5 Strings

[SevenReasons]

Hello,
Just wondering how important having a 5er is becoming these days? I saw some footage of you on bassplayer.com saying you use a vintage P bass on almost everything and that you do that isn't a jazz gig. I have a Kinal custom 5 (my "coffee table bass" as my friends like to call it) that i'm considering selling, because every gig I show up to they ask me to bring my Fender. Or if its a jazz gig they want my upright. The only time i really get to use it is on my own gigs and the odd "fusionish" gig that pops up. Just wondering how important the 5 is and if it matters what type of 5 you uses for various types of gigs. Thanks for your input and experience.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by SevenReasons

Hello,
Just wondering how important having a 5er is becoming these days?

I think it's good that you framed your question this way. "These days", many parts that are written for bass, demand that you go into the lower registers. This isn't the case for you, or many other bass players, but this has been the general trend since the 5er's creation.

Personally, It's nice to be able to play virtually every song at the 5th fret, very convenient.

[SevenReasons]

Any thoughts Janek?

[meev992]

Originally Posted by SevenReasons

Any thoughts Janek?

I'm assuming Janek is out gigging with his five stringer

[janekbass]

actually in the studio not playing any bass right now at all. Just producing a record.

I really hate to get into the "this bass is for this" and "that bass is for that" discussions. It's what feels right.

If you have something to say on the instrument then people will hire you for your playing.

certain people request different instruments, but when you get into that situation you'll know which bass to use cos you'll be asked to bring it to the studio, or they'll rent it for you.

There's nothing wrong with knowing how different instruments sound, trying a bunch of stuff etc... but it comes down to what you're comfortable with and how you like to express yourself.

Easy,

Janek

[Snarf]

I've worked with a lot of people that really want that low string, and it's very appropriate in a lot of contemporary pop and R&B settings. I'd say keep it if you don't need the money. Like Janek says, bring what's asked, but if you already have the bass, I'm sure you'll get asked for that B string eventually. The thing that convinced me to have 5 strings was something that Alphonso Johnson said: "As soon as I got that 5 string, I got double the work." That always stuck out for me and it doesn't apply to everyone, but I figured it couldn't hurt, and I enjoy having more room on the low side of things.

[lovemybasses]

people loves to see 5 strings bass player nowadays ,thats for sure. they instantly respects you. become a fashion rather than need. play what you feel best.

[Basseroni]

I'm EXCLUSIVELY a 5-string player on electric bass AND I detune my whole bass a half step below standard (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb). I, like many others, started on 4 but when I bought my first 5-string I NEVER looked back. Those notes below E are very important not only with the type of music I play (funk, RB, gospel, jazz, contemporary pop, rock, etc) but it's part of my sound and musical personality.

When I start playing upright, however, I will be starting on four because I don't know the instrument that well yet. I'm planning on purchasing the Eminence Portable Upright 4-string sometime next year.

[bassrique]

I'm EXCLUSIVELY a 5-string player on electric bass AND I detune my whole bass a half step below standard (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb).

What got you doing that?

[Basseroni]

Originally Posted by bassrique

What got you doing that?

I used to play a lot of gospel where most songs are in flat keys. Having an open flat string just seemed natural within the music. Additionally, a lot of songs in gospel have the bass going all the way down to Bb and even A in some instances ala Andrew Gouche.

It's my standard tuning for everything I do including reading.

[bassrique]

I know nothing about gospel music. Why the flat keys?

[Basshole]

Originally Posted by bassrique

I know nothing about gospel music. Why the flat keys?

Black keys on the Hammond. Killer licks.

[knarleybass]

When I joined the band I play in now, they demanded that I have a bass with the B string, so after futzing around with tuning my 4 string basses I finally got a 5er, now, that is all that I want to play. When I go into the studio I get a little anxiety about it, engineers will look at a 5 or 6 string bass and say "that is no Fender". People hear with their eyes. I don't know, it' up to you and what you want to do, do you want to blaze the trail for the 5 string bass cause? or do you want to fit in?

[Basseroni]

Originally Posted by bassrique

I know nothing about gospel music. Why the flat keys?

To be honest with you I cannot tell you the history or the reasoning behind that because I truly don't know. I just know that's the way it is and has been for many years and because for awhile gospel was all I was playing, tuning my bass in flats just came naturally. These days I play mostly r&b, neo-soul, jazz, rock, reggae, ska, and old school funk with little or no gospel but that low Bb is still important as it is part of my sound and style of playing.

Before I got a 5, I used to detune my 4 a whole step below standard and there were times I wasn't even tuned in perfect fourths across (i.e. Db, G, C, F instead of D, G, C, F or C, G, C, F). It wasn't until I got my 5-string that I stopped messing around with different tunings and stuck with Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb. Well, , I actually detuned my Bb string to A a few times but I didn't like the vibe of that so I reverted back to my gospel standard tuning.