5 String Tuning On A 4 String Bass

Stephen DeBoard

Stephen DeBoard

Oct 28, 2024
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#1
I was recently asked to play bass by a female singer friend of mine for a short set of her original songs plus a couple of covers. When I received the songs to learn I noticed that the bass lines were all recorded digitally with computers. Most of the songs had the low B and some even lower. I was going to borrow a friend's 5 string but then realized that for her music I didn't need a G string so I decided before I asked I would experiment and tune down my 4 string Precision to B-E-A-D.

I really like this! There is a definite learning curve as I've only played 4 string basses before. "Wait, the 3rd fret on the lowest string is D, not G!" It also forced me to intentionally have a lighter touch with my right hand. I believe I'm going to keep it this way for a while at least. I thought I may have to buy thicker strings but all I really had to do was raise the bridge saddles a bit to compensate. The intonation was still spot on. For my particular MIJ Precision I believe this reduced tension will also help keep the neck straight. I usually have to adjust the truss rod about once a year with standard tuning.

Has anyone else done this and how did you and your bass react?
 
#4
Stephen DeBoard said:
I was recently asked to play bass by a female singer friend of mine for a short set of her original songs plus a couple of covers. When I received the songs to learn I noticed that the bass lines were all recorded digitally with computers. Most of the songs had the low B and some even lower. I was going to borrow a friend's 5 string but then realized that for her music I didn't need a G string so I decided before I asked I would experiment and tune down my 4 string Precision to B-E-A-D.

I really like this! There is a definite learning curve as I've only played 4 string basses before. "Wait, the 3rd fret on the lowest string is D, not G!" It also forced me to intentionally have a lighter touch with my right hand. I believe I'm going to keep it this way for a while at least. I thought I may have to buy thicker strings but all I really had to do was raise the bridge saddles a bit to compensate. The intonation was still spot on. For my particular MIJ Precision I believe this reduced tension will also help keep the neck straight. I usually have to adjust the truss rod about once a year with standard tuning.

Has anyone else done this and how did you and your bass react?
Click to expand...
Did it 30 years ago on the fretless Ibanez Musician I was using at the time(I had just aquired a used fretted Yamaha TRB-5), enlarged the nut slots slightly, installed the B string, shifted the E, A, and D, left off the G, no problem. I left my token P, which I’d been playing since I was 14, as is.
But eventually, many years later, I scored (separately)matching Samick 5’s for continuity…
IMG_7817.jpeg
 
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#5
Stephen DeBoard said:
I was recently asked to play bass by a female singer friend of mine for a short set of her original songs plus a couple of covers. When I received the songs to learn I noticed that the bass lines were all recorded digitally with computers. Most of the songs had the low B and some even lower. I was going to borrow a friend's 5 string but then realized that for her music I didn't need a G string so I decided before I asked I would experiment and tune down my 4 string Precision to B-E-A-D.

I really like this! There is a definite learning curve as I've only played 4 string basses before. "Wait, the 3rd fret on the lowest string is D, not G!" It also forced me to intentionally have a lighter touch with my right hand. I believe I'm going to keep it this way for a while at least. I thought I may have to buy thicker strings but all I really had to do was raise the bridge saddles a bit to compensate. The intonation was still spot on. For my particular MIJ Precision I believe this reduced tension will also help keep the neck straight. I usually have to adjust the truss rod about once a year with standard tuning.

Has anyone else done this and how did you and your bass react?
Click to expand...

CGDA is also an option, but a more fundamental shift.
 
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