know any weird bass tunings?

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LordCashew

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Check out the "Karnivool tuning," BF#BEGC. Drop B tuning on the bottom with a weird minor third between the second and third string. I haven't used it personally but Jon Stockman does some really cool chordal work with it on Karnivool records.
 
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Check out the "Karnivool tuning," BF#BEGC. Drop B tuning on the bottom with a weird minor third between the second and third string. I haven't used it personally but Jon Stockman does some really cool chordal work with it on Karnivool records.
Interesting... thank you.
 

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cGoEcYk

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I like standard on my 5 but I tune my guitar super weird F# B F# B E G C and have been playing it like that for past few years (as long as I've been playing guitar). It's been great for having a weird style and instrument no one can play on.

Mudvayne/Martini tuning is fresh (forget what it is), allows him more-easily do his signature octave tapping.
 

ixlramp

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Obvious, but all-fifths, great for chords and extended range.
 
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Check out the "Karnivool tuning," BF#BEGC. Drop B tuning on the bottom with a weird minor third between the second and third string. I haven't used it personally but Jon Stockman does some really cool chordal work with it on Karnivool records.
I tried it out on my guitar. Really cool.
 

cGoEcYk

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Obvious, but all-fifths, great for chords and extended range.
Violin uses those types of intervals (standard for violin is G D A E). What note range you recommend on a 4? I'd be thinking 5ths could increase neck tension on the G string side unless you got strings gauged for it.
 

LordCashew

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I tried it out on my guitar. Really cool.

Karnivool's guitarists use that tuning as well, in fact.

Violin uses those types of intervals (standard for violin is G D A E). What note range you recommend on a 4? I'd be thinking 5ths could increase neck tension on the G string side unless you got strings gauged for it.

CGDA an octave below cello tuning is probably a good place to start, and there are a few notable string bass players who tune that way. You're absolutely right about the string tension issue but it should be safe to try it out with your current strings. The overall tension will actually be less, and I'd wager you're much more likely to break your g string than do any permanent harm to your bass's neck.
 

ixlramp

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Certainly use custom gauges for fifths, otherwise the tensions will be horrible and/or dangerous.
For a while my 6 was tuned AEBF#C#G# .145 .095 .060 .035 .022w .013p, same range as an 8 string bass in fourths.
 
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