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5 String - Freedom or Handicap?

#61
If anything it just expands your playing. You don't have to ride the B all the time, but doing a pentatonic run up in E starting on the 5th fret of the B sure does make positioning and fretting a little easier..and at the end of the day anything that takes a strain and/or difficulty away is by and large a benefit...I see no detriment in any of it...hence the reason I play a six and always contemplate a seven
...of course I still love my MIMjazz...its a jazz and Jaco and Geddy...blah blah..much love.... Yadda......
 
#62
Even on a high quality five-string, the reality is that the duplicated notes on frets 5 and up on the B string don't sound exactly like their counterparts on the E string. The harmonic overtones and resonance are different, and there's a certain "oomph" to an F played on the first fret of the E that just isn't quite the same when played on the B string at the sixth, IME. So there are times the note is important enough in a song that I'll play it lower down on the E. This is true of both my 34" and 35" fivers. Dingwall owners may have a different experience, I don't know.
 
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#63
Does a keyboard player need 88 keys? Or will 73 do? Do people who play a Chapman Stick think less of people who play a five string bass?

I play in a cover band and have about 3 songs in drop D, which I have a Hipshot D tuner for. Personally, I do okay with my 4 banger. I have no need for a fiver, however I don't think anything less of players who have one.
 
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#64
There won't be a bass apocalypse where 5-string basses disappear from the planet. Unless you have a personal desire to challenge yourself with both styles of playing, don't allow someone else's standards to get in your way of having fun. What appeals to you most? Playing music or learning alternate fingerings on multiple bass formats? There is no correct answer.
 
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#65
I don't think it's a complicated issue, 5 string play's like a 4 string with a chug uh lug string on the bottom. It's nice to get low while still having EADG there.

I could be prejudice because 90% of my bass playing has been on a 5 string in drop A.
 
#66
I went to 5-String basses "kicking and screaming". But once acclimated, I never looked back. So I say "freedom". Being able to have more choices for Eb and D hand positions is awesome. I just needed to go with narrower string spacing. 19mm is too much for me.

I did recently buy a 4-string, but ended up selling it because I didn't find it "liberating" or anything. I just had one less string.
 
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#67
Semion N. said:
First of all, this thread is a great read, and I thank yaall's for taking the time to contribute. I am learning from each of you.

2nd of all, the parameter ignored here is time. I have very little time to practice, and because of that, I am intimidated by the concept of an 'easy-mode' bass that may bring 'fake' results in playing and prevent me from wanting to work hard and get 'real' results.o

3rd, in the end, I did get the answer I am looking for. Yes, I want those 5 low notes. For myself, no other reason. But more than anything, I want to go past this very specific hurdle which is 'knowing all the fretboard'. Yeah, I'm pretty good up to fret 5, and I know that C is the 8th on the E string, but I need to seriously focus on this thing and stop being afraid of slow progress.

The 5-string extends the amount of notes you can play by knowing Geometry, scales and where the notes on the B string are. But this is an illusion of skill. So I will get it once I unlock the fretboard.

And finally, guys, I'm an engineer. It's literally my job to overthink.

Thanks guys, love yaall.
Click to expand...

Haha, I'm an engineer too.
It's also our job to maximize benefit while minimizing both cost and risk.
 
#69
Semion N. said:
I have very little time to practice, and because of that, I am intimidated by the concept of an 'easy-mode' bass that may bring 'fake' results in playing and prevent me from wanting to work hard and get 'real' results.o
.
Click to expand...

Ah- just to clarify, when I said it sort of felt like cheating to use the 5 because it makes things so much easier, that's because I feel the B string is a very handy advantage (that not everyone has or necessarily needs or wants access to) to have on board. It isn't a "fake" result to use a resource that makes hitting a note easier or in a handier position. All the notes on a 4 are still there on a 5. Knowing your fretboard is important no matter how many strings you have. You'll eventually find yourself playing the same notes you can find on your B string on higher strings when it makes more logical or tonal sense for the song.
 
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#70
tuba_samurai said:
I play tuba, so I think of 4, 5, or 6 strings like a tuba with 3 valves, 4, valves or 5 valves. They all play the same stuff, but the additional valve lets you hit some pedal notes that are not as easy, or even possible on a 3 valve tuba. They also let you play some notes with better intonation or a slight difference in tone. They aren't different instruments, just different versions of the same.
Click to expand...

Yet another analogy! I've been a trombone player forever (almost). I started on a straight horn. In high school, I went to a horn with an F-valve, which is the same concept as the B-string: expand the range and add options. I don't use it all the time, but it makes more notes in the lower range accessible, and gives me options that make certain passages easier to play.

