My Tuning Solution

[Gastrok]

About 2 months ago joined a band and the guitarists tune a whole step down and I followedd suit with a D / G / C / F. tuning on my 4-string Corvette $$. One song we do is in drop C, so I thought that was enough of an excuse to pick up a d-tuner, and it works like a charm! Even from the D / G / C / F tuning.

I also own a 5-string Corvette active bubinga and I’ve decided I like the way it sounds for this band better than the $$, but I wasn’t sure what to do with the low “B” string. Last week I decided I’d just tune the low string to C and the other 4 strings to D/G/C/F and see how it goes. Turns out it works great – for that one song I just pretend the second string isn’t there.

I thought I’d just share my solution, but I also have a question: should I be concerned about any possible uneven tension on the neck cause by this tuning?

You can check out the band’s music for yourself here:
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The song in drop C is “Crawling Up”. Unfortunately, that’s not me playing bass. I joined the group just after they’d put the wraps on the new CD.

 

[TylerDurdenPSSC]

As far as uneven tension, you haven't
a thing to worry about.

I have never in all my years of bass-dom
seen someone report problems with their
neck due to high-c stringing, rather than
low-b.

As far as the band.

I dig it 8)

 

[Gastrok]

hey TylerDurdenPSSC - thanks for the quick reply! Playing with GraFite has been fun so far. I've hears some people compare the music to Winger, Warrent, etc...! but what the heck! I find the music fun to play, and I get to play with good guys w appreciate what I can do for them!

 

[Gastrok]

As far as uneven tension, you haven't
a thing to worry about.

I have never in all my years of bass-dom
seen someone report problems with their
neck due to high-c stringing, rather than
low-b.

Oh - I'm not tuning to high C...what I've done is tune the low "B" string up a whole step to low C. this string is only a whole step interval away from the next string. so the strings are tune (low to high) C, D, G, C, F.

kinda weird eh? :lol:

 

[nizzrooster]

I don't think you need to worry about tension. You should be ok....

 

[golem]

As far as uneven tension, you haven't
a thing to worry about.

I have never in all my years of bass-dom
seen someone report problems with their
neck due to high-c stringing, rather than
low-b.

Oh - I'm not tuning to high C...what I've done is tune the
low "B" string up a whole step to low C. this string is only
a whole step interval away from the next string. so the
strings are tune (low to high) C, D, G, C, F.

kinda weird eh? :lol:

`

Still makes no difference. Zilch to worry about.

Go to the D'Addario site where you can see the
string tensions for various strings. Many players
think the B-string is high tension cuz it's so thick.
Quite the opposite. So, you've dropped tension
on your usually higher tension D & G strings and
raised it a bit on the always low tension B-string.

If anything, you made the tension less uneven
across the neck.

Very cool tuning. Using tuning like that I can eat
with one hand and still play with the other` ` ` ` ` `

`

 

[Gastrok]

As far as uneven tension, you haven't
a thing to worry about.

I have never in all my years of bass-dom
seen someone report problems with their
neck due to high-c stringing, rather than
low-b.

Oh - I'm not tuning to high C...what I've done is tune the
low "B" string up a whole step to low C. this string is only
a whole step interval away from the next string. so the
strings are tune (low to high) C, D, G, C, F.

kinda weird eh? :lol:

`

Still makes no difference. Zilch to worry about.

Go to the D'Addario site where you can see the
string tensions for various strings. Many players
think the B-string is high tension cuz it's so thick.
Quite the opposite. So, you've dropped tension
on your usually higher tension D & G strings and
raised it a bit on the always low tension B-string.

If anything, you made the tension less uneven
across the neck.

Very cool tuning. Using tuning like that I can eat
with one hand and still play with the other` ` ` ` ` `

`

golem - you always kill me! LOL!

 

[TylerDurdenPSSC]

Golem got it right.

High-C, Low-C, either way,
no problem.

As Taco Bell would say,
you're "Good to Go!"

 

[Gastrok]

Thanks for your replies. I don't post very often here (though I lurk EVERY DAY!)...I'm always so happily amazed at the thoughtful, humorous, and flame-less replies I get!

 

[Robin]

Thanks for your replies. I don't post very often here (though I lurk EVERY DAY!)...I'm always so happily amazed at the thoughtful, humorous, and flame-less replies I get!

I too don't post too much, but visit the site basically every day. The key to a good forum is just like what you have described - thoughtful and flame-less posts, by thoughtful and flame-less people!

 

[yakudza]

Hey, Gastrok. All you need is just find "right" strings for you tunning.
As for me 135 for Low C - is not the best choice, becouse of high tension.
I think 120-125 will work better .
For other strings 45-105, or 50-110 - will be OK.
Peace/Mike

 

[Gastrok]

hey yakudza - thanks man. Not sure off the top of my head what the gauges are...I'm gonna look into that. they're Elixers, and I think I might have saved the package. :wink: