6 string confusion

[Alduroth]

I recently got a 6 string bass for sick cheap. I went from 5 to 6. But I'm having troubles adapting to the extra string.
Anyone got some excercises/songs to help me cope with it?

[punkanidea]

keep playing! i get used to 6 str from 5 str maybe took few weeks. i've got small hands so it take that long time. maybe it's faster for you.

[Alduroth]

I got big ass hands, so that's not a problem.
I'll put my 5'er down for a while :P

[PJSShearer]

Next gig and/or rehearsal - leave the 5 @ home - that'll focus the mind!!. The same advice was given to me when I got a fretless and I was "having troubles adapting".

[pointbass]

You wouldn't think that one skinny string would mess with your mind so much, would you?

I agree that you should spend time with the 6 only for a while until you get comfortable on it. Once you get a decent comfort level you'll be able to bounce back and forth between 4's, 5's and 6's pretty easy.

Most players that are dedicated 6+ string cats approach playing ERB's with a different mindset. If you stick with it and it does become comfortable for you, you'll find that your whole approach to playing will change .... hand positions, voicing, patterns, etc will be quite a change from your lesser string basses.

Starting out, try playing everything at the 3rd and 5th fret positions without using open strings. This will help you get adjusted to playing patterns and positions across the neck rather than up and down. Not suggesting that this is the case for you, but if you play 6+ string basses thinking like a 4 stringer with 2 extra strings you won't be getting the full benefit of the additional range.

Like I said above, it's really a change in mindset ....

[vision]

I'm also currently working on this. I got my six string a few days ago and since it was a trade deal, it's my only bass at the moment. My plan is to keep the six as my only bass for at least a month, so I can force myself to get used to it. I've already noticed a good amount of improvement just in the last few days - I don't hit the wrong string nearly as often and my left hand fatigue isn't as bad. I've got a long way to go though.

As far as excercises, what's been helpful to me is practicing playing scales and arpeggios in one position. There's tons of little excercises you can make up with these, like including or not including the 7 in the arpeggio or playing the notes in different orders. Be mindful of your string muting, this is the biggest thing that I need to work on.

[Asher S]

Another good exercise: pick any note (eg "Eb"), then find all the Eb's everywhere on the neck, first in the lower register & up all 6 strings, then in the upper register, all 6 strings (i.e. no "cheating" with octaves). Do this several times with all 12 notes - it won't take very long- and you'll be a master of the 6-string fretboard.

[Alduroth]

I'll give that a shot Asher. It seems pretty easy though.
I've not been able to play as fast as usual, or as accurate. The string spacing is killer.
It's just all time spent adjusting.

Anywhere where I might find some arpeggio's Vision? I'm not that well at home in music theory. I know my patterns on one spot not across the whole neck only B major I, but thats bout it :P

Not using the open note? My band plays hell loads of Open B, so that'd mean I'd have to play them at E 7th fret? There's a challenge.