ShortScale.org

I was just messing around playing some QOTSA bass lines there and I realised that he must have tuned his bass down to C to match the guitar. How the fuck do you tune a bass down to C?

I don't know too much about QOTSA apart from their super-famous-most-amaziiing album, but I'd wager a five string might do the trick?

It depends on string gauge and set-up... but I'm not sure how...

It's not a five string. I assume they use thicker gauge strings and just tune down, but that is hard enough on a guitar never mind a fucking bass where the strings are already a massive high gauge.

Gavin wrote:It's not a five string. I assume they use thicker gauge strings and just tune down, but that is hard enough on a guitar never mind a fucking bass where the strings are already a massive high gauge.

I know bass players who play in drop C... I've never seen them make it to C standard though...

I know you can set up a 4 string bass to the tuning of B-E-A-D, so they must do that and tune it up a half step. That is a relatively common thing. I haven't seen done to much on a professional level but I've seen several bassist do it who wanted the lower notes of a 5 string without spending money on another bass.


You'll probably need a new nut and just swap out the strings to a set of 5 string bass strings but exclude the G.

ohyeahfuzzbear wrote:

Gavin wrote:It's not a five string. I assume they use thicker gauge strings and just tune down, but that is hard enough on a guitar never mind a fucking bass where the strings are already a massive high gauge.

I know bass players who play in drop C... I've never seen them make it to C standard though...

Yeah, I know of a few drop C bass players too. I'm sure it can't be too hard to tune a bass to that. I'm sure they make strings more geared towards metal for bass now. If you can stomach that.

portugalwillie wrote:I know you can set up a 4 string bass to the tuning of B-E-A-D, so they must do that and tune it up a half step. That is a relatively common thing. I haven't seen done to much on a professional level but I've seen several bassist do it who wanted the lower notes of a 5 string without spending money on another bass.


You'll probably need a new nut and just swap out the strings to a set of 5 string bass strings but exclude the G.

I +1 this. It seems like the most easy solution

I drop my bass to C# G# C# F# all the time, I use 45-105 guage strings, they're not too too heavy and they handle the drop pretty well, I also had my bass set up to play in the dropped tuning so that there's no buzz. I know the bass player from Jimmy Eat World plays in that tuning too, and I read an interview with him where he said that he uses a 5 string set of strings, and uses the lowest 4 so they're super thick, and he also has reverse headstocks on all his basses cause he says the extra length and string tree helps keep the lowest strings in tune better.

I have dropped mine to C once or twice, and it doesn't sound great the way my bass is set up, but it doesn't sound terrible either. I'd imagine I'd just have to tweak the setup and maybe use slightly heavier strings to pull it off well.

yeah, I play bass in a band and we play in drop C. I use heavy strings and don't have any trouble with string flubbyness...
I feel like it has a lot to do with your amp setup. Through a big bass stack, the C sounds immense. I've played the bass through a practice amp and it sounds terrible.

I acquired the bas tab book for Metallica's Black album way back, and Sad But True is tabbed out detuned to A on 4 string (played on 5 string down 1/2 step). Detuning a 4 down to A worked alright, but it was pretty flubby. I wouldn't recommend going below A on a 4 string

So, yeah, B on 4 is possible, it's not terribly nice to play though.

I've never seen Oliveri playing a five string. It's just a tuned down four string. Geezer Butler used to drop his P-bass to C# as well. It's not that crazy.

my bass is always down to C, sometimes i tune it higher when covering a song and it just works better in higher tuning. i use 105's now on bass but used to use 110 in LE (in standard tuning lol)

but 105 is fine really. even standard i can't stand 100's or less, bleh

Fagz. I tune down to A on Bass.
You need to raise the action via the saddles or it rattles like fuck. Playing runs is more difficult but the slack tension kind of compensates. The low E is shit though, almost inaudible, i use it sparingly and stick around mid fretboard or 12th fret positions to cut through on the other three strings.

what gauge do you use ? 110's ...115's ? or just very high bridge position with 105's ?


i've always liked c tuning, i don't know why, anything else and it's just' hmm'..but c..just like it, on guitar i'll sometimes tune the top c to b to make barre chords easy but that's the lowest because i like lots of tension still


btw standard tuning using 110's for four years is not sissy hahaha

now i got this tendon chronic infection or whatever on my right index finger (my fretting hand) that will never go away..ever. i guess that's sissy though

kim wrote:what gauge do you use ? 110's ...115's ? or just very high bridge position with 105's ?

Fuck knows, they are called 'Fat Boys' lol, £10 a set. Medium gauge i think. The strings are high off the fretboard past the 12th fret but i accept it as going with the territory.
The low E flaps like hell. We considered going up to C but did'nt bother. Personally i'd like to but drop the E string to A# that way we would have the depth but with a more usable tension.

When I first started playing bass I used pussy ass ernie ball super slinky strings (100's) but then I finally realized one day that they sounded like shit and broke all the time. I switched to D'addario 105's and never looked back.