5 String songs on a 4 string?

I picked up a 5 string for that very same reason. The bands I listened to at the time mostly played drop C and so on and I couldn't stand how floppy the E string would be. Of course then I found a band that played in B so it worked out.

I would suggest that you get one of your basses set-up for drop tunings and switch to a heavier gauge string.

Also remember that a C is located at the 7th of your E string. It may not have the boom of a open-C but it might provide an interesting dynamic to the song.

Id say theres just too many songs (in the modern coverband world) that require 5 strings...which is why I just returned a 4 string I just bought.
thought i could get away with a 4..

gotta have 5 these days ...
jmo..

T$

Floppy C string syndrome!

Could always tune up a BEAD 4 string?

I've really come to totally enjoy the crap out of having that Low B... it takes a little discretion imo to use it properly, but when done right... it just ooozes great bass tone.

at home i still play my Jazz 4 but outside the house it is strictly my Cort 5 string.
it is just way to versatile for what i am playing now.
i would go with what OTDOY said, i strung my Jazz BEAD for awhile until i got my Cort, it worked
great...i got my 5 and converted my J back to EADG.

What... no-one transposes up and octave as needed? There's only 12 notes... and many many places to play them on the neck.

I'm just starting all types of arguments this week aren't I?

Personally, I wouldn't tune an E that low, I'd transpose. But then again, when I really need that 'depth' I have 5 string basses to reach for.

I've toyed with the idea of setting up a 4 string BEAD, except I realized there's a number of tunes where I actually use all 5 strings, and changing hand positions for some of it really isn't an option due to playability.

Anyway... play the C you've got. The song will sound 'different', but it's still correct, plus you're playing bass... 90% of the people won't really catch on to it.

Man... there's another one I started.

With all due respect, Eyeteeth,

I don't think anyones saying you can't or shouldnt play the notes higher....and in a pinch sure its fine....
BUT, there is a WORLD of difference (maybe even two worlds) between say a Nickelback, or Godsmack or what have you... played using the low C vs the same song played on a hi-C..
...mmmm..Hi-C..that reminds me, I'm thirsty.

Maybe people wouldnt notice, but if you played them the 2 versions, they'd be able to tell which is the right one.

You could string B-E-A-D as mentioned...but some nut filing may be in order.
If you dont got the $$ for a fiver, I'd go that route, specially if you got 2 basses already.

JMO.....?

ps, not arguing, I'm just sayin, is all.

Like I said... I'm just full of it this week.

I was jus sayin'.

Bass is the unsung hero of the group... if any other member is off or not up to snuff, it's obvious... the drummer can't keep time... the guitar player is sloppy... the singer can't carry a tune... Obvious. But if the bassist isn't in the pocket... no one knows why the band 'isn't that good'.

Unfortunately... when the bass is nailing it... very, VERY, few realize why the band rocks or give appropriate credit. (heck even many 'musicians' I know don't seem to get it.)

Wait... what were we talkin' about?

A D is as far down as I'd tune an E string and even then only for a song or two. I'm with Eyeteeth on that one.

You can transpose up but it just won't have the big bottom you need to do those heavy tunes. I have done it in a pinch, though.

I'd either bite the bullet and get a fiver or string one of your sticks BEAD.

The only time I play a 4 anymore is if I'm writing using my Dean ABG or if I know for certain that I'm going to be playing real country type stuff at church. Then I break out the trusty ol' Fender P.

Thanks gents.

Since we only do two songs that need the low C, I'll just keep down-tuning the E. The Nickelcrack song won't have the groove if I play the C an octave higher.

I probably should have mentioned that I use one bass for standard and the other for 1/2 half step down.

Thanks again for the input.

Having more than one bass does help.... One of my 4 string basses is actually setup for for C#-F#-B-E....... Any time I use a 5 string I generally play on only the B string. Which is helpful tuning like that. I can drop my top string down to a B with minimal flop, and play an entire song on that one string. Which is mainly why my 5 strings stay in there cases most of the time.

Back in 2000 I was in a band that played alot of songs in Eb and I was also in another band where I had to turn down to D. It got to be so much of a hassle that I finally gave in and bought a 5 string. From there on it was so much easier to figure these songs out knowing that I had enough low notes to play any song they threw at me.

Evenutally your probably going to want to get a 5'er, it's not that hard to adjust to.

