5-string bass going from 4-string: Does it get better?

[toughluck]

Okay, so for a bit of background: I own and play 4-string basses only. One is a PJ-bass with 38 mm nut width, the other is a modern 2H bass with 40 mm nut width. I also play the guitar, and own two Ovations. One is a 6-string acoustic (43 mm nut width), the other is a 6-string classic (48 mm nut width). I find all of these very comfortable to play.
There is a reason why I'm mentioning nut widths, bear with me.

I usually play bass with a different group, but a friend is organizing a group for an upcoming event and I will be doing PA and vocals, while his friend is playing bass on this one.
He brought a Markbass J-type 5-string and I asked to try it yesterday. I played it for a moment, or rather tried to play it for a moment, and it was an extremely strange experience.

The neck felt so wide and so thick that I had to do a double take. Nope, the specs say it's 45 mm nut width. But it feels both thicker and wider than the 46 mm nut Ovation, even though specs say it's not.
When I compared the guitars to the basses, I thought that it makes a lot of sense since the bass necks don't feel any thinner than the guitar necks, so I was probably expecting too much from the 45 mm 5-string neck if I thought it would feel right.

Everything about a 5-string made me think it's a perfect fit and that I'd love it, but I realized it would be a very toxic kind of love where she would constantly berate me for the small… hands and their lack of girth, and I'd tell her I'm sorry, I'll improve, I'll get better, I'll grow… as a musician.
But I'm not sure.

So the questions are: Is my experience common? Did any of you have the same feeling when you tried a 5-string? Does it get better, did you give up on it or do you soldier on?

 

[HardNHeavy]

got my first for xmas, a harley benton JB5...very nice for a budget bass, very thin neck, no wider than a standard 4 string jazz bass imo..but quite honestly haven't needed it yet in a working situation yet. The low B is a thumbrest so far and slowly getting into using it. I practice to music that uses that tuning, mostly metal, but love that super deep low B. I could always tune my 4string down, but wanted to try a 5 and If you like 5s, find one with a neck thats comfortable.

 

[nickpc]

I went through a few 5-ers before I found a neck I bonded with. It took a few, and I even gave up on a bass that I loved EVERYTHING about except the neck (I'm looking at you, Ibby BTB405QM...). My playing improved the moment I had the right bass in my hands - the mental side was there so once the physical side got comfortable it was a quick jump.

One alternate solution is to string a 4 as BEAD. It works well, and we even have a club here for all the info you'd ever want to know about doing it.

 

[Dasgre0g]

Honestly I think it's very similar between switching four string bass guitars. There are certainly some necks that are more comfortable than others for each player regardless of how many strings. If you really want to stick with the five string, you'll just find a neck that eventually meets your comfort level. I'm sure there's one out there.

 

[toughluck]

BEAD is something I'm planning to try with the PJ bass because I still have the original nut for it in case I need to file it to fit the thicker strings.

But I'm going through a bit of detox when it comes to a 5-string, or perhaps I'm trying to rationalize it. Namely, I realized that even though the super deep tones are nice, they're hardly ever needed, since even in the worst case, a bass can play the root note at least a third lower from the lowest a guitar can play (C major in 2nd inversion).
As I said, it's probably just me rationalizing it.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I switch between a standard 34" 4-string and a 30" 5-string tuned EADGC. With enough hours you can build muscle memory on anything. The string spacing is a bit tighter on the 5-string and I find intricate thumb techniques much cleaner to articulate on the 4, but otherwise both are comfortable to play and have their own vibe.

If you find a bass you like and commit to putting in the hours it will become comfortable no matter how many strings it has.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Well you didn’t play it for that long so I wouldn’t put too much stock in that initial experience. That kinda thing takes some time and getting used to for sure.

As well, depending on your hand size and playing preferences basses with other specs may feel more natural.

I would suggest you head to a store that has a wide 5 string inventory (any GC should do) and really spend some time trying them and comparing them.

A long time ago I went from 4 string to 6 string and it was an adjustment but concentration and play time got me comfortably over the hump.

You’ve got this.

 

[Dlew919]

The main thing with a 5 is the geography. That extra string throws you out. I get used to it by playing off the 5th fret, which of course the low E on a 4. This then gives you extra notes up top as it were. When you’re used to it you can then move down.

