5 String in church

Lowner · #1 11-11-2006, 07:22 AM

I am replacing the bass player in my church's contemporary worship band. He played a 5 string and the leader said that its OK if I play a 4 string but it would be much better if I had a 5 string.
The leader is really pushing me to get a 5 string and I have been shopping around for 5 strings but just do not like what I have been trying lately. Nothing feels or sounds good to me. But what difernce does it really make wheter or not I have a 4 or 5 string anyway? I have not really heard too many worship songs that go low enough to even use the B string anyway. So the way I see it I would just end up using 4 strings to play anyways.

But having a 5er is not a qualification to be the bass player its just he keeps telling me it would be much better and then he tells me when i see him in church "So did ya get that 5 string bass yet?"

Suckbird · #2 11-11-2006, 07:41 AM

tell him to get a 7string ?

Setebos · #3 11-11-2006, 08:10 AM

Tell him that tomorrow is your birthday and that he is welcome to buy you one as present.

If you feel comfortable playing a 4 string I dont see why you need to change. Just stick to it.

IanStephenson · #4 11-11-2006, 08:13 AM

There are a stack of other threads round here reading "the guitarist/singer/drummer/manager/teaboy in my band says I should be doing XXX". I think the stock answer applies here:

It's your call how you play the parts! Are there actually parts you can't play? sotherwise he's just throwing his weight around.

If it's a paying gig where you're payed as a bass player (rather than being a band member), then they can order you around, otherwise trust your own judgement.

Next time he asks if you got the new bass tell him you're still waiting for the cheque... the one the church is sending you to pay for it!

Ian

txbasschik · #5 11-11-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

There are a stack of other threads round here reading "the guitarist/singer/drummer/manager/teaboy in my band says I should be doing XXX". I think the stock answer applies here:

It's your call how you play the parts! Are there actually parts you can't play? sotherwise he's just throwing his weight around.

If it's a paying gig where you're payed as a bass player (rather than being a band member), then they can order you around, otherwise trust your own judgement.

Next time he asks if you got the new bass tell him you're still waiting for the cheque... the one the church is sending you to pay for it!

Ian

+1,000!!!

This sounds like the pastor is having a bad case of "We've Always Done It This Way". Nip it. Nip it in the bud.

Cheire

SteveC · #6 11-11-2006, 02:19 PM

I agree.

However, I find that I use my B string quite often in our contemporary worship group.

JansenW · #7 11-11-2006, 06:00 PM

Play with what you are most comfortable with.

1. One advantage I've found with a 5er with contemporary worship music is when changing keys during songs. I use the B string for this (usually above the 5th fret). I rarely play the first few frets of the B string during a worship set (during the endings if at all).

2. In some cases, song keys (like D or Eb) can make use of the 5th string.

K-Frog · #8 11-11-2006, 09:45 PM

While I don't think the worship leader should be pushy about it, as exclusively a church player, I find the 5 string indispensible.
I've been playing 5 string at church for about 17 years.

I hear the lower range of 5 string on almost every gospel recording, whether it traditional, contemporary, urban or whatever.

K

Dave · #9 11-11-2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I agree.

However, I find that I use my B string quite often in our contemporary worship group.

+1 Its not needed, but its nice to have.

tplyons · #10 11-11-2006, 10:08 PM

A lot of church music (not sure what kind of music you'd be doing) is transposed from original organ music, most of which goes down to C. This is a reason behind a lot of five stringers in church bands I believe.

IMO, lower isn't always better. Can you make it work with a four? Then more power to ya.

K-Frog · #11 11-11-2006, 10:56 PM

use the g-string much?

If not, try BEAD.

Matt Call · #12 11-11-2006, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveC

I agree.

However, I find that I use my B string quite often in our contemporary worship group.

+1 more.

Another possible solution would be a good octave pedal. You'd get those low notes, and not have to change basses.

chaosMK · #13 11-12-2006, 12:08 PM

Dont let that fool pressure you.

Go in with your 4 and if, over time, you really feel the extra range of the 5 would better suit the music then you can look into it again.

gsys · #14 11-12-2006, 01:20 PM

You can just draw on an extra string with a magic marker and use undertones. If you've got the right type of sound nobody will no the difference.

**MAJOR METAL** · #15 11-12-2006, 01:39 PM

I have never heard of a band leader so insistant on the range of a bass before , show them your stuff on 4 and see where it goes.

AdlerAugen · #16 11-12-2006, 09:46 PM

droptuning if you really need an extra half-step or two.

scottz0369 · #17 11-12-2006, 10:14 PM

I've been having that same debate in my head for a 5 string. It would be great to play some of the hymns in D or Eb in the lower octave, but I can't justify the cost of buying a new bass.

My solution is to restring my Squire to BEAD (as another poster recommended) and it seems to be the best answer for me. I seldom use the G string, since that tends to get into the piano/guitar space in church, and drop-tuning to D on the E string just confuses me. The only issue to be concerned with is that you may need to widen the slots on your nut to accomodate the larger strings.

Scott

mr sprocket · #18 11-12-2006, 10:21 PM

I will probably get a 5 sting for church just becuase some many new songs would be easier to play with a B string. However we do have more than one bass player at church. Many of the other musicians and members have basically said he plays too many notes because he has a 6 string bass.

It all comes down to playing was is best for the song, 4, 5, or 6 string.

davidk_528 · #19 11-12-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Setebos

Tell him that tomorrow is your birthday and that he is welcome to buy you one as present.

If you feel comfortable playing a 4 string I dont see why you need to change. Just stick to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

There are a stack of other threads round here reading "the guitarist/singer/drummer/manager/teaboy in my band says I should be doing XXX". I think the stock answer applies here:

It's your call how you play the parts! Are there actually parts you can't play? sotherwise he's just throwing his weight around.

If it's a paying gig where you're payed as a bass player (rather than being a band member), then they can order you around, otherwise trust your own judgement.

Next time he asks if you got the new bass tell him you're still waiting for the cheque... the one the church is sending you to pay for it!

Ian

+9.9 x 10^15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have played in contemporary worship bands for over 20 years. I've also been a worship leader for over 10 years. This guy sounds pretty typical to me. You're there, willing and eager to support the ministry with your talent, gear, etc., (almost certainly without being paid) and he is pressuring you to buy an expensive piece of gear.

Bottom line -- if a 5-string was a requirement to play on this team, he should have said so up front. If he bothered me about it again, I'd tell him that I'm saving all the money he's paying me to play, and as soon as I have enough, I'm going to buy that 5-string. BTW, the 5-string I would be saving for would be a Sadowsky (~$3500.00) so he shouldn't expect to see it soon unless he's feeling REAL generous.

AdlerAugen · #20 11-13-2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidk_528

+9.9 x 10^15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have played in contemporary worship bands for over 20 years. I've also been a worship leader for over 10 years. This guy sounds pretty typical to me. You're there, willing and eager to support the ministry with your talent, gear, etc., (almost certainly without being paid) and he is pressuring you to buy an expensive piece of gear.

Bottom line -- if a 5-string was a requirement to play on this team, he should have said so up front. If he bothered me about it again, I'd tell him that I'm saving all the money he's paying me to play, and as soon as I have enough, I'm going to buy that 5-string. BTW, the 5-string I would be saving for would be a Sadowsky (~$3500.00) so he shouldn't expect to see it soon unless he's feeling REAL generous.

+∞