New band asking for C tuning : best strategy ?

Hello, I may play with some new stoner/psyche new band. The guitarist is tuned in C. I'm wondering : a) moving to 5 strings (standard tuning BEADG) or b) drop tuning my 4 strings to C ? Or c) play in D with a digitech the drop pedal - 1 tone ? Do you see a d) or an e) option ? Would you recommand something ? Specific strings if detuned ? Txs for your hints.
 
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Hello, I may play with some new stoner/psyche new band. The guitarist is tuned in C. I'm wondering : a) moving to 5 strings (standard tuning BEADG) or b) drop tuning my 4 strings to C ? Or c) play in D with a digitech the drop pedal - 1 tone ? Do you see a d) or an e) option ? Would you recommand something ? Specific strings if detuned ? Txs for your hints.

I'd go with option A, that gives you a low C on the 1st fret of the B string. Simples.
 
Sorry wrong, just drop every strings 2 tones down.

and by "drop C" my understanding is only the first string. But maybe drop C means : all strings 2 tones down

?

too much confusion... which makes a 5-string in standard tuning a very safe proposition.

I started playing 5 strings when depping for bands who couldn't decide which key they were playing songs in... With a 5-string transposing is really easy.
 
Sorry wrong, just drop every strings 2 tones down.

and by "drop C" my understanding is only the first string. But maybe drop C means : all strings 2 tones down
Your first assumption is correct. C standard has the lowest string at C1 and the rest of the strings tuned up a perfect 4th from each other. Drop C means that you've got it tuned to D standard, but leaving the lowest string at a C so it's a 5th below the next string rather than a 4th. You're only "dropping" the tuning of that last string. (On a guitar, sometimes you'll come across double drop tunings where the bottom string and the top string are both dropped - so double drop D for instance would be DADGBD. Neil Young used this on some of his songs.)

I find I play differently on my BEAD bass than I do on a 5 string BEADG bass. Unless you want the extra upper range of the G string - which most stoner/doomy stuff doesn't need - I think you'd be better off setting up one or more of your basses to C standard. You may need to get the nut slots filed a little wider to accommodate heavier strings. Get a luthier to do this if you're not confident in your own ability, you'll probably spend less on a single shop visit than on a full set of nut files anyway.

D'Addario makes a balanced tension set that goes from .050 to .120, which is probably right about where you want your gauges. You could go heavier if you prefer more tension, in which case any lighter gauge 5 string set will work - just don't use the top string. I wouldn't go over .125 for the lowest string.

I don't recommend using BEAD or BEADG tuning, you'll find yourself fretting that first fret on the low string a lot and that's going to tire you out quickly.
 
Hello, I may play with some new stoner/psyche new band. The guitarist is tuned in C. I'm wondering : a) moving to 5 strings (standard tuning BEADG) or b) drop tuning my 4 strings to C ? Or c) play in D with a digitech the drop pedal - 1 tone ? Do you see a d) or an e) option ? Would you recommand something ? Specific strings if detuned ? Txs for your hints.
Do your 4 to C. Or, drop C.
 
Your first assumption is correct. C standard has the lowest string at C1 and the rest of the strings tuned up a perfect 4th from each other. Drop C means that you've got it tuned to D standard, but leaving the lowest string at a C so it's a 5th below the next string rather than a 4th. You're only "dropping" the tuning of that last string. (On a guitar, sometimes you'll come across double drop tunings where the bottom string and the top string are both dropped - so double drop D for instance would be DADGBD. Neil Young used this on some of his songs.)

I find I play differently on my BEAD bass than I do on a 5 string BEADG bass. Unless you want the extra upper range of the G string - which most stoner/doomy stuff doesn't need - I think you'd be better off setting up one or more of your basses to C standard. You may need to get the nut slots filed a little wider to accommodate heavier strings. Get a luthier to do this if you're not confident in your own ability, you'll probably spend less on a single shop visit than on a full set of nut files anyway.

D'Addario makes a balanced tension set that goes from .050 to .120, which is probably right about where you want your gauges. You could go heavier if you prefer more tension, in which case any lighter gauge 5 string set will work - just don't use the top string. I wouldn't go over .125 for the lowest string.

I don't recommend using BEAD or BEADG tuning, you'll find yourself fretting that first fret on the low string a lot and that's going to tire you out quickly.
And I agree, even if you do buy a 5 string bass, instead of restringing and downtuning you current 4 string, I would restring the 5 string with a gauge .120 set and tune it one half step up, to C standard tuning, rather than regular 5 string B standard tuning.
 
Hi, txs. Not played with them yet, I imagine he tunes in C standard, not only drop C. What I hear from their tracks confirms that. I'm ok with mimicking the guitar with CFA#D#. I tried, the strings seem OK I'm using labella FS flatwounds).

Sounds like how A Perfect Circle tunes. When I do their songs I tune to D and then use the Digitech Drop to go down to C.
 
It typically will make your life easier to tune to match the guitar in those types of genres, since you will likely be doubling the guitar on some parts and often the songwriting and learning process can be simpler when you can learn what they are playing more easily first even if you are going to deviate. You will probably want at least a .110 on the low C string, but I think most people would find .115 or heavier more optimal, and then go down with the other strings from there, although this is mainly personal preference. Something like Bass Boomers' heavy set might be a good starting place for you.

You certainly could use a standard five string since it has all the notes, although if you are doubling the guitar parts it can get tricky at times. This depends a lot on the specific band... if the band tends to stick to lower tempos and doesn't bounce on and off the low C as often as some other bands it might be a lot easier to adapt the parts as needed.

For this type of band I would not consider any type of artificial detuning from a pedal etc., in my opinion those aren't really in a place where their sound or response is suitable for this purpose, at least from what I've seen and heard.
 
Hello, I may play with some new stoner/psyche new band. The guitarist is tuned in C. I'm wondering : a) moving to 5 strings (standard tuning BEADG) or b) drop tuning my 4 strings to C ? Or c) play in D with a digitech the drop pedal - 1 tone ? Do you see a d) or an e) option ? Would you recommand something ? Specific strings if detuned ? Txs for your hints.
I don't care for the sound of that drop tuner unit, although I'm forced by a band circumstance to use one for a few songs. I would suggest, while recognizing that it's your money that I'm suggesting you spend, that growing as a player and moving to a five string bass will bequeath musical benefits beyond serving the immediate musical need or quandry in front of you.
 
If it were me, and I were serious about joining the band, I would get a 4 or 5 string (depends on your preference). Set it up for C tuning (C, F, A#/Bb, D#/Eb, G) with larger string size, then the action