LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Gospel Instruments => Bass Guitar => Topic started by: 6stringapprentice on July 22, 2009, 10:27:13 PM
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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......
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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
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I'm tuned a half step down and I dare someone to jump on my bandwagon. ;D 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.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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!!
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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.
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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 ;D, 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. ;D
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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I didn't want to tune down. That's why I got a 7-string, tuned Low F# to C.
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Standard.
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I was thinking about getting a six and tuning it F# to G for some more deep notes.
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Half step, and sometimes a whole step. In my experiences as of late alot of the gospel songs tend to have bass players playing low Bb's and low A's. Also alot of the gospel producers prefer basses tuned down. Again I'm only speaking from my personal experiences.
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Half step, and sometimes a whole step. In my experiences as of late alot of the gospel songs tend to have bass players playing low Bb's and low A's. Also alot of the gospel producers prefer basses tuned down. Again I'm only speaking from my personal experiences.
Man, I hate we didn't make it down to Judah this year, maybe we'll be down that way next year if not sooner. Btw, Pastor Rachel released her first cd project, although the house band didn't play on it. So if you hear or heard it, its not us. ;D
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Aw man I'm sorry you missed it as well. It was really good. Anyway come on down sometimes so I can get my lesson. I didn't know you played at that church. I'll have to check out the record, oh wait you just said you didn't play on it. Hmmm
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I keep it standard
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Also alot of the gospel producers prefer basses tuned down.
any idea why that might be? that would suck that u could be good enough to get a studio gig, but lose out because ur bass isnt tuned right.
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I used to tune down a half step until an experienced, well seasoned bass player asked me why.... I didn't have a really good answer, so I've been using standard tuning ever since.
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^that's interesting because i used to tune standard, and i asked myself "why", and i tuned flat from then on LOL
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I'd rather tune it to standard. Some churches actually use charts, and tuning to standard reduces the mental steps I have to take to play. If I tuned flat, then I'd have to mentally transpose, making more room for error.
Also, I prefer the sound and feel of a standard tuned bass. Basses tuned to a flat feel a little floppy to me.
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I tune standard. BEADG. The tension on the strings in standard tuning is what most builders design the specs to fit. The loose tension on the strings when tuned down makes fast finger style playing harder because the response or (vibration speed) of the strings is slower. I remember when I first started playing, gospel songs were always in flat keys. Now, musicians (keyboardist) are playing in natural keys more thanks to the praise and worship movement (all the songs are in E, A, G, and C major etc.)LOL. I used to never be able to do open string licks. Now I can do them all the time. LOL. I can wear em out too. I love standard tuning. Open E sounds better to me than open Eb. Same with open B vs. Bb. I don't know why. It just has a different sound and color. Anyways...that's my 2 cents. LOL. Play whatever you prefer though. Just make sure you praise the Lord!!! Amen
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Standard for me. I don't know enough yet to change things. But I get the feeling that reading the post from others on the site will bring me up to speed very quickly.
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I keep my bass in standard tuning (B/E/A/D/G), but my guitars are tuned to Eb.
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Man flat tune all the way!!! B flat, E flat, A flat, C sharp, F sharp. In most pentecostal churches and a lot of gospel choirs, songs are in the black keys, so I tune flat so I can slide into my open strings...Not to mention I like the looseness of the tension on the strings...It gives me more power over the strings...and who doesn't love the rumble of a low b flat...oooowwwweeee!!!!!!!!!! Also it's better for the bassists that use harmonics in their licks...You have major and minor harmonics for all your open strings plus and major harmonics for a half step up which is standard tuning...
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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.
bass players still tune the standard BEADGC just gospel player flat tune cuz gospel song are mostly in the flats\sharps
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Man flat tune all the way!!! B flat, E flat, A flat, C sharp, F sharp. In most pentecostal churches and a lot of gospel choirs, songs are in the black keys, so I tune flat so I can slide into my open strings...Not to mention I like the looseness of the tension on the strings...It gives me more power over the strings...and who doesn't love the rumble of a low b flat...oooowwwweeee!!!!!!!!!! Also it's better for the bassists that use harmonics in their licks...You have major and minor harmonics for all your open strings plus and major harmonics for a half step up which is standard tuning...
hmmm i might actually try that...
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I have all my basses tuned a WHOLE step down. I love the fact that I have the low b flat and e flat at the first fret. As far as tension goes, you can adj your bass via the truss rod or bridge to your desired feel if you know how. The cons to this, It takes a while to get used to the fretboard again because all of the notes have shifted up two frets. I am still getting used to it. ;)
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Standard tuning on my Squiers 5 & 4 strings; 1/2 step down on my Ibanez 4.
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Straight standard. My 5ers are BEADG and my 4s are EADG
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Straight standard. My 5ers are BEADG and my 4s are EADG
+1
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I tune standard.
Honestly, if you're going to try to have open strings for all flat keys, there's no end to that... Soon enough you'll run into a song in the key of A flat, and then you'll want to tune 3 or 4 half steps down... I guess some people just add more strings, which is fine. For me, I've decided that low B is enough for me. If I have a B flat or A, I just play it higher, nothing wrong with that.
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Just started to tune to flats. It is actually a good feel. I think I am going to start using DR low riders while tuned to flat because the string tension is stiffer than Hi beams. Learned i can do a lot more tuned to flats. Actually for those who don't like playing the open string, many gospel songs are played in the key of C#. This alows one to bring that whole C# scale out and not think to hard to find the notes.