![]() ![]() Although this typically is not the first alternate tuning most bass players try, it is the one that feels most natural when it comes to playing. ![]() In essence, you can go to all the familiar places on your bass, and they will just sound a step lower. In other words, the distance of a fourth between strings remains, albeit a whole tone lower. This is because the relationships among the strings are kept. Although Standard D tuning is more aggressive than Drop D, it is also more natural in a way. To tune your bass on Standard D, simply lower all strings one whole tone. Think of this option of alternate tuning as a natural progression from Drop D. Additionally, Drop D will likely not mess with your action or intonation, as long as you have a decent bass. With the alteration of just one string, you can already dive into new possibilities that might aid your creativity. This is perhaps the easiest of all possibilities for alternate tuning on a bass. You could even use it as a surprise note to add that extra weight to a song or riff. This gives you a whole step that can be very useful. Just like on the guitar, all you have to do is drop the fourth string on the bass from an E to a D. As a result, our very first tuning has the same name as one of the most common alternate tunings for guitar: Drop D. In case you didn’t know, the four strings of the bass match the bottom four strings on a guitar, albeit much lower in pitch. Remember to go slow and be patient through this whole discovery process. In case any of this affects your playing, the best course of action is to consult with a luthier. Typically, a higher action makes it more difficult to play the bass, as you have to push harder for the string to reach the fretboard.Īdditionally, changing the tension of the strings (which is exactly what you do for alternate tunings) might affect intonation (the evenness of the notes on your neck). The action is the distance between your strings and the fretboard. For this reason, changing the tuning on any (and specially all) strings will likely raise or lower the action of your bass. A word of cautionīass strings create more pressure on the neck than a guitar string. Here are the best alternate tunings for bass. Make sure you have a good tuner before you start. However, you don’t have to be one of the best players in the world to take advantage of this fantastic tool. For instance, Michael Manring is recognized for making beautiful music with some of the most uncommon and even custom alternate tunings. Get in the habit of listening to bass players that are known for using alternate tunings successfully. The upside is that with each alternate tuning you will discover a new world of possibilities for the bass.īesides trying these alternate tunings, it is also important to listen to some bassists that employ them. Naturally, not playing in the common G D A E tuning also means you have to get out of your comfort zone. It’s like the bottom 4 strings of a guitar.The best alternate tunings for bass will help you spice up your playing significantly.Įven though most educational material regarding alternate tunings is for guitarists, bassists can also create a universe of options by changing the pitch of their strings. You need to buy special strings for this! It can be pretty fun playing an octave higher. Piccolo Bass TuningĪ piccolo bass is a standard bass tuning up an octave. The same idea is used on a 12-string guitar. The doubling string is tuned an octave higher. The standard tuning for a six-string bass from lowest pitch to highest (thickest string to thinnest) is:ī E A D G C 8-String Bass TuningĪn eight-string bass is really like a 4-string bass, but with a second string doubling each of those four strings. Some people tune a 5-string bass adding a higher string instead: This tuning has one lower pitched string added to the standard 4-string tuning giving you 5 lower notes. The most common standard tuning for a five-string bass from lowest pitch to highest (thickest string to thinnest) is: The standard tuning for a four-string bass from lowest pitch to highest (thickest string to thinnest) is: Be sure to check out the online bass tuner in the StudyBass tools section if you need to tune. ![]()
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