My friend has to finish his recording before he lends me the bass. I will have to wait for a while, but when I get it I will let you know. BTW, do guitar strings have enough lengh in them to be used on the bass? Any brands recommended specifically for this purpose?
Anyone here tune in fifths? (OR anything else really wierd/different)
- Thread starter All_¥our_Bass
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- 5ths tuning nst
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All_¥our_Bass
Deathly Chuuni
Not sure off the top of my head, but baritone strings might help (I'm not sure if they are long enough, but they are def. longer than regular guitar strings).
I've got a guitar with a 36" - 32" fan and most guitar strings work fine. Once in a while I find a guitar string which doesn't quite fit the 36" scale, but just trying the same gage in a different brand usually solves the problem. If the bass you're using is a standard 34" scale you should have no worries.
Hey all, GCGCGCE is a tuning I've been using for a while now. I posted a starters lesson tab on another forum for guitarists who would be interested in using this tuning. Its a really good tuning to get a wall of sound (3 octaves covered with a finger) and as for technique benefits, there are some really good ones. While doing arpeggios there are a lot of finger rolls, so separation of sound from one string to another with one finger becomes a familiar maneuver. Also there are a lot of 4 note per string options and combinations to use.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Here's some stuff to get you started. Its in the Key of C (no sharps or flats) and will hopefully get you familiar with the open C tuning. If anyone has questions, feel free to PM me, and by all means enjoy!
1.Minor shape from C:
E
C
G
C-8------or--5
G-5-----------5
C-5-----------8
2.Major shape from C:
E
C
G
C-9------or--5
G-5-----------5
C-5-----------9
3.Minor shape from G:
E
C
G-8------or---5
C-7-----------7
G-5-----------8
C
4.Major shape from G:
E
C
G-9------or---5
C-7-----------7
G-5-----------9
C
Diminished:
E---------------------10-----7----
C---------------------8------8---
G---------10-7-------7-----10---
C-8--5---8---8---------------
G-7--7---7---10-------------
C-5--8------------------------
the 7 modes: (4 note per string) (KEY OF C, no sharps or flats)
Ionian
E----------------------------------------------7-8-10-12-
C-------------------------------------4-5-7-9------------
G----------------------------2-4-5-7----------------------
C-------------------2-4-5-7--------------------------------
G----------0-2-4-5-----------------------------------------
C-0-2-4-5---------------------------------------------------
Dorian
E------------------------------------------------8-10-12-13-
C--------------------------------------5-7-9-11--------------
G-----------------------------4-5-7-9-------------------------
C--------------------4-5-7-9----------------------------------
G-----------2-4-5-7-------------------------------------------
C--2-4-5-7----------------------------------------------------
Phrygian
E----------------------------------------------------10-12-13-15
C----------------------------------------7-9-11-12--------------
G------------------------------5-7-9-10--------------------------
C---------------------5-7-9-11-----------------------------------
G-----------4-5-7-9----------------------------------------------
C--4-5-7-9-------------------------------------------------------
Lydian
E--------------------------------------------------------12-13-15-17
C----------------------------------------------9-11-12--------------
G----------------------------------7-9-10-12------------------------
C----------------------7-9-11-12------------------------------------
G------------5-7-9-10------------------------------------------------
C--5-7-9-11----------------------------------------------------------
Mixolydian
E------------------------------------------------------------------13-15-17-19
C----------------------------------------------------11-12-14-16-------------
G--------------------------------------9-10-12-14-----------------------------
C-------------------------9-11-12-14------------------------------------------
G-------------7-9-10-12-------------------------------------------------------
C-7-9-11-12-------------------------------------------------------------------
Aeolian
E--------------------------------------------------------------------15-17-18-20
C------------------------------------------------------12-14-16-17------------
G----------------------------------------10-12-14-16----------------------------
C--------------------------11-12-14-16-----------------------------------------
G--------------9-10-12-14------------------------------------------------------
C-9-11-12-14------------------------------------------------------------------
Locrian
E---------------------------------------------------------------------17-18-20-22
C-------------------------------------------------------14-16-17-19-----------
G-----------------------------------------12-14-16-17---------------------------
C---------------------------12-14-16-17----------------------------------------
G---------------10-12-14-16-----------------------------------------------------
C--11-12-14-16-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sweeps: C Major intervals 4/4 time (16ths count 1e+a,2e+a...)
