5 string, beginner, using EADG versus BEADG

[TerryMc]

I am a beginner with a 5 string bass. Should I concentrate on learning EADG (and use the B later once I gain experience) or should I immediately use the B as the basis for my scales etc?

Thank you.

[Saetia]

Well since you play a 5 string, might as well get all the use out of it as you can.

You also have the option of tuning EADGC (a high C string instead of a low B string).



Peace

-Benny

[WJGreer]

Originally Posted by TerryMc

I am a beginner with a 5 string bass. Should I concentrate on learning EADG (and use the B later once I gain experience) or should I immediately use the B as the basis for my scales etc?

Thank you.

My sense is that trying to ignore the B-string would cause you more trouble than including it in your studies would.

Good luck.

[mutedeity]

You might as well learn to use all 5 strings from the outset.

[ras1983]

Seriously,if you treat your bass like a 4 string with an extra string, you'll be missing the point of owning a 5 string completely; and I say this from personal experience.

For the longest time I payed it just like my 4, and I only used the B string for the notes that were lower than the low E.

But then I realised that I could use the B string much more often and stay above the 5th fret. So I started to utilise the E - A notes on the B string more often when playing. This suddenly made the upper register of the neck easier to access because I was already there.

You'd be much better off by learning to utilise all 5 strings from the beginning; trust me

[theunknowndude]

Originally Posted by ras1983

Seriously,if you treat your bass like a 4 string with an extra string, you'll be missing the point of owning a 5 string completely; and I say this from personal experience.

For the longest time I payed it just like my 4, and I only used the B string for the notes that were lower than the low E.

But then I realised that I could use the B string much more often and stay above the 5th fret. So I started to utilise the E - A notes on the B string more often when playing. This suddenly made the upper register of the neck easier to access because I was already there.

You'd be much better off by learning to utilise all 5 strings from the beginning; trust me

im very much in agreement, I used all 5 strings from the start and it actually made things alot easier,... also easy to work out the first 5 frets too and jump down to them when needed,... only annoying thing about a 5 string is when a band tunes to something like drop D down half a step on a 4 string or something,... makes it hard to play riffs that are made in that tuning,... but for most purposes I love it and would never change!

[TerryMc]

Thanks to each of you for sharing your experience. I sincerely appreciate it.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by TerryMc

I am a beginner with a 5 string bass. Should I concentrate on learning EADG (and use the B later once I gain experience) or should I immediately use the B as the basis for my scales etc?

Thank you.

Learn your scales and grooves using the B-string up the neck, everything gets lots easier and you dont need to "move" a lot to play nice and colorful.

I started on 5-string as well (only been playing bass about 3 months now), and I use the B a lot thanks to the ease it gives me moving the low E to the 5th fret.



D.Don

[mothmonsterman]

you have a whole bass, you should learn the whole bass.
It's just another string it's not going to bite, just roll it into your normal practice.
So many people out there have 5ers and rarely use the B, i don't get it.

[Jeb]

Yeah, use it right away. You have more notes within' reach of a single position. Easier to keep your eyes locked on a score without having to peek at hand position. ESPECIALLY in flat keys (F, Bb, Eb, etc...).

[ysand]

As pretty much everyone said, start learning scales starting from the B string.

[TerryMc]

I appreciate each comment. My wife plays the piano and I am using some of my practice time to hear the full song on the piano and playing the I, IV, V along with her.