BEAD on a 4 String Bass?

Why play a 5 String Bass when you can play a 4 String Bass, amiright? Plus, who really uses that G anyway...

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[aureliusthegunsmith]

"I love Low 4 bass, BEAD is all you need.G strings are for strippers"

[kevinpaige]

I've been using this since 1990. Always wondered why no one was doing it. Glad to see it catching on.

[baroqueguitarist]

I always thought BEAD should be the new standard tuning. How often do you use the G string ? The best tone on a bass isn't on the G string. You can still play above the 12th fret for some higher notes to add tension to a song. But adding a Low B string that's ultra useful and has a great tone on a bass. Many times a gig might call for you to have a Low B. Not many gigs revolve around you needing that G string. 5 strings have a thick neck that isn't as comfy at least for me and usually is a heavier bass to play 2 hours straight. I play much better on a 4 string neck. To me BEAD just makes perfect sense as my standard bass tuning that best prepares me to play multiple genres.

[-k-b-]

I think all 5ths tuning on bass is really killer! A, E, B, F#. That way you don't lose the higher register but you still get that low register. Fuzz comes in handy for that low A

[patricksanders]

Flatwound strings can be removed and reinstalled, but they can get twisted if you’re not careful. Make sure to line up the break angle with the bridge saddle.

[jason.martin]

I do AEAD, and have another one with B as well as the low on the 4 string. I would suggest going a heavier gauged on the low A or B, I was doing 145 for low A and 135 for the B, but with your string tension chart gauged to your strings to get a balance 40lb avg string tension it would be 165 for A and 135 For the B

[beridus]

I love BEAD. That's kind of my go-to tuning on my basses

[zerodollarstudio]

I have a J-bass in BEAD with a 145 (I think) . I call it my Fourve string.

[huguesfardaoclarinettesolo]

I used to play BEAD when I started playing bass and then during 20 years, just because I was listening to "The Robots" by Kraftwerk on "The Mix" album and the bass synth was very low. Loved it, the main interest was for me, beside the lower notes on B string, the fact that playing higher notes on the D string instead of a G string gets some fat sound, very interesting. I swapped for a 5 strings bass 14 years ago, but this year I found a great 4 strings PB-like I love... and I will probably get another one to be tuned in BEAD for some songs.

[Renegadrian]

BEAD user here! Love it, better control than a fiver, i never used the G so much so this is my MUST choice! Once I tried it I could never get back!

[Metal_Horror]

I'm thinking about doing this. I'm always wanting to hit that C or D for fills or whatever. Not only that, but I realized you can keep your hand higher up on the neck and still get those low notes which is great for a couple of reasons (I bet Phil Lynott would've loved that). Plus it sort of reinforces the bass's role. I disagree with the notion that the higher notes are strictly the domain of the guitar, because for one thing the bass plays those same notes with a fatter, distinct tone, and you can play with the textures and dynamics of the interplay between instruments. However, the bulk of our duty is to do low end stuff, and most of those higher notes will still be available, just not as conveniently. It just makes way more sense to me to have more low notes than more high notes.

[brandoncombs]

It's a little late but I've done the opposite E-C on a 5 and E-F on a 6 it works great if you do chords/tapping

[henkehakansson]

Yes. yes. BEAD tuning. You should show another cunning trick, that I use when playing 4 string BEAD basses.

Use a capo on 5th fret.

Then, at 5th fret it turns out a regular tuned bass EADG. Now, if the next tune at a gig, is an old Hendrix tune, SRV tune, or you want to play with horns, just clamp the capo one fret down and get a "dropped" Eb tuning. Drop D? Set it on 3rd fret. Play "Born under a bad sign"? Yes, put it at 2nd fret, and let the low C sharp ring, and play open strings. No need for re-tuning at all. Clip it to the headstock if you want that low B...

I got this idea, whenever I played a regular bass and had to drop D (even with a hipshot tuner) or drob Eb. Afterwards, when you start the tune, after 30 seconds the downtuned string wants to creep slowly back into it's former pitch, and it's out of tune halfway through the song. And you change tension. With the capo on different frets, the strings doesn't alter tension and the relief remains the same, and no increased fret buzzing due to too slack strings. Works a charm!

Now, do you sell dedicated BEAD sets or one has to buy a 5 string set and scrap the high G string?

[oservoasafe]

cant wait to do that on my jazz bass. it's arriving nest Tuesday

[Sjrm]

I like tuning down my e string down to the low b for a BADG alternate tuning.

[mikesmith]

I also use a 5 string set on my 4 string. My low string is dropped to G to match my 7 string guitar. Sounds pretty good without too much flubbage

[stevec]

I'm tuned to A# F A# D# for a doom metal band. When me and the guitarist both hit an open A# together it sounds like pure evil.
I did have a 5 string with a longer 35" scale and it did have more clarity than the 34" 4 string

[tonyrichengod]

You can also buy regular EADG set of flatwounds and tune that to BEAD. The lower tension makes fretting soooo much better

[owlbme]

I am getting my first bass next month and *this video* is what convinced me to go with a 4-string and use BEAD tuning 😁

[tacopupps]

Ross Valory (Journey) switched to BEAD a long time ago. I tried it and I love it.