5 String bass songs

Joe Milo · #1 07-07-2011, 02:09 PM

Fellas,
I just got a 5 string bass for free from a friend of mine. I let him and his girlfriend borrow my truck for a month because they were short a vehicle. He felt that he needed to repay me which of course he didn't but he did anyways! He knew I was looking for a 5 string to learn on so he found a Hamer Slammer series for a good price.

Anyways, Could any of you fellas please type out a few rock songs that are kinda easy to play? I would like to start out slow and get used to the bass and the extra string so easier songs would be nice!

I know tablature isn't the best way to learn but I do subscribe to songsterr.com so I could look for the tab of any songs you guys may type out for me. I really appreciate it.

Mods if this is the wrong sub forum I apologize in advance. I really couldn't figure which was the best forum to post this thread under.

funkybass · #2 07-07-2011, 03:55 PM

Just transpose songs you already play to 5 string.

Warfender · #3 07-07-2011, 03:58 PM

Godsmack stuff.

**lowendfriend** · #4 07-07-2011, 08:40 PM

Learn scales on studybass.com and play them around circles of fourths and fifths all over the keyboard, incorporating the notes available all up and down the low B string.

I actually tend not to use my B-string much below the D...

Occasionally a dumb song like Black Horse and a Cherry Tree will make me use the whole string.

Depth_Charge · #5 07-07-2011, 10:24 PM

I use Ultimate Guitar for most tabs I need.

Rage Against The Machine do a lot in Drop D. You can play those on a low B without drop tuning. System of a Down, Mudvayne etc like drop tuning as well.

12-bar blues will give that string a good work out as well.

As someone else said, transposing 4-string songs to your 5 is good practice too since you'll be doing it a lot now you own one.

Journey55 · #6 07-07-2011, 10:28 PM

Breaking Benjamin uses a five string on some of their songs (I will not bow, and so cold come to mind) and Trivium for more advanced stuff

onlyclave · #7 07-07-2011, 11:34 PM

Any song I can play on a 4-string I can play on my 5- and 6-string basses.

Just something to think about.

Is that a heavy metal bass you have there? Maybe play some metal tunes...

Joe Milo · #8 07-08-2011, 03:13 AM

Thanks for the tips fellas!

Heavy metal bass? I guess any bass can be used for any genre of music.

Thanks again!

kuuri · #9 07-10-2011, 11:25 PM

Cannibal corpse >:3! they are fast but good. Alex webster is like my hero xD

oniman7 · #10 07-10-2011, 11:55 PM

Slipknot - may have to tune up to B F# B E A (EDIT: Or just rework some fingerings - that's what I do)

Dream theater - few songs here and there (As I Am comes to mind)

Nickelback (don't hate me) - Never Again

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall, Comfortably Numb

Dethklok - may need to change fingerings

Three Days Grace - Animal I have become

Flyleaf - I'm so Sick

Try moving some stuff around from the low E (or Dropped D) string to the B. For example, Animal I have Become is in Drop C, but can easily be moved to a five string. You can find the tab or do it yourself. Same for things like Flyleaf (Drop D) and Dethklok (C Standard). But I move a lot of these to the B string if it doesn't require a lot of D pedal notes (and even then if I can reach the notes around it)