E------------------------12-15-12---------------------
C---------------------12----------12------------------
G------------------12----------------12---------------
C-----------12-16----------------------16-12---------
G--------12-----------------------------------12------
C-12-16------------------------------------------16--
E------------------------15-20-15---------------------
C---------------------16----------16------------------
G------------------17----------------17---------------
C-----------16-19----------------------19-16---------
G--------17-----------------------------------17------
C--16-19-----------------------------------------19--
E------------------------20-24-20---------------------
C---------------------19----------19------------------
G------------------21----------------17---------------
C-----------19-24----------------------24-19---------
G--------21-----------------------------------21------
C--19-24-----------------------------------------24--
Sweeps: C Minor intervals 4/4 time (16ths count 1e+a,2e+a...)
E------------------------11-15-11---------------------
C---------------------12----------12------------------
G------------------12----------------12---------------
C-----------12-15----------------------15-12---------
G--------12-----------------------------------12------
C-12-15------------------------------------------15--
E------------------------15-20-15---------------------
C---------------------15----------15------------------
G------------------17----------------17---------------
C-----------15-19----------------------19-15---------
G--------17-----------------------------------17------
C--15-19-----------------------------------------19--
E------------------------20-23-20---------------------
C---------------------19----------19------------------
G------------------20----------------20---------------
C-----------19-24----------------------24-19---------
G--------20-----------------------------------20------
C--19-24-----------------------------------------24--
Also try something like from the lowest G or C and use a 3 note major or minor arpeggio (example: C-12-16-19) then just string skip to the other strings of same open note and you have 3 octave arpeggios. Another thing to try with the minor 3rds is starting with the low G, middle G, high G and then on the E (use same frets, so like G-12-15-18...E-12-15-18 and you could go for taps on 21 and get some fine wankery going on.
Anyways, its a great tuning, hope this is fun for any of you who try it!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Here's some stuff to get you started. Its in the Key of C (no sharps or flats) and will hopefully get you familiar with the open C tuning. If anyone has questions, feel free to PM me, and by all means enjoy!
1.Minor shape from C:
E
C
G
C-8------or--5
G-5-----------5
C-5-----------8
2.Major shape from C:
E
C
G
C-9------or--5
G-5-----------5
C-5-----------9
3.Minor shape from G:
E
C
G-8------or---5
C-7-----------7
G-5-----------8
C
4.Major shape from G:
E
C
G-9------or---5
C-7-----------7
G-5-----------9
C
Diminished:
E---------------------10-----7----
C---------------------8------8---
G---------10-7-------7-----10---
C-8--5---8---8---------------
G-7--7---7---10-------------
C-5--8------------------------
the 7 modes: (4 note per string) (KEY OF C, no sharps or flats)
Ionian
E----------------------------------------------7-8-10-12-
C-------------------------------------4-5-7-9------------
G----------------------------2-4-5-7----------------------
C-------------------2-4-5-7--------------------------------
G----------0-2-4-5-----------------------------------------
C-0-2-4-5---------------------------------------------------
Dorian
E------------------------------------------------8-10-12-13-
C--------------------------------------5-7-9-11--------------
G-----------------------------4-5-7-9-------------------------
C--------------------4-5-7-9----------------------------------
G-----------2-4-5-7-------------------------------------------
C--2-4-5-7----------------------------------------------------
Phrygian
E----------------------------------------------------10-12-13-15
C----------------------------------------7-9-11-12--------------
G------------------------------5-7-9-10--------------------------
C---------------------5-7-9-11-----------------------------------
G-----------4-5-7-9----------------------------------------------
C--4-5-7-9-------------------------------------------------------
Lydian
E--------------------------------------------------------12-13-15-17
C----------------------------------------------9-11-12--------------
G----------------------------------7-9-10-12------------------------
C----------------------7-9-11-12------------------------------------
G------------5-7-9-10------------------------------------------------
C--5-7-9-11----------------------------------------------------------
Mixolydian
E------------------------------------------------------------------13-15-17-19
C----------------------------------------------------11-12-14-16-------------
G--------------------------------------9-10-12-14-----------------------------
C-------------------------9-11-12-14------------------------------------------
G-------------7-9-10-12-------------------------------------------------------
C-7-9-11-12-------------------------------------------------------------------
Aeolian
E--------------------------------------------------------------------15-17-18-20
C------------------------------------------------------12-14-16-17------------
G----------------------------------------10-12-14-16----------------------------
C--------------------------11-12-14-16-----------------------------------------
G--------------9-10-12-14------------------------------------------------------
C-9-11-12-14------------------------------------------------------------------
Locrian
E---------------------------------------------------------------------17-18-20-22
C-------------------------------------------------------14-16-17-19-----------
G-----------------------------------------12-14-16-17---------------------------
C---------------------------12-14-16-17----------------------------------------
G---------------10-12-14-16-----------------------------------------------------
C--11-12-14-16-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sweeps: C Major intervals 4/4 time (16ths count 1e+a,2e+a...)
