Tunings ...To "B" or not to "B"

[thumbsup]

I've played EADG for years and started playing 5 string BEADG bout 5 years ago as my main thang and love the low B. I play 4 string every now & then because I have the instruments. I use the Low B in just about any song & style.I am now thinking about going six w/highC. Personally I don't think I could go back to a 4 for my main thang,but there are many memories with my fours...Do bassist ever use a EADGB(high E sixth)(standard guitar)tuning instead of/or a (high C sixth) tuning for 6s verses Low BEADGB?...Has anyone experimented with open tunings such as open (A) EAEAC#E (this would take some special gauge?) for 6s?...Is this to much neck tenion for 6s?...What say you!

[3rd_ray]

The Fender Bass VI's are tuned E-E and probably some baritone guitars too. I have a Carvin 6-string bass that's tuned E-A-D-G-C-F, 34 scale. I use extra light gauge strings on it and it plays great. I did this to get the high range, like a piccolo bass, but I still wanted to be able to get down low to the E.
 
Mike

[u14steelgtr]

Bas guitar is far from my primary instrument but if I were to get another 4-string Bass I would use the BEAD tuning and do away with the high-G string. But I like my 5-string (BEADG) and the budget has decreed that I need to sell instead of buy instruments at this time: so sell I have.  
 
The 6-string Basses that were popular when I was a kid were tuned EADGBE and lacked the low-B that so many of us now crave. So yes many Players have tuned the lowest strings to EADGB.  
 
Except for trying the open Ab tuning a couple of times for fun I have not experimented with open tunings on the Bass guitar.  
 
-- Eugene

[hieronymous]

I have a Bass VI reissue (with standard tuning - EADGBE) and an Alembic baritone tuned ADGCEA (I think!) - I play both of these somewhat like guitars (which I can also play somewhat), so for these instruments the standard guitar tuning makes the most sense. I tried tuning the Alembic baritone more like a modern 6-string bass (ADGCFA#?) but it really messed me up!
 
I also have a low-end Ibanez 6-string bass, tuned BEADGC, and since I play that more like a regular bass, the tuning in fifths across the board makes sense to me.  
 
But - 1) I almost never use the low B, and 2) I love the high C, so I just acquired a five string bass that I am going to convert to EADGC. I don't think I would do EADGB - without the necessity for the high E I don't think it would be necessary, but who knows?

[tomhug]

I've debated this one myself - well actually the debate is about the B on the other end, the high B. One of the bass instructional books I am reading talks about the symmetricality of all 5ths as relates to scale playing, which sounds appealing. I often play triad chords, however, and the C makes these more difficult. Since I am also a guitar player, I have gone with BEADGB - enabling me to chord the highest 5 strings (EADGB) the same way I do on the guitar.
 
I suppose I should really choose tunings on a per-song or per-situation basis. It's not that big a jump from BEADGB to BEADGC.
 
At the risk of completely hijacking this thread, has anyone seen Michael Manring play his Zon Hyperbass? He plays a few songs  where he cycles through literally dozens of tunings.  
 
(Message edited by TomHug on July 27, 2008)

[thumbsup]

Tom, just viewed Manring,AMAZING!, he is a master. Its a very informative & cool web site also. ...Steve