It takes a while but they are great once you’re used to them.

 

[rogerbmiller]

The main thing with a 5 is the geography. That extra string throws you out. I get used to it by playing off the 5th fret, which of course the low E on a 4. This then gives you extra notes up top as it were. When you’re used to it you can then move down.

It takes a while but they are great once you’re used to them.

to get used to the extra string, some folks will string EADG with a regular 4 string set and put a Black Beauty (or similar) low B on to kinda make it disappear (or stand out). Kinda like a visual training wheel.

 

[ardgedee]

So the questions are: Is my experience common? Did any of you have the same feeling when you tried a 5-string? Does it get better, did you give up on it or do you soldier on?

My intuition: It's the width and depth of the neck in combination with the reach and the larger strings that makes a fat-necked 5-string uncomfortable to play even if a guitar neck with the same cross-section feels fine.

Bass strings are higher tension than guitar strings so they need more muscle to fret, there's more space between the frets, and a chonky neck makes it feel like too much.

I could never get comfortable with 5-strings until I tried a Soundgear. The string spacing is really tight (and for a lot of people it's too tight) but if you don't mind that they're a terrific option.

 

[Wasnex]

It takes time to adjust. If you have have a good reason and want to play 5-string, I suggest playing it exclusively for an extended time. If you don't have a good reason, then stick with 4 and avoid the cost, frustration, and hassle.

I have gone through this transition twice. I started on 4-string and played it exclusively for over a decade. After turning pro I thought it would be beneficial to play a 5-string. I initially found it fairly confusing. I would say it took a couple of weeks before I was comfortable enough to play the 5. At first I pretty much ignored the low B. But over time I slowly learned to use it. I would say it a few months to really develop any confidence and couple of years before I felt like I had progressed back to the skill level I was at before starting the transition.


A 5 was my #1 for about three years, when I had the opportunity to play a 6. My job entailed playing jazz standards and I was expected to solo frequently. I figure the high C would be useful, and I was right. The transition was about the same. Initial confusing, a few weeks to start getting comfortable, and a few years to fully recover.

Additionally, I would say it took about a decade before I really felt like a naturalized 6-string bassist. Before that, I approached is sort of like a 4-string with few extra strings. The difference relates to fretboard logic. When you only have 4 strings, you have to shift up and down the neck more. With a 6-string, you tend to play across the neck more and shift less.

At this point I am most comfortable on the 6 and I prefer to play it regardless of whether I need the extra strings or not. I can pick up a 4 and 5 and fumble through, but if the music is technically challenging then I have to stop more to figure out which fingering to use. Basically, I am more fluent and automatic on the 6.

Could I switch if there was a good reason. Absolutely. My point is not that it can't be done, only that there is some degree of a price to pay. In general I prefer to be as proficient as possible on my 6, so I don't like playing a 4 or 5 for any significant amount of time. Even an hour spent on a 4 or 5 will start to decrease my fluency on the 6.

Possible Caveat:
My observation is that switching the number of strings tends to be less problematic when I am playing by ear and thinking in terms of intervals and finger patterns. Switching is more difficult for me when I am drawing on music theory and reading notes and chords...thinking in terms of note names.

 

[chris_b]

I made all the usual mistakes when I switched to 5 string basses, but on day one I knew for certain a 5 was the future for me, so all issues were resolved, fixed, overcome. Nothing got in the way of me becoming fluent on a 5.

The main problem is that many players buy a 5 without any plan of how to make it work. They seem surprised and reluctant that they have to adjust their techniques for the extra string. They think negatively, Jaco only needed 4, all the music I play was recorded on a 4, and all that nonsense, and they give up!

My advice is find a bass that feels good, sounds right and then do what needs to be done to make it work.

 

[Jogobass]

you'll get used to it. I play primarily 5 string now and a 4 just feels too small now. in the past, i played 4 and 5 alternating for a while. the 4 was used for coverbands that didn't need the extra low notes. The switch was effortlessly. But I did play them both regularly

 

[PrestoZoom]

I played 4 strings for 30 years. Then I bought a 5 string and had to learn how to play it. It took about a month for me to feel the same level of competence. A few years on, I realize that I wasn't that good until about 6 months into playing 5 strings exclusively. However, I knew from day 2 or 3 that I was going to stick with it because it offered many advantages for me.

