4, 5 -Or- 6 String?

[AngelCrusher]

But why only a 4 and 5 if you want to play professionally and whatever you want if you play for fun? Can't a pro play a 6? Many do.

I agree that this discussion is kind if pointless, but pros play 6 strings.

You can do whatever you want. In my experience a 4 and 5 string were all I needed for any session or tour. There are pros who play 6ers, but those are more prominent in the jazz world.

I have never once in my life had an audition that required a 6 string. So im just going by my experience. Would i like to have one? sure..it would be fun.

 

[sxaxsx]

I use notes lower than E1 on nearly every song in our setlist, which is mostly classic rock with some modern country. Even if only for an occasional fill or to end a song on a low note, those lower notes add a lot more oomph when you want it. Genre really doesn't matter- it's how you want to play a song. Just listen to Anthony Jackson- he hits notes below E1 on nearly every song he plays on, spanning a wide range of genres.

If i'm not mistaken there are five "new" notes added for every additional string... if you use standard tunning. The low B adds Open B-D#, tunning a 4 string's E down to a D gets you all but B, C, and C#. A sixth string tunned to C on a 24 fret neck would gain G#, A, A#, B, and C.
That is all I was getting at. For me this slight extended range was never worth the, extra weight, thicker neck, narrower string spacing, more expensive strings, more expensive basses, etc. Especially when I can't see me ever going past the 19th fret on a C and very rarely using B, C, or C#.
But whatever you like playing keep doing it!

 

[bassbenj]

Just playing devil's advocate... how often does a bassist with 5 or 6 strings actually use notes outside of the three octaves on a standard 4 string. Other than maybe in metal, I would say for most not very often. Usually the argument I hear for 5 and 6 strings isn't the extra range but the ability to play a broader range in any given position. If that is the case then "need" isn't quite the right word. Kind of like saying a guitarist "needs" a capo to play a song.
But I agree with your last statement, what works for you great, what works for others, also great, just play what you like.

Well, except for tuning I can't remember the last time I played an open Low B! But notes below E1? Starting on piano (Just LOOK at the bass range there) I was ALWAYS miffed that the low end on my Upright was so trimmed. Playing in horn keys always irritated me even more! And obviously even symphony dudes tend to agree with this! (note extenders etc.)

And the kick in the butt is that really you don't need low B but those couple of notes (even a semitone down to Eb) become SO useful! That's why detuners are so popular. So does a 4 string player NEED a detuner? Well they do if they want to play those notes. Do guitarists NEED a capo? You bet. Sometimes a song would be just too difficult to play without moving the fingering to a different key (which is what a capo does) And then that same argument goes for the 5-6 string bass with range played across the neck. Fingering up and down the neck on a 4 string at full velocity might not be possible compared to simple across the neck fingering on the n-string bass.

I'm not saying nobody should play a 4. 4s are traditional. People still play the lute for crying out loud. But when you change things on an instrument (like the number of strings) that change makes some things much easier and other things harder! Which works "best" depends on which ones you are trying to use!

This whole discussion reminds me of the drummer matched grip - trad grip thing. Which is better? People argue half a day over it. No conclusions. Point is some things are easier with one and other things are easier with the other. Pros learn to play BOTH ways. End of story.

 

[LLendrum]

Pros playing on 6s? I've never seen any bass player from any touring band or on any session use a 6. To clarify I'm talking pro hired guns here.

5s with a low B? Plenty, to the point that its almost the new standard...

 

[wednesdayagain]

4. I dont ever need the extra range.

 

[PrietoBass]

Pros playing on 6s? I've never seen any bass player from any touring band or on any session use a 6. To clarify I'm talking pro hired guns here.

Ever heard of Roy Vogt? He may be an amateur... Look him up; I think he's posted on this thread?

Or how about Nathan East? Another amateur...

Andrew Gouche? Anthony Jackson?

They all play outta their garage. Rookies.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Remember folks- bashing of extended range basses or those who play them is NOT permitted here.

 

[SteveC]

Ever heard of Roy Vogt? He may be an amateur... Look him up; I think he's posted on this thread?

Or how about Nathan East? Another amateur...

Andrew Gouche? Anthony Jackson?

They all play outta their garage. Rookies.

What about Jimmy Haslip. Hack. No Talent.

 

[sxaxsx]

Multiple posts that 4 string players are for non-pro, non-men, old, punks, who can't play. And nothing, you can hear crickets chirping.

Someone casually mentions that five string (which is an extended range bass) seems to be the new standard but that they personally haven't seen any 6 string "hired guns." And everyone gets offended and bent out of shape. And thinks the guy is dissing on extended range instruments.

 

[LLendrum]

Ever heard of Roy Vogt? He may be an amateur... Look him up; I think he's posted on this thread?

Or how about Nathan East? Another amateur...

Andrew Gouche? Anthony Jackson?

They all play outta their garage. Rookies.

There's no need for the snarky language.

I've seen Nathan East play twice and he didn't use a 6-string either time.

Anthony Jackson is probably the only exclusive 6-string player I've seen.

