So, in bass and guitar, electric or not, there are several tunings in general but the most common is the Drop D tuning where you down tune the E string to a D to make the distance between the two low strings a perfect seventh, which sounds better when you play them open or at the same fret. Does the same work in a violin, viola, etc in the two higher strings or not?

  • Violin viola cello will sometimes detune their strings (called scordatura) for certain pieces, but it's uncommon enough that there aren't really standardized alternate tunings like with guitar. Some examples are:

    Saint-Saëns: danse macabre (solo violin e string tuned down to d# (or eb?))

    Ysaye: poeme elegiaque (violin g string tuned down to an F, I think)

    Bach: cello suite no. 5 (a string tuned to g)

    Kodály: solo cello sonata (g and c strings tuned to F# and B, respectively)

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  • Petition to make the Ling-Ling detuning challenge (A string to G♯) common practice.

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  • There are great tunings for guitar, but I really hate tuning in general & also remembering fingerings differently!? I fear all pieces where I have to D-drop the E - but that's my lack of talent for understanding systems & tuning skills!

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