I own all 5 string basses now (too many TBH) and they all have different spacing, nut width, and neck radius. I can switch between them easily. But now, when I play a 4 string bass, it all feels wrong.

 

[Lo-E]

I think you might be overthinking this; you only spent a few minutes playing someone else’s bass and it might have just been a neck shape you didn’t care for.

I was able to adjust to a 5-er fairly quickly - and I currently switch back and forth between 5 and 4 without issues but…

I went through a few 5-ers before I found a neck I bonded with.

…like nickpc, I definitely had to play a few before I found necks that I liked. I’m reasonably tolerant of neck shapes that aren’t my ideal when I play 4-strings but I’m fussier when it comes to 5-ers. I’ve sold several excellent 5-string basses because the necks just didn’t do it for me.

Shop around a little. When you find the neck you like you’ll know it instantly and you’ll find that five strings are no longer a problem.

 

[micguy]

I played 4's for 40 plus years, then made a 5, and shortly thereafter switched to all 5's. Part of that is just staying on one physical platform - all my basses have the same neck, scale length, neck profile, all but one have the same body shape - the consistency makes it much easier to ploy without having to constantly look at my hands. All my basses have 48 mm wide necks (1 7/8") - nice and big. Honestly, they fit my hands better than any 4 string neck ever did - I never used J width necks, always P width (43 mm) on 4's, and now even those feel like toothpicks.

You can get used to a lot of things, but in my case, my hand size means I play much faster on wider, thicker necks - a skinny neck is a slow neck for me - it crams my fingers together, which makes playing more difficult and slower.

Play what fits you. For me, that's big necks. I don't think I'll ever go to a 6, though - having strings closer together than they are on my 5's would be a big disadvantage.

 

[pbass2]

It takes time to adjust. If you have have a good reason and want to play 5-string, I suggest playing it exclusively for an extended time.

This is the way. I've had fivers on and off since the late 80's and only kept them around "in case I needed one". For the last 6 months I have only played my current fivers live with the exception of one artist I work for who's a fiver string hater (studio I use lots of different basses).
I am now as comfortable on the five as on a four pretty much, to the extent that when I play a four now, something's.....missing. YMMV of course. But you kinda need to go whole hog.

 

[WayneP]

I bought my first 5-string simply determined to conquer it. It didn’t take more than a few weeks to get comfortable with it.

What I did initially was focus on the E string and played it like a 4-string, and then it wasn’t hard to drop down when playing in C or D. And then utilizing the low D note when playing in G. I always hated playing in the key of E on a 4-string.

Still, I wasn’t entirely happy with my first one – felt the strings were too close together. Like @Lo-E I tried 5-strings in the shops for years before I found a neck I gelled with.

However, if you have small hands it might be a challenge for you. I’d suggest trying out as many as you can to find one with a neck you’re comfortable with. Then, maybe try to pick up that model used. That way if you “crash and burn” you can sell it for about what you paid for it.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

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[ctmullins]

Like everything, it gets better with practice.

Also, five-strings come in a huge variety of neck widths and string spacings.

Also, nut width is not the same as string spacing at the nut.

 

[brianrost]

So the questions are: Is my experience common? Did any of you have the same feeling when you tried a 5-string? Does it get better, did you give up on it or do you soldier on?

Yes, the necks are wider. There were some early 5s that had the same nut width as 4s from the maker, but the string spacing was much tighter. To get the string spacing the same as a 4, the neck of a 5 must be wider.

Yes, I had the same feeling when I got my first 5. I actually went through six of them over the years before I committed myself to getting comfortable with it.

Yes, it gets better if you stick with it.

What made me finally commit to the 5 was a left hand injury that made fretting near the nut more difficult. I could no longer make the four fret stretch with one finger per fret below the 5th fret. With the 5 I can play everything I do on a 4, just starting from the 5th fret instead of the open string and using the four fret stretch. Imagine a capo at the 5th fret, the strings become EADGC and the scale length is about 8” shorter!

BTW, I still own and use some 4s including two uprights. I’m not about to tackle a 5 string upright!