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4 or 5 string for a beginner?

P

Paul4703

Mar 19, 2007
71
3
#1
Hi,

Been playing the bass now for 6 weeks and comfortable with my progress. I've been advised that it is important to master scales across two octaves and this means a lot of travelling up and down the neck of my 4 string. Would I be better switching to a 5 string where it would be easier to play the notes without moving so much? Or is any gain offset by the 5 string being more difficult to play because of the wider fretboard and narrower string spacing?

Thanks,

Paul.
 
#3
Most people start with a 4 and then step up to a 5 sometime later, but there's nothing wrong with learning on a 5 from the beginning. The 5 isn't really any more difficult to play than the 4 once you get used to the physical differences. In fact, modern rock and metal styles these days use 5's so much that starting with a 5 might be better if you are into those styles.
 
#5
NortyFiner said:
Most people start with a 4 and then step up to a 5 sometime later, but there's nothing wrong with learning on a 5 from the beginning. The 5 isn't really any more difficult to play than the 4 once you get used to the physical differences. In fact, modern rock and metal styles these days use 5's so much that starting with a 5 might be better if you are into those styles.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with this.

As far as 'mastering two octave scales', the point of that (IMHO) is to learn the where the notes are on the neck. The 5-string isn't going to speed up that learning process. There's no substitute for just putting in the time and memorizing it.
 
#6
- - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - - 1 - 3 4 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 O
- - 0 - 0 - 1 2 0 4 - 1 - 3 4 - 0 - 0 - 0 - - O
1 - 3 - 5 - 1 2 0 4 - O - - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - - O
1 - 3 - 5 - 0 - 0 - - O - - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - - O

Try remembering this, and playing over two octaves'll be a breeze.

Should be quite easy to see what frets to play, and what fingers to use (not tabs).
 
#8
Because everyone on here talks about how good and necessary they are when most just use the 5th as a thumb rest. :D

4 all the way. The Low B would be nice in certain situations but those situations get accomplished with a 4.

Yes...learn the scales but also learn the "art" of music. There is def. a technical side but also a side for only you to experience..You'll know what I'm talking about when it happens.
 
#9
Overall..

If I were starting out - I'd be starting 5 or 6.. may go as far as fretless with position markers. I didn't try fretless for 5 years.. it was like learning a new instrument.

If you're getting the hang of it now.. starting kind of at the top of what some folks here would call "complexity" will propell you very fast.

Why? It's pure and simple... If you think you may want to play with great bands.. it's MUCH easier to be comfortable playing a 6 fretless.. then move back to 4 fretted when appropriate.

It's easier to learn the 5 or 6 now than it will be adjusting later.

I've gotten more paid session gigs from pulling out an Ashbory (toy bass) or 6 Fretless than just about any other "gimmick".. they'll say "dang - how many strings does that thing have - and it's fretless" I rarely even play it - but will if necessary... I've left so much competition in the dust even before plucking one note. Gimmick I know - truth for sure.

I have one "gig" where I play one (yes 1) song on a 6 (has 2note chords).. they pay me $100.. I'm in and out in 10 minutes... their primary guy who's a 4 string player can't play the signature part of the song. I've offered to let him use my 6.. he's afraid (like many folks)

The Low B String (now they got it finally figured out) is becoming so much more prevalent... it was just a few years ago you'd never hear a 5 on anything outside of a Jazz or fusion record - Listen to a Sara Evans (country) record.. they're running a Low C all through the recordings.

Now the ironic thing is I'll commonly end up playing or gigging a 4 string bass I bought a garage sale for $60

Many of us do Chruch work.. the 5 and 6 is becoming the nuts and bolts of the genre - Listen to a Crowder, Tomlin, Crowns tune and there it is...

I know you're getting tons of opinions that a 4 is good enough... I can play everything I can on a 6 on a 4.. I can play it faster on a 5.. I'd be qualifying the question with "to those who own 4, 5 and 6 String basses" This forum is notoriously filled with folks who have an opinion on topics they are not qualified to discuss. Harsh - yes I know this - I care more about your success than my reputation of being direct.

It is easier to go from 6/5 to 4 and Fretless to fretted than the other way round.

You can get botique quality 5s and 6s for under $500. I've seen some stage quality 6s recently for 225 - not the stuff folks here droooool over - but nobody on the street really cares

PM Me if I can be of service.

Tim
 
#10
Paul4703 said:
Hi,

Been playing the bass now for 6 weeks and comfortable with my progress. I've been advised that it is important to master scales across two octaves and this means a lot of travelling up and down the neck of my 4 string. Would I be better switching to a 5 string where it would be easier to play the notes without moving so much? Or is any gain offset by the 5 string being more difficult to play because of the wider fretboard and narrower string spacing?

Thanks,

Paul.
Click to expand...

A five is not necessarily more difficult to play than a 4.
It's what you're used to .
Any difficulties as mentioned by you are easy to overcome with a little practise.
I think the positives as mentioned in your post win over the perceived negatives.
 
#11
There's no correct answer. I'd go right to the 5. Yes, positional playing will be easier on the 5. I keep reading (from 4 players) that the B is usually a thumbrest. That's not true. Most 5 players I know live in 5th position beginning on the low E. Fretting a low E on the B string sounds fuller and is more controlled IMO.
 
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#15
It's just a matter if you want that low B or not, alot of tunes don't require the low B as popular as they are becoming now, but it's something you can integrate into your own playing style. If you prefer being a little up the neck then a 5 will be better like lomo said too, also it depends on whether you prefer to go to higher notes across the fretboard or down the neck, I'm not a big fan the sound of the first few frets on the D and G for most situations, so I travel gradually across and down the neck most of the time, although it depends on what notes my playing is based around at the time and how powerful the song is at that point.
 
#16
Some say the 5th string is nothing more than a thumb rest, others say they don't need it in their music, others will swear by them.

I will tell you this though, you can incorporate the B string into every style of music and make it work, if you want added depth you will always have it at your disposal, it also makes playing certain passages a bit easier due to the additional positioning that it provides.
 
#17
naturalkinds said:
Moving up and down the neck ain't so bad. I'd go 4. Everyone needs a 4. Jaco played a 4.
Click to expand...

What can you do on a 4 that you can't do on a 5? Jaco is not some bass god, who has set in stone the best way to play bass.
5 has far more economy of motion, so you have access to more notes in a single position. Having more strings at the start won't make it harder, because you learn from the start how to use 5 strings.
 
#19
The endless discussion... :D

It's simple, it doesn't matter what you learn it on. As long as you do what you like. You can easily learn to play bass on a 5 string. I stepped over from 4 to 5 string in 3 months. My girlfriend didn't even bother to start with a four. You just have more options on a 5 or 6 string. That's the only difference with a 4 string.

Have fun and do what you think/feel is best.
 
#20
I agree. There is no real correct answer. I started on 4 string. Now I play nothing but 5'ers. My choice. I prefer fretting the E in the 5th position on my B string. I also use the low D a bunch.It is just more comfortable for me.
 

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