Couldn't decide if it should be here or in the technique sub, so move it if it isn't in the correct place..

But anyway, got myself a MTD kingston heir 5 fretless yesterday and wondered if you guys had any tips on adjusting to the extra string and not mistaking the B for my E-string all the time..

And some nice songs that use the B-string would also be great

Thank :smug:

Ignore the low B for a little while. When you decide to use it...

Jamiroquai - Everyday.

My tip would be to not worry about it too much.

Just get used to anchoring on the B instead of your pickup (assuming you anchor your thumb of course).

Some exercises I used to help me get used to the B:

Playing octaves up and down the B string, playing the high octave on the A string and G string.

Playing tunes that use open E, but fretting the E on the 5th fret of the B instead of open E (also works well for songs drop tuned to D, playing the D on the 3rd fret of the B string).

And, playing through scales, using the low notes along the B as the root.

I'm not saying these are the best ways to adapt to a 5 string, but I found them helpful.

Depending on what you whant to learn and play (preferencens) you could just (as prev stated) skip the B for a while..
I did .. And found that when I started using it .. It sounded pretty dull and I found less/no use for it and no justification to using it.. (mind you.. I DO use an EHX Octaver for time to time.. ;) )
So.. I strung the 5-string fretless EADGC instead.. that made the bass respont WAY much better .. and nowadays.. I feel crippeled without that C string when doing chords or soloing.... you realy have to work alot harder when swiching back to the 4 string.. but.. maby thats whats keeping the brain in shape! :eyebrow:

1 word to sum it all up: Experiment... :D

Skip the B :eyebrow: Then why play a 5...I was a 4 player who switched and now play both in gigs switching back and forth During gigs with no problems and i havnt been playing bass full time for more than 4 years.

To learn to get used to the B you must use it..yep use it...an easy way is play all you E notes on the 5th fret of the B and run from there using the other strings. In my classic rock band i stayed and played my songs in that posistion all night. Get used to using it for the notes you might play open C-D-E-F-G they are right there and easy use...so use them. You can also pick an easy 3-4 chord song and play it on only the B and E strings so you remember the diffrence in the strings. With the B and a 2 octive scale you can do alot with little movement. Start out songs you used to play on the E string and start them on the B and then continue to use the scale with the E string and the other strings...it will come ..practice. You will make mistakes and forget the E for B but give it time. If you ignore the B you will never learn it. How is that MTD...they look tasty by the way

Skip the B :eyebrow: Then why play a 5...I was a 4 player who switched and now play both in gigs switching back and forth During gigs with no problems and i havnt been playing bass full time for more than 4 years.

To learn to get used to the B you must use it..yep use it...an easy way is play all you E notes on the 5th fret of the B and run from there using the other strings. In my classic rock band i stayed and played my songs in that posistion all night. Get used to using it for the notes you might play open C-D-E-F-G they are right there and easy use...so use them. You can also pick an easy 3-4 chord song and play it on only the B and E strings so you remember the diffrence in the strings. With the B and a 2 octive scale you can do alot with little movement. Start out songs you used to play on the E string and start them on the B and then continue to use the scale with the E string and the other strings...it will come ..practice. You will make mistakes and forget the E for B but give it time. If you ignore the B you will never learn it. How is that MTD...they look tasty by the way

Oh.. Im sorry.. I thaught this was the General Instruction part of the forum?? Must have been mistaken it for the "How to crunsh rocksongs with low tuning" part of the forum.. :rolleyes:

Seriously.. Im not saying you SHOULD skip the B!! Im just giving hints on how to adjust to it over time..
Don't think my main point of my prev post came out right..
Listen carefully to the B string.. If it "sings" nicely (wich it should on a MTD) you know you got a real fine instrument.. still take your time and adjust to the B string slowly..
Coming to terms with an extra string wether its a low or high one takes practice.. (I can REALY rekomend the www.studybass.com site.. use the http://www.studybass.com/tools/chord-scale-note-printer/ tool and adjust stingcount and tuning.. what a great site it is..)

People who start off on a 5-er often notice that they have trouble adjusting to a 4 string later on.. A student of mine said he felt naked without it.. :eyebrow:

Just my 2 cents.. thats all.. everybody's different..
:smug:

What you're talking about it everyone goes through when first moving to 5-string and I would say there the only answer is just play it and after a couple days you will be used to your E-string being shifted over. It took me three or four days to get used to it.

As for playing a 5-string really is only five new notes, from fifth fret on its same notes as your E-string. So from a sightreading stand point not to much new to learn. To get used to it just take some bassline that would if needed to drop down the neck and take advantage of B-string to stay in position. For me I like to take stuff I'm already familiar with and adjust to take advantage or new range. Also take time to listen to the difference in timbre of playing low notes on the E-string, and playing the same note up the B-string. That will help learn to decide if to use B-string as a convience to stay in a postion or to drop down the neck for a tonal reasons.

Want a song to have fun with play Albert Kings Born Under A Bad Sign in original key of Db. Normally you'd have to go to up to the Db in the riff on 4-string, with 5-string you can grab the low Db and really make things shake.

Couldn't decide if it should be here or in the technique sub, so move it if it isn't in the correct place..

But anyway, got myself a MTD kingston heir 5 fretless yesterday and wondered if you guys had any tips on adjusting to the extra string and not mistaking the B for my E-string all the time..

And some nice songs that use the B-string would also be great

Thank :smug:

Yup, this is a technique question, so I'll be moving it as soon as I make this post...

I've been playing 5 for long enough that I don't even remember trying to get used to it. Maybe pay attention to the thickness of the strings, or just remember you're on a 5. You'll get used to it without a problem.

Regarding songs, you can make any song use the B string depending on where you play the line.

I just got me a Yamaha 5-stringer today, and it sure is confusing. Not theoretically; my brain has no issues whatsoever. But try telling my fingers that! I've only been playing bass for about 9 months, and I find it amazing just how much of my modest skills appearently have moved to my fingers. And it seems like they count strings both from the top and the other way around. So it's a complete toss-up right now.

My only hope is that if they got this automatic on a 4-string, there's nothing that says they won't do the same on a 5-er. I suppose I'll just have to give it time. Rehearsal tomorrow is gonna be fun, though...

Avoid the urge to suckle the 4! At this point every time you play a 4 you are taking a step back. Playing an instrument is like tracing a line in sand with a stick. Each time you trace that line the stick gets deeper and deeper into the sand until eventually you have to pull the stick out to change the direction of that line. Stick with your normal practice regiment for now until you become more comfortable on your new instrument.

Use the lower octaves on the B for flavor, I can't stand people that just constantly lay on it everytime the opportunity to play those notes comes up.

I'm in the same camp.

I LOVE my B String, but don't overly rely on it. Don't get me wrong, it's useful; But I find my E, A and sometimes D, occasionally G more useful.

It's a bit weird to get used to initially, but good luck going back to a 4er!

Remember, at the end of the day too - whether you play an E open or on your 5thB; the tensions are different and the overall 'tone' differs greatly. It's why, yeah, one CAN end up playing the octave down 2 strings and 2 across, but sometimes it sounds SO much nicer sliding up the same string.


But just learn to play with it - time spent on it gives experience.