleymoorer on November 18, 2005, 07:42:07 AM
I tune my basses down a half step so instead of BEADG I tune Bb Eb Ab Db Gb, I like to play this way because, I like to play within the scale of an open string and the gospel music I play to is usually in flatted keys. Peace!
Title: Problem with 4 String
Post by: Cone on November 18, 2005, 06:27:12 PM
Bro get a 5 string you won't regret it.