What to do with an 8 string and a 4 string bass?

fungwabus117 · 04-20-2012, 12:20 AM

Hi all, first post here. I'm curious as to what you guys think I can do in terms of recording if I have an 8 string and a 4 string guitar. I cannot finance the purchase of a 5 string bass at this time, so it seems to me I have two options:

1. Use pitch shifting to shift the 8 string down to bass range

2. Or put the heaviest gauge strings I can find on the 4 string bass and tune down as low as humanly or physically possible.

Which one is more viable? or can anyone else think of an alternative?

Thanks!

Eric Christian · 04-20-2012, 12:31 AM

Tune both the bass & guitar to B standard?

Waelstrum · 04-20-2012, 12:40 AM

You could tune the four string bass Meshuggah style so that it is in unison with the lowest four strings of your eight string guitar. When a guitar is tuned as low as eight string standard, pretty much all you hear is the overtones, so even though the bass will have the same notes, they're timbrally different enough that having them together really fills out the sound.

Hollowway · 04-20-2012, 01:42 AM

I'm gonna say that you've been handed the tools to experiment and think outside the box. I say come up with a non traditional way to use the two together.

Stealthdjentstic · 04-20-2012, 01:52 AM

Yeah, Waelstrum has a point, the bass will still flesh out your guitar really well.

explosivo · 04-20-2012, 02:15 AM

EADGCFAD on the 8 string and EADG standard on the bass.

Pretty much exactly what Waelstrum said, just down tuned a bit

Rook · 04-20-2012, 03:21 AM

Another agreeing with something like that^

IMO basses start losing definition below about D or Db anyway unless you have a particularly good 5 (most cheap 5's just can't pull off that 5th string). There's also more difference between a bass and a guitar than the size and the number of strings. The strings are much stiffer meaning less overtones and more of the energy focused around a smaller bandwidth about the fundamental. I wouldnt say all you hear is overtakes with an 8, but owing to the nature of the strings (less stiff so more overtones - overtones are basically 5th and octave harmonics (mostly) that sound as a result of smaller standing waves occurring on the string) and the effect distorted amps have, the signal power is spread over a broad range of harmonics and less undertone.

Tldr basses are bassier, so even tuned to the same notes a bass still serves its purpose.

EtherealEntity · 04-21-2012, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by explosivo

EADGCFAD on the 8 string and EADG standard on the bass.

Pretty much exactly what Waelstrum said, just down tuned a bit

This, or EAEADGBE + EADG.

Then again I think Hollowway has a very very good point.

celticelk · 04-21-2012, 10:34 AM

If you're tuning in standard on both instruments, then you're probably tending to write in F# so that you can chug on the lowest guitar string. (I'm assuming that you play metal, as that's generally a safe assumption around here.) A standard-tuned four-string bass then gives you the option to drop down to E as a leading tone into that F# root. No problem.

Honestly, I find threads like this somewhat weird. Do what works best for the music that you're playing. You're in a better position to judge what that might be than any of us.

ixlramp · 04-21-2012, 05:19 PM

Circle K Strings - Standard Balanced 4 Strings

Waelstrum · 04-21-2012, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celticelk

If you're tuning in standard on both instruments, then you're probably tending to write in F# so that you can chug on the lowest guitar string. (I'm assuming that you play metal, as that's generally a safe assumption around here.) A standard-tuned four-string bass then gives you the option to drop down to E as a leading tone into that F# root. No problem.

Honestly, I find threads like this somewhat weird. Do what works best for the music that you're playing. You're in a better position to judge what that might be than any of us.

E# is the leading tone to F#. E is the subtonic.

EtherealEntity · 04-22-2012, 01:48 AM

^ Yeah, not a leading tone but I know what he meant. It is very useful to be able to get a whole tone beneath the root.

	sevenstring guitars		sevenstring registry		photo gallery		subscription		spy

04-20-2012, 12:20 AM	#1
fungwabus117 ss.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Francisco Posts: 48 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What to do with an 8 string and a 4 string bass? Hi all, first post here. I'm curious as to what you guys think I can do in terms of recording if I have an 8 string and a 4 string guitar. I cannot finance the purchase of a 5 string bass at this time, so it seems to me I have two options: 1. Use pitch shifting to shift the 8 string down to bass range 2. Or put the heaviest gauge strings I can find on the 4 string bass and tune down as low as humanly or physically possible. Which one is more viable? or can anyone else think of an alternative? Thanks!

