# Standard tuning for a 5 string bass

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-tuning-for-a-5-string-bass/233220>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 9, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-tuning-for-a-5-string-bass/233220 "2004-03-09T02:11:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LittleYellowBus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@LittleYellowBus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LittleYellowBus)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-tuning-for-a-5-string-bass/233220/1 "2004-03-09T02:11:12Z")

</div>

I just bought a 5 string bass and was about to tune it to EADGC, but I really don’t know what I am doing so I thought I would ask first. I have read that most tune it to BEADG, which is what I have it at now, but I would like to know if it would hurt the guitar over time if I tuned it to EADGC? Could it warp the neck?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-tuning-for-a-5-string-bass/233220/2 "2004-03-09T02:30:28Z")

</div>

I always tuned mine to BEADG, mostly because I liked the sound the low B-string made, and it simply never occurred to me to try raising it up a fourth. It really depends on the sizes of the strings you have, but most 5-string sets are intended for tuning beginning at the low B. If you want EADGC, buy a 6-string set and just don’t use the B-string. That could get expensive, however.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/48db29/32.png) [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/standard-tuning-for-a-5-string-bass/233220/3 "2004-03-09T02:58:11Z")

</div>

You’re going to waste a perfectly good string on a C!?!?

Remember, you’re playing a BASS, not a guitar. 😃

I think basses/guitars are tolerant of different tensions. If you are still worried, get lighter guage strings, which won’t be as tense to get the same notes.