E------------------------12-15-12---------------------
C---------------------12----------12------------------
G------------------12----------------12---------------
C-----------12-16----------------------16-12---------
G--------12-----------------------------------12------
C-12-16------------------------------------------16--
E------------------------15-20-15---------------------
C---------------------16----------16------------------
G------------------17----------------17---------------
C-----------16-19----------------------19-16---------
G--------17-----------------------------------17------
C--16-19-----------------------------------------19--
E------------------------20-24-20---------------------
C---------------------19----------19------------------
G------------------21----------------17---------------
C-----------19-24----------------------24-19---------
G--------21-----------------------------------21------
C--19-24-----------------------------------------24--
Sweeps: C Minor intervals 4/4 time (16ths count 1e+a,2e+a...)
E------------------------11-15-11---------------------
C---------------------12----------12------------------
G------------------12----------------12---------------
C-----------12-15----------------------15-12---------
G--------12-----------------------------------12------
C-12-15------------------------------------------15--
E------------------------15-20-15---------------------
C---------------------15----------15------------------
G------------------17----------------17---------------
C-----------15-19----------------------19-15---------
G--------17-----------------------------------17------
C--15-19-----------------------------------------19--
E------------------------20-23-20---------------------
C---------------------19----------19------------------
G------------------20----------------20---------------
C-----------19-24----------------------24-19---------
G--------20-----------------------------------20------
C--19-24-----------------------------------------24--
Also try something like from the lowest G or C and use a 3 note major or minor arpeggio (example: C-12-16-19) then just string skip to the other strings of same open note and you have 3 octave arpeggios. Another thing to try with the minor 3rds is starting with the low G, middle G, high G and then on the E (use same frets, so like G-12-15-18...E-12-15-18 and you could go for taps on 21 and get some fine wankery going on.
Anyways, its a great tuning, hope this is fun for any of you who try it!
That's Devin Townsends sevenstring version of Open C, right?
I like that one, as of all the different families of open tunings this one is possibly the closest to standard tuning in terms of the way it's laid out. It's a great tuning, especially for two-handed playing. Actually, I while ago, I tried out a variation on it, where I lowered the whole thing a tone, and then dropped the highest string another whole step, so it was a Bbsus2 tuning. The only problem is that I don't really like to use too many arpeggios where there're tons of barres involved, so I'm not sure how well that aspect of it would work for me...
I like that one, as of all the different families of open tunings this one is possibly the closest to standard tuning in terms of the way it's laid out. It's a great tuning, especially for two-handed playing. Actually, I while ago, I tried out a variation on it, where I lowered the whole thing a tone, and then dropped the highest string another whole step, so it was a Bbsus2 tuning. The only problem is that I don't really like to use too many arpeggios where there're tons of barres involved, so I'm not sure how well that aspect of it would work for me...
Yep, thats the one! I teched for Dev, Byron, Jed during Alien and had already been messing around with CGCGCE, and after hearing some of the guitars off the floor at Armoury studios I was just blown away at how massive the tuning sounded with that low G.
I'm interest in the the tuning you mentioned, what kind of changes did it do for you with writing?
CGord
Well-Known Member
I know nothing about theory, but how about a "drop" tuning all the way across the neck?
Low to high (6): B F# B F# B F#
I'm a very simplistic player, one & two finger power chords, no real soloing. I'm trying this out right now, & I'm having a lot of fun with it. I have no idea how it would work for guys who can actually play guitar, though. Scales, real chords, etc.
