4 string bass players

[mcm]

I love 4's and will probably never play a 5

 

[Mike M.]

I started playing bass in 1970 and never gave any thought to owning a 5 string bass until I joined my churches music team in September of 2009. No one asked me to buy one at all, but upon realizing how many worship songs did use a 5 string bass.....I felt like I was missing out on something. So I got one in December of 2009 and I love it. There's something about hitting those low notes at the right time, especially if a song ends on a low D, C or B. So I use my 5 string when I play at church.

But I still love my 4 string basses as well. Always will.

 

[John Wentzien]

The "worship" genre has really embraced the 5 in its music...Almost "required" gear!

 

[spade2you]

That's great! Only do what feels right to you. I"ve played $5000 instruments that people rave over and to me, didn't feel as good in my hands as my $200 used Cort I bought when I was 13. And since you mentioned it, look at Jaco. He risked completely destroying his first bass by ripping out the frets to make it express his ideas more clearly. That crappy fender was his main axe throughout his career and opened up a whole new world for us. Said crappy Fender has a replica that sells for a pretty penny.

He had to defret it because fretless basses weren't readily available at the time.

 

[*insertcoolname]

A lot of guys can make a five string sound good, even great. I am not one of those people.

Must be a combination of my (poor) technique and lack of need for the fifth string.

 

[kuys]

Five string?!? Four string?!? You are all chumps.

I only need one string.

 

[John Wentzien]

Five string?!? Four string?!? You are all chumps.

I only need one string.

 

[brndn123]

He had to defret it because fretless basses weren't readily available at the time.

You're right, THAT must have been his motivation :scowl:

 

[JimiLL]

ok but if i can do everything on my 4 that you can do on your 5 does it really make it cooler?

not possible... sorry

 

[spade2you]

You're right, THAT must have been his motivation :scowl:

That or drugs. That being said, it just wasn't an option back then.

 

[JimiLL]

2 things are essential for enjoying a 5 string:

1. An actual use for the lowest string

2. Proper technique in using the Lowest string

 

[lyes4string]

not possible... sorry

So what can I not do on a 4 that you can on a 5?

 

[spade2you]

2 things are essential for enjoying a 5 string:

1. An actual use for the lowest string

2. Proper technique in using the Lowest string

...or understanding position playing in the sense that the low B string just isn't a couple lower notes. Most don't comprehend that.

 

[John Wentzien]

2 things are essential for enjoying a 5 string:

1. An actual use for the lowest string

2. Proper technique in using the Lowest string

I'll buy that...bravo

 

[brndn123]

That or drugs.

bingo

 

[polyrhythmia]

I dunno. I just bought a five-stringer this year and am really enjoying having that B-string. With just one hand position, I can play over almost two octaves. Having that fifth string makes for much easier fingerings and enables me to avoid having to use open strings. I just love the rumble of an open B string. So now I have an Ibanez GSR200 anxiously waiting to be defretted.

 

[DeanT]

I've never owned a 5-string. I've never even played a 5-string. Never had a need to. For me, I can do whatever I need to with four strings. Besides, I don't have a fear of open strings.

This is not a knock against 5-stringers. Whatever works for you.

 

[brndn123]

So what can I not do on a 4 that you can on a 5?

Technically, you can't hit the lower register in standard tuning (the low B, C, C#, D, D#). Not that you NEED to, but its not possible on a four stringer in standard. Also, If you're into fills and junk, the low B opens more chordal and scale configuraitons.

Again...technically speaking

 

[lyes4string]

I dunno. I just bought a five-stringer this year and am really enjoying having that B-string. With just one hand position, I can play over almost two octaves. Having that fifth string makes for much easier fingerings and enables me to avoid having to use open strings. I just love the rumble of an open B string. So now I have an Ibanez GSR200 anxiously waiting to be defretted.

I actually just did that to an old ibanez I have yet to put the neck back on the bass still need to put pup in too

 

[lyes4string]

Technically, you can't hit the lower register in standard tuning (the low B, C, C#, D, D#). Not that you NEED to, but its not possible on a four stringer in standard. Also, If you're into fills and junk, the low B opens more chordal and scale configuraitons.

Again...technically speaking

Like I stated I play in drop B so the extra string doesn't appeal to me