5-string bassists

[moogboy]

tell me about some 5 string bassists and give me some examples of where i can hear the bass prominently.

 

[DocBop]

Jimmy Johnson is one probably the first to play 5-string and he has probably the best sound of any bassest with his Alembic. He started in the Wayne Johnson Trio, had is own band Flim and the BB's. The music is a bit smooth, but his playing and fills are great. Then he played with Allan Holdsworth and many, many sessions.

In general a lot of people play a standard 5-string and you won't know it. 5-string only gives you five (Eb down to B) more notes over a 4-string, but you can use the b-string to avoid shifting positions. Also many play 5-string with a high-C string instead of a low B-string. The high-C gives you far more notes that help for soloing and playing chords on bass.

 

[Tom Howland]

Jimmy Flim Johnson.
Richard Bona
Steve Swallow

 

[Baryonyx]

Given that I've been listening to both these players today, I'll mention them.

Kai Eckhardt plays 5 strings tuned BEADG, he used to play a Schack double neck which was rather cool.

Matt Garrison plays Fodera 5 strings, tuned EADGC.

 

[EBMatt]

Wooten does some great stuff on his fretless 5.

Pattituci plays a 6, but same difference....

And of course Fieldy from Korn........ ....... ...just kidding

 

[64jazzbass]

Gary Willis!!! 5-string fretless. Solo recordings or with Tribal Tech.

 

[ARCtrooper225]

JPJ played a 5er at times
Ryan Martinie plays a 5 thumb tuned either GCGCF or F#BF#BE
Rob Trujillo plays a Zon 5
and hopefulyl me soon!

 

[dls59]

Abe Laboriel can be heard everywhere. Steffan Lessard seems to predominantly use 5's, w/ DMB.

 

[kydnav]

Steve Swallow

he must have had a hard time during highschool

 

[Wally Malone]

Abe Laboriel can be heard everywhere. Steffan Lessard seems to predominantly use 5's, w/ DMB.

Abe is playing in San Jose at 3 p.m. today with Frank Martin. On drums is Alex Acuna. You'd think Frank could find some decent side musicians to play is gig. LOL

Wally

 

[Basseroni]

Robert Wilson from the Gap Band played a 5-string in the early 80's. He's playing a 5-string on "Yearning For Your Love."

 

[the_fonz]

Rex Brown started using them after Cowboys From Hell i think

 

[Baryonyx]

IIRC Tony Grey plays a Fodera 5 string too.

 

[JoelCMJ]

Yeah 5 string is quite awesome. Im a five stringer, I play in standard with the B usualy but when in my band I usually play in C,E,A,D,G because the guitarist play in drop C it's usualy easier that way. But you gotta be careful on tension on the B. Anyway defiently something to look into. John Myung played a five string in Images and Words. You can hear it in songs such as Take The Time and Pull Me Under. Until he switched to 6. But yeah 5 for that lower range or metalness avoiding changing tuning and 6 for soloing.

Hope this helped!

 

[DocBop]

Gary Willis!!! 5-string fretless. Solo recordings or with Tribal Tech.

+100 To that! Willis is the most underrated bass player today. I've heard him called the Jaco of our day. Can groove his ass off, but also amazing improvisor in Fusion and straight Jazz.

Another hot 5-string player is Kai Eckhardt.

 

[lug]

Poppa Bear! also known as Tony Levin to the common pedestrian.

 

[Bass.]

wasn't Anthony Jackson one of the first to play the 5 string (with it's conventional low b?)

and didn't he have it called the contrabass or something?

 

[Fishbrain]

ryan martinie from mudvayne uses his fiver standard beadg too.

flea on bssm

dirk lance on science? im sure he must use a 5 on a lot of that

im sure theres a lot more that i just cant think of, i'll come back later!!

 

[lug]

wasn't Anthony Jackson one of the first to play the 5 string (with it's conventional low b?)

and didn't he have it called the contrabass or something?

Yep, built by some guy named Vinnie Fodera.

 

[Ibanezzer]

mudvane