I bought some EB hybrid slinkys (09-11-16-26-36-46), removed the .026, & added a .058 6th. It makes for some pretty cool sounding two finger, three string power chords. I've got one clip completed in this tuning: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=570498&songID=4809806 (my tuner displays F# as Gb)
Anyway...a thought from a music retard.
Low to high (6): B F# B F# B F#
I'm a very simplistic player, one & two finger power chords, no real soloing. I'm trying this out right now, & I'm having a lot of fun with it. I have no idea how it would work for guys who can actually play guitar, though. Scales, real chords, etc.
I bought some EB hybrid slinkys (09-11-16-26-36-46), removed the .026, & added a .058 6th. It makes for some pretty cool sounding two finger, three string power chords. I've got one clip completed in this tuning: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=570498&songID=4809806 (my tuner displays F# as Gb)
Anyway...a thought from a music retard.
I know nothing about theory, but how about a "drop" tuning all the way across the neck?
Low to high (6): B F# B F# B F#
I'm a very simplistic player, one & two finger power chords, no real soloing. I'm trying this out right now, & I'm having a lot of fun with it. I have no idea how it would work for guys who can actually play guitar, though. Scales, real chords, etc.
I bought some EB hybrid slinkys (09-11-16-26-36-46), removed the .026, & added a .058 6th. It makes for some pretty cool sounding two finger, three string power chords. I've got one clip completed in this tuning: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=570498&songID=4809806 (my tuner displays F# as Gb)
Anyway...a thought from a music retard.
We already suggested this. It's a great idea. Nick Drake used to use similar tunings on acoustic guitar.
CGord
Well-Known Member
Ah, really? I read, but didn't see. Closest I saw was CGCGCE. Carry on, then!
All_¥our_Bass
Deathly Chuuni
^ That would be sweet on an eight. You'd get an Ab below the low Eb.
Imagine the chords voicings...
All_¥our_Bass
Deathly Chuuni
Massive piano chords FTW!! 
CGord
Well-Known Member
I dropped my tuning down further on my 6 today, now it's AEAEAE. I received my new 7 today, & tuned it to drop A. Then something dawned on me...
AEAEAE
AEADGBE
AEAEAE
AEADGBE
I am back to 5ths - Tod Keen Style (tk instruments). I am planning to split the pickups by pulling out the magnets and use it for bass & chord type of playing .
Will also try to get bass and distorted rythm guitar kinda thing going.
I am back to it and it is very promising tuning!!!
Will also try to get bass and distorted rythm guitar kinda thing going.
I am back to it and it is very promising tuning!!!
I dropped my tuning down further on my 6 today, now it's AEAEAE. I received my new 7 today, & tuned it to drop A. Then something dawned on me...
AEAEAE
AEADGBE
AEADGBE is a classic seven-string tuning. It's what most jazz and classical players tune the bottom string on their 7+ string guitars to. Nevermore and Aghora, (and End Theory!) have been known to use it as well.
It'll be interesting to hear your findings in terms of the comparison between AEAEAE and AEADGBE tuning...
CGord
Well-Known Member
Well, I don't think I'll be a very good source for comparison; I've owned my first seven string for a day now. I can tell you that I really enjoy the AEAEAE tuning, & that at this moment, I'm more comfortable with it than with the seven string, but again, I'm brand new to sevens. I like the AEAEAE enough that I am planning on switching all my six strings to it, & don't have any intention of going back to standard (or typical drop) tuning.
I can tell you that I really enjoy the AEAEAE tuning, & that at this moment, I'm more comfortable with it than with the seven string, but again, I'm brand new to sevens. I like the AEAEAE enough that I am planning on switching all my six strings to it, & don't have any intention of going back to standard (or typical drop) tuning. Do you reckon you'd be tempted to try a similar thing on your seven?
CGord
Well-Known Member
I doubt it. I'm not interested in going much higher than standard tuning, so I think I'd have to go waaaay down on a 7 (I haven't sat down & worked out the notes...low F maybe?). Right now I'm happy with it in drop A.
CGord
Well-Known Member
Here's a test clip of the AEAEAE tuning:
Keep in mind, there is ZERO mixing on this (also no bass). It's four tracks, using two different amp patches.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=570498&songID=5126884
Keep in mind, there is ZERO mixing on this (also no bass). It's four tracks, using two different amp patches.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=570498&songID=5126884
