Tough weekend.....first gigs on the five-string!

mrjer · #1 12-05-2010, 09:40 PM

First of all, I am new to TB......love it. I am a converted saxophone player and guitarist and bass has become an obsession. I just can't wait go practice and I find myself thinking about playing all day at work. Anyway.....I've been in bands my whole life. Now that I have a family, I am in a gigging cover band....my first cover gig... I've been in this band for almost two years. We play heavy tunes and I just made the jump to five-string because I was changing basses constantly to keep up with different tunings (standard, half step and whole step down, drop d, drop c#, drop c). I am LOVING my Ibanez TR 505. It's a big change from my Fender Jazz and P basses. Well....I've been working on the change for three weeks while we had some time off. Our schedule is busy for the next several months so I decided to bust out the five string and just go for it.

The results were mixed. It was quite uncomfortable and I felt a bit lost. I felt like I was ignoring the crowd because I was concentrating on my playing. At the second gig, I made several flubs. I guess I am just feeling a bit down and frustrated.....just looking for some encouragement or stories from other players who have been through a similar experience.

Well.....there's always next weekend to look forward to!
Thanks for any feedback or advice!!
Jer

Coreythebassman · #2 12-05-2010, 09:44 PM

It's just practice man. my switch to a 6 string was the same way, but after about a month and no sleep, my chops were expanding exponentially because of new string possibilities. Just stick with it

**Staccato** · #3 12-05-2010, 09:48 PM

Growth through adversity, yeah! I'm a sax convert & really enjoy playing electric guitar, too...

mrjer · #4 12-05-2010, 09:53 PM

I know. It just sucks to look back at a gig and think about the sloppy play. I guess the real downer is that inwas feeling really good about the switch going into the weekend. As players, I'm sure we are our own worst critics anyway. It's just that I had all these tunes DOWN.

On the plus side, all of the extra practice has helped me improve my technique greatly.
Thanks for the feedback!

mrjer · #5 12-05-2010, 09:56 PM

Playing sax is how I learned theory. I was a band kid who got bitten by the rock bug! I have Bern thinking about picking up a tenor sax but I am on a mission to become a solid bassist......I really have become obsessed with all things bass guitar!

faulknersj · #6 12-05-2010, 10:14 PM

Trial by fire my friend! Just stick with it...you have to develop new muscle memory and learn how to play the lines with the new options available to you on a 5er. It just takes time to adjust so realize that no matter when you start, you will have to go thru this adjustment period. Best wishes!

cableguy · #7 12-05-2010, 10:24 PM

When I first made the switch it could be tough. Sometimes I would just use the B string as a thumb rest if I was having a rough spot in the song. For most songs you don't need that string much (depending on style of music) so work it in when you feel like it. I also had a tendency to overuse some of the lower notes when I first got the 5ver just cause I could. Try and be tasteful in application.

SeaBassSteve · #8 12-06-2010, 02:54 AM

Yeah, as everyone else has said, just have to stick with it, practise a load of licks and you'll get there in the end!

mrjer · #9 12-06-2010, 03:48 AM

Thanks everyone! I've got four days to practice before the next gig! I do love the 5 string!

Beginner Bass · #10 12-06-2010, 03:20 PM

I worked on my 5-string by taking 4-string charts and playing them on the 5. Other than that though, it just takes practice.

Makatak · #11 12-06-2010, 03:28 PM

Yeah , I cant relax on a 5er , after playing 4 for 25 years almost subconciously now , having that B string is like a spanner in the works ....im opting for a hipshot D-Tuner for the songs that require it , plus the fact that I cant stand wide necks from playing J Basses and Soundgears , even a P neck feels too wide for me .

Stick at it tho , TRB`s are nice basses .

elgecko · #12 12-06-2010, 03:41 PM

Full immersion...put the 4s away until you're comfortable on the 5.

mrjer · #13 12-06-2010, 07:56 PM

Yeah.....no fours for me! I'm going to get the hipshot as well....I've been playing D on the B string, but some metal songs riff better with an open D.

The wide neck is MUCH different than my Jazz necks, but I like how the strings are close....nice fast playing! I also love moving up the neck and having the extra string. I've actually used the B string quite a bit. The muscle memory is just not there, though. It will be worth it in the end. Now that I am a cover player, the versatility will come in handy......there are lots of country gigs popping up!

Thanks for the feedback!
Jer

plankspanker13 · #14 12-06-2010, 11:10 PM

There is no right or wrong here; only what works for you. Immersion is certainly a form of baptism by fire. Yes, there are many more options. I've had 5ers, and appreciated those options, but always had a 4-banger around for the inevitable slap tune(s). There has only been one 5er that I felt that I could slap on, and it was as ugly as sin, and smelled funny (Ibby Ergodyne 905 a decade ago). It felt, played and sounded great. I liked how a 2008 Fender AmStd P5 felt in my hands when I tried it too, but it seems to me that there would need to be some additional outboard tone-shaping options involved.

So, I stubbornly stick to playing 4s with Hipshots and octaver pedals, and it gets me through, 99% of the time.

Wyatt · #15 12-07-2010, 12:08 AM

I switched to my 5er as my main bass when I joined my current band earlier this year. We play country and southern rock and the 5 made things alot easier for me on certain songs. I wasn't completely happy with the tone I was getting, But was willing to try it since the other band members wanted me play the 5er.

I have now switched back to my 4. I found myself fretting one string and plucking another more times than I cared for on the 5er. That and a few other reasons led me to switch back to what I learned on and feel most comfortable playing.

I may not have put enough time into the 5er, but decided it is not for me. Hope it works out for ya.

plankspanker13 · #16 12-07-2010, 07:27 AM

It really does depend on your gig. If you don't have to worry about funk, and play mostly country or newer rock, then a 5er is probably for you. If you cover a lot more diverse territory, then you may be one of those multi-bass guys with both 5's and 4's. Until my playing has to narrow down considerably, a 4 is simply the more versatile, playable choice for me. YMMV, etc.

dieselbass · #17 12-09-2010, 04:58 PM

I love the 5 for those Eb notes. also adds a lot of depth at certain times. Took me a little while to adapt as well. I enjoy the heck out of mine.

puddin tame · #18 12-09-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

It really does depend on your gig. If you don't have to worry about funk, and play mostly country or newer rock, then a 5er is probably for you. If you cover a lot more diverse territory, then you may be one of those multi-bass guys with both 5's and 4's. Until my playing has to narrow down considerably, a 4 is simply the more versatile, playable choice for me. YMMV, etc.

huh??

what does genre have to do with anything? you can't funk on a 5?

you know the 5 string contains the other 4 strings yes?

SelenaBassGirl · #19 12-11-2010, 08:01 PM

first of all wecome to TB! I want to learn to play a five string too. A friend of mine has a fiver and I sometimes get to jam on it at his house. Once I get used to that extra string, I can play it some. My bf,who is also a bassist,told me to use the B string as a thumbrest until I get used to it.

billhilly66 · #20 12-12-2010, 02:44 AM

Just use the B as a thumb rest till ya need it.