Any Reason to go from a 6 to a 4?

[rockin982]

The first bass I had was a Carlo Robelli (Sam Ash Brand) 5 string, that I sold when I stopped playing bass for about a year. Now I have a Brice Z 6-string bass that I am learning on.

My question is if there is any reason for me to get a 4 string right away? I see alot of guys on here talk about learning on a 4 before one get's a 6, but I started out with a 6, so am I going to end up missing something?

As for the music I play, it's widely varied, but as bass playing goes, I'm most interested in Gospel, Jazz Fusion, Funk, and classical/solo (a la Wooten, Patitucci, Manring, etc.) Right now as it happens, I am working on Bach's Cello Suite #6 and Paganini's 5th Caprice (which is kicking my rear big time, I might add ...)

[labgnat]

learn on what you want, guitar players learn with 6 and have no troubles. would it be easier to learn on a 4? i'd say so, but if ultimately what you want to play is a 6 then keep doing what you're doing. cause i've played a 4 a long time, and it'd take a few weeks i imagine to start to feel slightly comfortable on a 6

[Lowtonejoe]

Originally Posted by rockin982

The first bass I had was a Carlo Robelli (Sam Ash Brand) 5 string, that I sold when I stopped playing bass for about a year. Now I have a Brice Z 6-string bass that I am learning on.

My question is if there is any reason for me to get a 4 string right away? I see alot of guys on here talk about learning on a 4 before one get's a 6, but I started out with a 6, so am I going to end up missing something?

As for the music I play, it's widely varied, but as bass playing goes, I'm most interested in Gospel, Jazz Fusion, Funk, and classical/solo (a la Wooten, Patitucci, Manring, etc.) Right now as it happens, I am working on Bach's Cello Suite #6 and Paganini's 5th Caprice (which is kicking my rear big time, I might add ...)

If you are a traditionalist, you need to dump the 6 and get a 4.

I am a traditionalist and chose to start on a 4. I tried out a 5 but thought that it sucked. However, I am seriously considering getting a 6 (eadgbe) or a 7 (beadgbe). I figure that they are different enough animals that I would like them.

Those modern ERB players no doubt think that starting on a 6 is fine. And honestly...it is.

It truly is personal preference.

Just DO IT!



Joe.

[glivanos]

I believe every serious bassist should have a four string bass in their arsenal.

If you pop and slap alot, a four string is the way to go.

Even 5 or 6 string basses with full 3/4" string spacing are cumbersome to pop and slap on IMO.

[vindy500]

anything with more than 4 strings is evil.

[SteveC]

Play whatever you want. I get so tired of people saying you must play this or that. As with any gear - if it works for you and you like it, that's what you should play. Don't worry about what everybody else plays or thinks.

[Digo]

i would say 5 string is best but a 4 string is most common....not what SHOULD be done, you do what YOU want, if you started learning on a 6 string then stick with that

[lemur821]

I'd recommend a four string (or maybe a five) to anyone looking to buy a bass, since they're simpler and easier to find and a beginner probably doesn't need all that range, but since you've got one already I don't see a problem.

[slackerdefined]

6 string bass lets you hit 8-10 more notes without having to move your hand up or down the neck. 5-string gives half those notes. More strings = more notes close with less movement, and a world of new fingering possibilities. A four string, while standard, is simpler no matter how you look at it, and severely restricts fingering possibilities. I can't really see any logical reason to go with a 4 over a 6 or 5 unless there's a 4 that you really have your eyes on, or if you're physically unable to play it.

[Poop-Loops]

As long as you understand how the strings relate to each other, you should be fine.

I really don't understand the 5/6 string phobia you people have here. It's not a new instrument, it's a string.

You can play 4 stringers for 100 years and you will STILL suck on a 5 string. The only way to get better is to play the bass you want to get better at playing.

[MrSampson]

Originally Posted by rockin982

My question is if there is any reason for me to get a 4 string right away? I see alot of guys on here talk about learning on a 4 before one get's a 6, but I started out with a 6, so am I going to end up missing something?

I can think of two reasons to consider moving from a six to a four. Most people find slapping easier on a four or five compared to a six. For all of those "Funk in E" riffs, the C string can get in the way if you bounce your hand off of the body of bass. The other reason is sound; a six string just sounds different--more wood, more whatever. I think a four has a bit of snappier sound compared to a six. Go to a store that has both four and six versions of the same bass (like the Yamaha TRB series), and listen to the difference.

As far as *what* you play, there's no reason to go from a six to four.

[Groovy Bastard]

Originally Posted by slackerdefined

6 string bass lets you hit 8-10 more notes without having to move your hand up or down the neck. 5-string gives half those notes. More strings = more notes close with less movement, and a world of new fingering possibilities. A four string, while standard, is simpler no matter how you look at it, and severely restricts fingering possibilities. I can't really see any logical reason to go with a 4 over a 6 or 5 unless there's a 4 that you really have your eyes on, or if you're physically unable to play it.

For me, less fingering possibilities = less time puzzling with the fretboard and more time integrating the obvious fingering. Also, resticting myself stimulates being creative.
Lastly it's satisfying for me that I use the complete range of the instrument very often, it's less strings but I know them better.

The one downside is that there are less possibilities for chord voicings.

[spindizzy]

Anyone else find it interesting that you never hear a 5, 6 or more string bassist knocking four stringers but you get an awful lot of four stringers pronouncing that extended range players aren't "real serious bassists" or are just show-offs.

On the subject. There is no reason to eliminate any choice from your menu. I play a seven, started on a four (well before 5, 6 and 7 string basses were available and I keep my four for sentimental reasons but never play it. I am not a monster slap player but can hold my own, mostly because I have chosen to go far down the floating thumb route and use slap primarily as occasional ear candy, but I assure you with practice you not only can slap a seven, six or other multi-string basses but you can find all sorts of benefits in using the technique on all the strings you have. Bill Dickens, who plays a seven with 17mm string spacing, can slap the dickens out of it.

And if you are ending up hitting your B string instead of your E on some open string based groove well you just aren't practicing enough or using good muting technique. My key variety improved in both my writing and playing when I went to the seven because it made me aware that there were other keys to slap in besides just E.

As far as sounding different...I sure haven't noticed. There are differences in the sound of all type of instruments and between various luthiers and manufacturers. Put two different four string basses together and you will likely find a difference. The density of the body wood, composition of the neck, type of pup, type of fretboard, you name it all make every instrument different. I can get my seven to sound just like my Fender with a little work and I can get my Fender four to sound like other types of basses by adjusting eq and pup mix. More neck does not equal sound difference at least not any more than say using a maple neck vs a graphite neck. Yes they sound different but the size has nothing to do with it, except that more mass can sometimes mean more sustain.

The suggestion that you have to start out on less is simply foolish. It is as if you are suggesting to a keyboard player that they should start with a 61 key instrument before they go to a full 88. After playing a seven even a six seems limiting to me now so I would think any time spent with a six, especially if you started out on one, would preclude you from considering a four. When I do pick up a four string the neck seems like a toothpick and I hunger for the broader range of expression I get from my seven.

To our friend rockin982 I say try out various instruments, pick the one that seems to meet you basic needs and go home to practice. It is the later that will define you as an artist and as long as you spend the time to explore, learn and grow on your instrument the number of strings will be less important than the music you create.

[Groovy Bastard]

Originally Posted by spindizzy

The suggestion that you have to start out on less is simply foolish. It is as if you are suggesting to a keyboard player that they should start with a 61 key instrument before they go to a full 88.

Ok, let me first say that anybody should use as much/less strings as they want to, there's no better/worse number of strings.

But that said, there are some piano players who I'd happily force to first learn to play music with only 30 or so keys, especially in a band context.

Limiting yourself doesn't have to be a negative thing if it forces you to broaden other elements of your playing. For me it works this way, for others it can work differently.

[spindizzy]

I don't want to get into a tit for tat because I respect the difference of opinion each TBer has a right to hold.

What I really meant was that it makes no sense to me to figure in the number of strings on an instrument as a hard and fast rule. If you want to limit your instrument as a way of forcing you to work within those limits creatively that's fine and you should do what you need to if that inspires harder work or greater creativity.

To suggest however to someone else that this is the only way is IMHO not correct either. There are more self driven ways to force yourself to work within limitations without necessarily limiting the range of your instrument. It's all psychological not tangible.

For example; I used to force myself to practice right hand plucking using only my middle and ring finger to play normal songs and passages as a way of strengthening my ring finger and learning greater independence while building my use of the three fingers and a thumb technique. I didn't however choose to chop off my index finger in order to limit myself and force greater creativity. I guess I thought that someday I might need to use it again.

I am sorry if my last post seemed too strong or opinionated but I think giving advice and suggestions are fine but absolutes are for folks with much more confidence in their immutable skill than I.

My point in all of this is it is personal choice and long-term practice is the real answer to all problems not the number of strings, type of amp, voodoo ritual, new tee shirt, or accupuncture.

[spudmaster34]

Originally Posted by vindy500

anything with more than 4 strings is evil.

I've read that from you so many times, how about taking a more relaxed attitude. You have made your choice, let others make their own. Just chill out you can keep your opinion but don't force it on others. How would you feel if you were forced to play and 11 string? Well that's how alot of them would feel if they were made to play a 4.

CHILL

[gottawalk]

Sounds like what most of these posters are saying is that different stringed basses make different styles easier to play. (4-string for Funk/Slap and Pull, for example.)

Figure out what you're going to be playing and choose from that direction. Go try out some 4's and see what you think. If you find that it works better for something, and that's what you're playing in some cases, then go ahead and get one, learn that style on it and dedicate it to songs in that style. Never hurts to be a versitile player.

But do what you are most comfortable with. I don't play a 6-string, (yet...), but I moved from 4 to 5 a few years back and have found that it suits me. I haven't found a need for a 4 ever since. I've also gone to a fretless for jazz and that is great, too. But it's also a 5-string. Just enough "extra" notes to make me happy.

That's the key; do what makes you happy!

Good luck!

[Drake Kennedy]

Originally Posted by glivanos

I believe every serious bassist should have a four string bass in their arsenal.

If you pop and slap alot, a four string is the way to go.

Even 5 or 6 string basses with full 3/4" string spacing are cumbersome to pop and slap on IMO.

I disagree, but you're fully entitled to your opinion, and I would never take that away. I find it easier to slap on a 6, the tighter the better. I find it almost impossible to do some of the really intricate slap stuff on a 4, but take Victor, someone with beastly hands, and 4 string spacing would be fine for him. Is fine for him

To each his own.

Peace
Drake

[gottawalk]

Originally Posted by Drake Kennedy

To each his own.

Peace
Drake

+1. and again: whatever makes you happy!

[Andy3825]

Since funk was one of your genres of choice, I'm assuming you slap/pop in songs? If so, and if there are a good number of those, I suggest a 4-string. Not saying that it's impossible on a 5- or 6-string, but it's much easier on a 4-string. Also, higher stringed instruments are usually a little more expensive, so if the extended range isn't exactly necessary at all, then you might wnana stick with a 4-string.

However, the choice is yours. From what you said, you've never owned a 4-string before, so it might be something to try. If you don't care about that though and your 6-string works out fine, then just find a bass, regardless of the number of strings, that you feel comfortable playing. Comfort comes before number of strings IMO.