advice from five string players

[mcfrankson]

Hey, so I've been playing a five string for a while but have never used a low B. I've always had my bass strung EADGC. I've made the switch to the low B because I have to for a few gigs. Also, people seem to like it more, from what I've gathered. Do any low B users have advice on how to approach the low B string? For example, I was told to not use the high C frequently for bass lines and to apply it more for solos and chords and things like that. Any advice like this for the low B? It's a whole new thing for me, so any advice would be appreciated. Thank you

[Billnc]

I treat it like any other string! But I'm careful about going below D in some blues stuff. One finger per fret in the key of E at the fifth position is reason enough for a 5.

[BigOldHarry]

dont' go crazy with those "below E" notes -- the best thing about a 5 string bass is the ability to play in different hand positions, not those low notes. eg: You can start a phrase / figure on the low G starting on the 8th fret (rather than the 3rd fret of a 4 string) - this gives you much more mobility to higher registers without a hand-shift.

[73jbass]

If the tune requires it,use it. If not,don't use it. It's ok,however, to use it to add a little emphasis at the end of a phrase,or to end a song,just don't over do it.

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

dont' go crazy with those "below E" notes -- the best thing about a 5 string bass is the ability to play in different hand positions, not those low notes. eg: You can start a phrase / figure on the low G starting on the 8th fret (rather than the 3rd fret of a 4 string) - this gives you much more mobility to higher registers without a hand-shift.

Do this.

I don't really play many notes below Eb or occasionally D but I like the consistent sound of stopping all of the notes vs. open strings.

[JTE]

Depends on the music you're playing to an extent. But here's something that might help you get some perspective. Listen to what Nathan East does with Eric Clapton on the live versions of the classics they play. Compare what Nate does using his 5 (and 6 string more recently) on songs like "Badge", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Layla", "Bell Bottom Blues", etc. to what Jack Bruce and Carl Radle did with those songs using 4-string basses.

John

[J-B'ass]

For me the biggest benefit of having a low B was being able to play all the notes I could already play, but in a higher position, which allowed me have a much larger range under the hand. Of course this is true in any position with a low B, but I never tended to use the notes below D too much.

I swapped my low B for a high C and I've never looked back. I prefer the higher range for soloing and chords. Although they're both good, and that's why my next bass will be a 6-string