The result of this is that the strings will feel sloppy and loose. Guitar nuts are typically 1.65″-1.69″ (42-43mm), which is significantly narrower than 6-string bass nuts, which are ~2.04″-2.24″ (52-57mm). Just be aware that the role you will be filling is likely to be vastly different from that of a typical bassist.įurthermore, keep in mind that the guitar strings will be too small for the filings in the nut of the bass. There are many bands without a bassist that are successful. This is not to say that it cannot be done though. This will generally result in the band sounding too hollow. This is because a 6-string bass tuned like a guitar will not have a deep enough tonal range to adequately fill in the low-end frequencies. The strings will provide a higher tonal range, which can be used to create beautiful melodies and chord progressions.Īs for playing with a band, a bass with guitar strings will be more suited to fill the role of a guitar player, rather than the role of a bassist. So for solo play, guitar strings can give a new and refreshing tone to your bass. Below Charles Berthoud uses a set of Piccolo strings with gauges of. A medium gauge set for a 4-string bass has gauges of. Guitar strings in particular can sound amazing on a bass guitar. The question we should be asking is what it is going to sound like? In general, you can use any type of string on a string instrument. This will however require a nut replacement and the tone of the instrument will be different from both the bass and the guitar. Guitar strings can be put on a 6-string bass allowing the bass to be tuned the same way as a guitar. You might also experience high action and intonation issues.Ĭan you put guitar strings on a 6 string bass? Without a setup, the nut will be unfit for the new strings. As a result, your strings won`t snap when you tune your 6-string to E, and the strings will have a natural amount of tension to them.įurthermore, it is a best practice to get your bass set up to be tuned like a guitar. Among others, Ernie Ball has a nice selection of single strings to choose from. Then, the best course of action is to buy single strings for the high B and E strings. Therefore, I recommend using this regular 4-string set as it will be suitable for the first 4 strings. Therefore, if you want to tune your 6-string bass to Eadgbe, the first step is to get a fitting set of strings.įor long-scale basses, there are no easily available sets of strings that are suited for E. ![]() Even if they don`t snap due to the high tension, the strings will feel overly tight which will affect playability. However, if you do so with its current strings, there is a decent chance that they will snap. If you have a 6-string bass that`s tuned to B, you can tune it to E like a guitar. Some 6-string basses, such as the Fender VI are specifically designed to be tuned E-A-D-G-B-E like a guitar. Depending on the bass, this will require a setup and string change in order to retain the resonance and playability of the instrument. Here is a comparison of a guitar and 6-string bass in their respective standard tunings:Ĭan you tune a 6-string bass like a guitar?Ī 6-string bass can be tuned the same way as a guitar. As for guitars, they have 2 additional high strings instead.Īs a result, 6-string basses are tuned to B, while guitars are tuned to E. When we compare a 6-string bass to a 4-string, it has one additional low string and one additional high string. This gives them a range of E2-E6 with 24 frets. 6-string guitars are commonly tuned to E standard. With 24 frets this gives them a range of 0B to 5C. 6-string basses are commonly tuned to B standard. Is a 6 string bass tuned the same as a guitar?Ī six-string bass and a 6-string guitar utilize different standard tunings and differ in their chromatic range. Lastly, we will take a look at what happens if you decide to use guitar strings on your bass. Then, I`ll show you how to set up and tune your bass like a guitar. I`ll show you the difference between how a 6-string bass and a guitar are tuned. ![]() Therefore, I`ve written this guide to make it easy for you. However, the process of setting a 6-string bass up to be tuned like a guitar is not as simple as some might think. Many successful bassists have tuned their basses to E-A-D-G-B-E and had successful careers. You might be a bassist that doesn`t need the extra low-end range and wants to focus on writing melodic bass lines.Įither way, you are in good company. You might be a guitarist making the switch to bass and want to retain your knowledge of the fretboard. Different paths lead bassists to tune their 6-string basses like guitars.
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