#1957842 - 06/14/08 06:51 PM
Yippee, and a question
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Chad
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After several attempts in the past months I think I've fallen in with a band that I can stay with, "Beauty and the Beast," http://www.myspace.com/beautyandthebeastband2 . Rock 'n roll, blues, country, jazz. Nobody in the band abuses substances harder than coffee, there's good humor, cooperation, mutual respect - and GIGS. I'm pretty happy!
The question: Patrick (the guitarist) tunes down 1/2 step. What's anybody's experience with this? I'm afraid that stuff will get muddy so I've been playing in standard tuning.
Edited by Chad (06/14/08 06:52 PM)
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"When it starts to sound bad, back off on the volume in spite of what the guitar player is doing." - Paul K.
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#1957854 - 06/14/08 07:51 PM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: Chad]
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Chewbubba
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Van Halen did it all the time.
I'd tune one bass down 1/2 step just for songs that would be easier to play (that demand the low Eb), and have another with standard tuning.
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#1957900 - 06/15/08 01:36 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: Chewbubba]
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GeoffB
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I used to take a bass in standard stringing & tuning & another strung & tuned BEAD. I still do that with a fretless, although my fretted is a 5.
G.
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Frank M:Back in the day you could have a trio with two people.
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#1957921 - 06/15/08 04:15 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: EddiePlaysBass]
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fingertalkin
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After my dealings with tunings, I just decided to play the Eb on the A string.
Congrats on the gig!
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#1957979 - 06/15/08 09:27 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: fingertalkin]
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WCriley
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Chad,YMMV, but I find it's easier to always play in standard tuning, even with a detuned guitar.
My guitarist/son tunes down a whole step. It didn't take long to learn to transpose in my head. Unless he does something really stupid like capo up 3 frets then play in G#...then it's "rely on the old ears time".
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#1957981 - 06/15/08 09:34 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: WCriley]
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rizzo9247
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Congrats on the band Chad. I've done the whole tune down Eb thing on my 4 string, it wasn't too terrible. I bought a heavier gauge string to facilitate the down tunings. Now that I have my 5 string, I play the Eb songs in standard tuning shifted down a fret while utilizing the low B to pump out the E flat.
Out of all the tunings, my ears aren't that great discerning that 1/2 step down, so playing with Eb guys I rather tune Eb so I can follow their fretting hand a bit easier 
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#1957982 - 06/15/08 09:35 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: WCriley]
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jeremy c
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Stevie Ray Vaughn was down a half step and Hendrix was often as well.
Their bassplayers didn't sound muddy.
I wouldn't want to downtune my bass, but that's just me being me.
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#1958051 - 06/15/08 01:34 PM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: jeremy c]
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Phil W
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I play with a guitarist who does that. He asked me to do the same and he's hiring me so - cool by me. I have done the same gig in standard tuning too. Because of the nature of the gig - rock n roll, rock cover etc. it does help to have the open strings available so I tune each string down a semitone.
It's not any muddier. The string tension is slightly lower.
It did take me a while to get used to soloing in the lowered tuning though as my brain somehow always expected a note a semi-tone higher to sound. Now I happily gig in both tunings however.
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#1958097 - 06/15/08 03:29 PM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: Phil W]
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SeamyD
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I have played tuned down a halve step constantly for about 8 years now. It doesn't make any real real disearnable difference to the sound of any of the bands I play in.
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#1958140 - 06/15/08 06:06 PM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: SeamyD]
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cassius
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My guitar player tunes down sometimes just for kicks, as well as on a couple of songs we constantly rehearse. I really wouldn't want to tune down on my bass for them--I just get in the right key in standard tuning. Frankly, you can sound just as fundamental if you move up an octave to get where you need to be as you would if you tuned down--and you maintain a clean tone. The thing I don't like about tuning down is how saturated and clanky the bass starts to sound. Unless you're Tool or something, then you can pull that sort of thing off.
Congrats on the new band. I bet you're going to have a lot of fun with this one. Is that you on "Little By Little"? Good song.
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#1958308 - 06/16/08 06:23 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: cassius]
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Davo-London
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What's the point of a half-step detune? I understand different tunings may make the guitarists life easier, or that transposing songs can move the vocal part better into the singers dynamic range but half a step? I must be missing something.
Davo
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#1958311 - 06/16/08 06:33 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: Chad]
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b5pilot
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From what I understand, dropping the tuning 1/2 step is supposed to fatten up the tone. You're still playing in the same position just flat. You're playing a G but it's really G-flat(f-sharp). Lots of bands play drop tuned. It shouldn't muddy the sound unless you're eq'd really bassy. Does your guitarist Always play like this or only for some songs? If he always plays like that then tune down and enjoy. You may have to set up your bass for it. If he only uses it for a few songs then either use a 5-string or use a second bass that's drop tuned.
Edited by b5pilot (06/16/08 06:37 AM)
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#1958313 - 06/16/08 06:43 AM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: cassius]
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Chad
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...Congrats on the new band. I bet you're going to have a lot of fun with this one. Is that you on "Little By Little"?...
Patrick tunes down to be able to play in keys that are comfortable for Lisa to sing in, while being able to take advantage of open strings to fatten up the trio sound.
I think I'll chug along in standard tuning (I'm kinda rigid) until I can afford to buy another 5-string. Thanks for all the input!
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"When it starts to sound bad, back off on the volume in spite of what the guitar player is doing." - Paul K.
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#1958625 - 06/16/08 06:25 PM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: Davo-London]
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WCriley
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What's the point of a half-step detune?
Some guitar players tune down so they can use heavier strings (fuller sound) without the added tension (easier bends).
As mentioned already, others do it to better fit their parts to vocal ranges.
I think my youngest son does it just he can use a capo and screw with what's left of my mind. 
Edited by WCriley (06/16/08 06:33 PM)
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#1959017 - 06/17/08 02:16 PM
Re: Yippee, and a question
[Re: WCriley]
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Tom Capasso
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I have to question how often a half-step saves the range for the singer. Still, it's not a bad thing, and I'd probably tune down just so I can use my eyes on his fretboard without having to translate.
Best of luck with the new gig !!
Tom
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Moderator: Bob Gollihur (bob@gollihur.com), Tom Capasso, _Sweet Willie_
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But first and foremost, congrats with the new found gig !!!!! Sounds like a keeper 