I played a five forever and then decided i hadn't even tapped the potential of the four string. Then the last band i was in started playing mudvayne,tool and Nickelsuck and need the extra low notes.

So rather then break out the fiver again and have to switch during shows I just made use of the d-tuner and the octave circuit i had already. And the cool thing about using the octaver is playing the High C and getting the low c with it add more dimension to the band making sound like we had more than we did.

I mean I'm just sayin'.....haha had to do it too

If anyone asked me to play Nickelcrack with all low-tuning whatchamagooky, I'd tell them to stuff it!

Then again, I'm old and obstinate and will likely die with some ancient 4-string jazz bass in hand.

You know, if fours are good enough for OFC, then they're fine by me.

Oh, and furthermore, if you get a fiver, you'll automatically lose your BASS* membership.

*For the newcomers - Bassists Against Superfluous Strings (BASS).

For the old-timers - you know I jest, and for newbies here - you'll eventually find out how FOS I really am.

I like my 5er. Mostly because I'm too lazy to de-tune and tune my stick all the time. And I don't have enough sticks to keep one in one tuning and one in the other. That being said, I've picked back up my 4 wire lately and am exploring the slap world again. But that's a whole different thread, ain't it?

NWBasser - The Nickecrack tune is Never Again, and it's actually very fun to play.

Tuning to C is working great. No need to spend more money for two songs that need the C.

YOu could save half your trouble and your audience by not doing a Nickelback song.

I have my Fender 4 set up straing, my goofy arese basstar 4 setup B E A D, and my Ibby 5 which is my main. Options.

Sick as it seems, people like Nickelcrack songs here.

Perhaps because we are so close to Canadia.

Sick as it seems, people like Nickelcrack songs here.

Perhaps because we are so close to Canadia.

I'm sorry that I can't seem to get quotation marks to show up.

Anyhoo, I've only heard a little bit of Nickelback on the radio and honestly don't have an informed opinion about them in any direction. Maybe they do have some solid tunes, I've been immersed (sp?) in listening to Jeff Beck and Gov't Mule lately and haven't checked out new stuff in awhile.

Nothing from Nickelback is new so don't worry.

My little bro loves them. Went with him to their concert in Columbus last year. I'll say this, they put on a great show.

Of course ours wasn't as hilarious as the one where Chad kept getting rocks thrown at him. Where was that? Puerto Rica?

What part of Ohio are you from, LMB? I'm in Columbus, Ron's west of Cincinnati, and Jackie is in Dayton. Looks like it might be a need for a Buckeye Bass gathering sometime.

Nice. I'm originally from the west side of Columbus, currently in Circleville. We play all overOhio though. Show last night here in Circleville with upcomings in Chillicothe and Chesapeake. Played Mansfield, Cleveland, and Columbus...you get the idea.

Come to a show and link me to any of yours/theirs. I'm always looknig to meet new people and hear new bands.

i personally can't stand playing a dropped tuned bass. rather have another string tuned in std 4ths. octaves and everything else in their expected place.

now tuning the whole instrument down a whole or half step i can live with. that is like using a capo. i don't think about being in non std tuning since everything is still relatively in the same place.

Drop D is nice.

There's just something about the tone of that Dropped E string that really makes the Low D sound killer, compared to how it sounds on a 5 or 6er

A session bassist from SF, tuned his fretless hohner like a cello. CGDA. This gives you most of the range of a BEADG five string. Use a .125 string in place of the E, and throw away the tabs.

Yep, always used a 4 string for drop D and drop C tuned songs. Dropping to the C does get a little loose & drop D was never a problem, as long as you don't hit the Drop C string too hard, the average listener does not hear the rattle & basses tuned that low are barely audible anyway. Treat it like an orchestra bassist would and you'll be fine. We don't need no stinking 5 string!

 
--------
This is tuning in 5ths.   Commonly used on Violins, Violas, and Mandolins.   Banjos I belive also.   Guitar is uniqe in what we have come to know as standard tuing in that the open strings do not form a natural chord.   My organist / keyboard player tells me this is a development of modern music.  She is classically trained and holds dual masters in Sacred & Orchestral Music (the other is a Masters in Entemology....go figure.  if the music carear doesent pan out; go look at bugs.  

I never get my bass tuned while drinking from a fifth.  (Tequila preferred)

Yeah I guess I heard of 'em....
But on topic, I have a 5er that I hardly ever use, and I like the idea of playing a high C with an Octaver.