04-20-2012, 12:31 AM	#2
Eric Christian SS.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 1,172 Thanked: 21 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Tune both the bass & guitar to B standard? @zeaoth I just shoved the damn p/u into the cavity. I forced that shit. It works. @DTo8 Does every 8strings buzzes on the low strings? @MatthewLeisher I'd take a dump on a 6505 if the Axe FX asked me to.

04-20-2012, 12:40 AM	#3
Waelstrum All Fourths Advocate Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,124 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You could tune the four string bass Meshuggah style so that it is in unison with the lowest four strings of your eight string guitar. When a guitar is tuned as low as eight string standard, pretty much all you hear is the overtones, so even though the bass will have the same notes, they're timbrally different enough that having them together really fills out the sound. right_to_rage likes this. I'm not a hipster, I just act like it ironically. Learning is metal as ..... - SchecterWhore

04-20-2012, 01:42 AM	#4
Hollowway SS.org Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: California Posts: 6,358 Thanked: 105 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	I'm gonna say that you've been handed the tools to experiment and think outside the box. I say come up with a non traditional way to use the two together. celticelk likes this.

Today
Seven String	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on Sevenstring.org

04-20-2012, 01:52 AM	#5
Stealthdjentstic Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canadia Posts: 19,969 Thanked: 338 Feedback Score: 10 reviews	Yeah, Waelstrum has a point, the bass will still flesh out your guitar really well.

04-20-2012, 02:15 AM	#6
explosivo SS.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marble Falls, TX Posts: 291 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	EADGCFAD on the 8 string and EADG standard on the bass. Pretty much exactly what Waelstrum said, just down tuned a bit Bigfan likes this. Website \|Facebook \| Neodymium Pickups

04-20-2012, 03:21 AM	#7
Rook Electrifying Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London Posts: 7,561 Thanked: 109 Feedback Score: 18 reviews	Another agreeing with something like that^ IMO basses start losing definition below about D or Db anyway unless you have a particularly good 5 (most cheap 5's just can't pull off that 5th string). There's also more difference between a bass and a guitar than the size and the number of strings. The strings are much stiffer meaning less overtones and more of the energy focused around a smaller bandwidth about the fundamental. I wouldnt say all you hear is overtakes with an 8, but owing to the nature of the strings (less stiff so more overtones - overtones are basically 5th and octave harmonics (mostly) that sound as a result of smaller standing waves occurring on the string) and the effect distorted amps have, the signal power is spread over a broad range of harmonics and less undertone. Tldr basses are bassier, so even tuned to the same notes a bass still serves its purpose. Formerly known as Fun111, don't be thrown off by the avatar!!!!!! My Soundcloud My project on Facebook: Rook

04-21-2012, 10:34 AM	#9
celticelk Rogue intellectual Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,759 Thanked: 15 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	If you're tuning in standard on both instruments, then you're probably tending to write in F# so that you can chug on the lowest guitar string. (I'm assuming that you play metal, as that's generally a safe assumption around here.) A standard-tuned four-string bass then gives you the option to drop down to E as a leading tone into that F# root. No problem. Honestly, I find threads like this somewhat weird. Do what works best for the music that you're playing. You're in a better position to judge what that might be than any of us. "There's only one real freedom in music: freedom from the tyranny of trying to sound good." -Kenny Werner "Whatever technique you have on your instrument at any given time is always good enough to say something. If you can't find the thing to say, that's what you've got to work on." -David Torn "Don't be afraid to let go of the things you know. Defy your weaker, safer self. Create. Make music." -Sonny Sharrock "Do your thing. Follow your heart." -David Fiuczynski

04-21-2012, 05:19 PM	#10
ixlramp SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Posts: 1,317 Thanked: 74 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Circle K Strings - Standard Balanced 4 Strings

04-22-2012, 01:48 AM	#12
EtherealEntity Tom Winspear Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Southend-on-Sea, Essex, U.K Posts: 8,359 Thanked: 77 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	^ Yeah, not a leading tone but I know what he meant. It is very useful to be able to get a whole tone beneath the root. celticelk likes this.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode