going on a six

[cocas]

hey, I was planning on moving from a four to a six string, do u have any exercices or something to adapt to the six string, or is it just so f***in easy?

[richardjones89]

when you play i assume you would be able to feel the difference. if you play what you normally play on a 4 or 5 string bass on it youll be able to tell the difference too. just playing it this way will help you adapt to the spacing of the strings and frets etc

[cocas]

Originally Posted by richardjones89

when you play i assume you would be able to feel the difference. if you play what you normally play on a 4 or 5 string bass on it youll be able to tell the difference too. just playing it this way will help you adapt to the spacing of the strings and frets etc

yeah, but how to play the songs I learned in the 4 in the 6? like I don't have the other two strings or adapt the song so I wouldn't move as much? since there's waaay more material for 4's than 6's, one of the main reason that I want a sixer (besides the wider range of tones) is for improvise, soloing...

[Mixmasta J]

Well you should not really having a problem assuming that your 6 is tuned B E A D G C.

The middle four strings are tuned the same a standard four string, and you can play everything the same as you would a four. The only issue you will have is adjusting to having a six string feel and weight, and deciding whether you want to stay up in 5th position to play notes you would normally have to shift down for. (ie: rather than shifting to first for a low F, play it on the 6th of the B string)

Other than that, you should have little difficulty playing four string material on the six.

[fettbass]

If you play fingerstyle, I would strongly recommend adopting a "floating thumb" or "moveable anchor technique" which are both detailed in other threads. One of the main problems you'll encounter on 5 and 6 stringers (mainly when amplified), is muting the extra strings, and those techniques solve those problems

[DocBop]

I started playing mainly 6-string a few months ago. The two things for me was first the extra width and using my finger more straighten out. Actully went through a week of sore fingers from having to change my left hand. Then as mentioned by fettbass moving to seriously using floating thumb technique on my right hand. You will find out real fast the sympathic string vibrations muddy the tone. So plan on getting floating thumb together.

Check out Todd Johnson's area here on TB and on YouTube he has some technique exercises that help with getting your left hand together.

I don't know how much you sightread, but moving to 6-string threw me. I kept going to my C-string thinking it was my G-string for awhile.