My point is that if you go see a touring band full of hired professionals, regardless of genre, the bassist is almost as likely to be playing a 5-string (low B) as a 4-string now... where that didn't used to be the case. It is exceedingly less common to see a 6-string bass.

I was hardly claiming that top-tier musicians who play 6-strings don't exist.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Multiple posts that 4 string players are for non-pro, non-men, old, punks, who can't play. And nothing, you can hear crickets chirping.

Someone casually mentions that five string (which is an extended range bass) seems to be the new standard but that they personally haven't seen any 6 string "hired guns." And everyone gets offended and bent out of shape. And thinks the guy is dissing on extended range instruments.

Yeah, people get sensitive about gear on here..lol.

My experience is simply that no gigs I get hired for have needed a 6er. A lot of the guys cited are bandleaders or fusion guys. Nathan East plays a 5 string on tour most of the time as that is his signature bass.

I like fusion a lot, I am just talking about hired work here.

 

[ChrisCassisi]

6 string FTW!!! LOL


I use both 4 and 6 strings but I like having more strings and not needing them then having less strings and needing more. With a piano/keyboard having that low B and high C comes in real handy too. But funny thing is my main go-to is a fretted 4. I am known around my area as a fretless player 90% of the time. Seem kinda contradictory don't I here lol Sorry I am human

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Multiple posts that 4 string players are for non-pro, non-men, old, punks, who can't play. And nothing, you can hear crickets chirping.

Someone casually mentions that five string (which is an extended range bass) seems to be the new standard but that they personally haven't seen any 6 string "hired guns." And everyone gets offended and bent out of shape. And thinks the guy is dissing on extended range instruments.

The note I placed up was in response to a post that I had to delete, not the other ones. And if you've seen posts in this thread that actually say (without sarcasm) the things you specifically mentioned, send post reports on them.

 

[blue4]

I wouldn't mind getting a 6, if it was a Fender VI or a Schecter Hellcat VI. I could only stand that extra width of a 6 if the scale was 30". I've seen 30" BEADGC basses, but the B is no good that short on anything I'm willing to pay for.

 

[ChrisCassisi]

Why so much hate from 4 string players toward 6ers and vice versa? I play both and love them equally. Both take skill to play well. Stop putting emphasis on how many strings. I know guys that can tear it up harder on 4 strings than most guys with 10s and vice versa.


You know you don't have to play all strings on a 6 string, don't you? Always nice to have them there just in case. I have showed up to gigs with a 6er that only needed a 4 and only used my EADG string because the tone of my 6er was exactly what I needed.


To each their own. At the end of the day we are all bass players and share the same love for the low end. Stop looking for reasons to divide us because there are way more to bring us together

 

[LLendrum]

To each their own. At the end of the day we are all bass players and share the same love for the low end. Stop looking for reasons to divide us because there are way more to bring us together

+1

 

[arock0627]

Man, I know someones said it, but it's all about how you play. Vic Wooten can shred the living hell out of a four stringer.

I'm personally a fiver. I like the extra five notes, especially because I play a LOT of rock and metal and the amount of detuned songs out there to learn is staggering. With my five string I can transpose a large majority of the songs (Except the ones with complicated riffs that depend on an open E string) without messing with the damn tuner.

Like tonight, I worked out 1000 Pictures from Otherwise, which apparently uses a drop C tuning. I just kept my baby in standard tuning.

I feel basses, even moreso than guitars, lose a ton of tone when they're detuned.

 

[ChrisCassisi]

I feel basses, even moreso than guitars, lose a ton of tone when they're detuned.

I agree some what. A bass will have its "natural" tunning and where it wants to be and sounds best. My Roscoe fretless 6 is an amazing instrument but when drop tuned it sounds horrible. And I have had basses that where set up for standard and once I drop tuned them they really came to life. Once you find your basses sweet "natural" tunning dropping it from there will usually cause some serious tone loss. Thats just my opinion.


All in all what the hell do I know? I am just some kid obsessed with the low end

 

[Rev J]

Look I think sxaxsx tried to take what I was trying to say and bend it into an argumentative stance (typical troll behavior). He isn't willing to reply to my retort directly which is also typical.

To me judging what is "Bass" by the number of strings that it has is ignorant. That is like saying that a Bosendorfer isn't really a piano because it has extra low range. How many low strings do guitarists have to add before they "Want to be bassist's" anyway.

I stated my reasons for playing a six and vented a little frustration combined with casual observation about said argument. SOrry to PISS you OFF.

C/S,
Rev J

 

[unclejane]

I've seen Nathan East play twice and he didn't use a 6-string either time.

Anthony Jackson is probably the only exclusive 6-string player I've seen.

Steve Bailey is another 6-string only player and Alain Caron plays a 6 most of the time. There may be others too.

As for the OP, the only reason I've ever not played a 6 string is just ergonomics. My Carvin Bunny 6 would be my only bass if I had to ditch all of them for just 1, since it can do everything I can do on the others plus the extra granted by the 2 extra strings.

In fact, that's actually the eventual goal if I can get the remaining ergonomic issues worked out with the current one. I love my 4 strings, but to be honest once I work out how to play my Bunny 6 on the strap, I'm not going to need them anymore...

LS