It's really like a five string fretless. A few notes are easy to find, but all the rest are "suggestions" until you've learned...

I seldom grab a four these days.
 
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#71
For me, a 4 string feels much more free than a 5 (I don't play 6...can't imagine why I'd ever want a high C). If I know I'm playing a show which is going to be more free form, improvisational or folksy, I'm playing one of my 4s. I like flying up and down the neck, honestly.

I only play my 5 (pictured on my avatar) when it is necessary for utility, really, which seem to be hip hop/R&B settings mostly, but also certain kinds of country (rocking down to the 5 of a scale on the B string).

That being said, I just had my 5 string set up by a pro after a long time of not doing that. It's feeling so good now that it's getting use in settings where it didn't before...almost makes up for the thicker, more cumbersome neck.
 
#72
I bought my 5 so that i would stop having to either change tuning for a single note in one song, or completely re-learn how to play certain songs that were built for a 5-string in the first place. (mostly an issue with a previous worship gig)

I never really felt any issue switching between the two but i enjoy the 5 more.
 
#73
In my case, a 5-string bass is neither freedom or a handicap; just a waste of time and money. I don't ever play anything that needs one (some of the songs don't really need 4 strings, in fact), and I doubt that I ever will. But that's just me. I know that a lot of music benefits from a 5-string, and if that's what you need/want/have to play - then play on. Of course, anything I like to play can be played on a 5-string; but it's not needed. Besides, I have too many basses already, to start adding ones with more strings... but, if I wasn't a crusty old fart, firmly stuck in the '60s, it might be a different story... Semion, if you decide that a 5-string bass will be useful for your music - then get the one you like, by all means. And just play the thing; stop over thinking it ...:thumbsup:
 
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#74
GIBrat51 said:
In my case, a 5-string bass is neither freedom or a handicap; just a waste of time and money. I don't ever play anything that needs one (some of the songs don't really need 4 strings, in fact), and I doubt that I ever will. But that's just me. I know that a lot of music benefits from a 5-string, and if that's what you need/want/have to play - then play on. Of course, anything I like to play can be played on a 5-string; but it's not needed. Besides, I have too many basses already, to start adding ones with more strings... but, if I wasn't a crusty old fart, firmly stuck in the '60s, it might be a different story... Semion, if you decide that a 5-string bass will be useful for your music - then get the one you like, by all means. And just play the thing; stop over thinking it ...:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Yeah. I just use BEAD on some basses and EADG on others. I pretty much never need those top few notes on the G in the same musical situation that I need a low B.
 
#78
Semion N. said:
First of all, this thread is a great read, and I thank yaall's for taking the time to contribute. I am learning from each of you.

2nd of all, the parameter ignored here is time. I have very little time to practice, and because of that, I am intimidated by the concept of an 'easy-mode' bass that may bring 'fake' results in playing and prevent me from wanting to work hard and get 'real' results.o

3rd, in the end, I did get the answer I am looking for. Yes, I want those 5 low notes. For myself, no other reason. But more than anything, I want to go past this very specific hurdle which is 'knowing all the fretboard'. Yeah, I'm pretty good up to fret 5, and I know that C is the 8th on the E string, but I need to seriously focus on this thing and stop being afraid of slow progress.

The 5-string extends the amount of notes you can play by knowing Geometry, scales and where the notes on the B string are. But this is an illusion of skill. So I will get it once I unlock the fretboard.

And finally, guys, I'm an engineer. It's literally my job to overthink.

Thanks guys, love yaall.
Click to expand...

I'm just echoing others at this point, but I wouldn't say a 5-string gives fake results or an illusion of skill. You can learn the whole fretboard either way.

Once you play one, you'll quickly notice that the notes on the 5th string have a very different timbre than when played elsewhere, just like the notes on any other string. Sometimes it'll sound better to grab the note from 5th string, sometimes not, even if the 5th string happens to be easier to reach. You'll figure it out pretty quick, I think.

I've played 7 string guitars for years and years and practically never use the 7th string unless I need one of the extra notes or its practically impossible for me to reliably make the stretch to a different string.
 
#79
Semion N. said:
Hello all!

I hope I am not angering any mods by making *yet another* 5 string thread, but I couldn't find the answer I was looking for in the older threads.

As opposed to instrument recommendation, I would like to talk about concept for a moment, and would be glad if both 4-string people and 5-string people reply here.

The first time I played on a 5-string I actually liked was this week - and this is because they're very rare here in the mainstream shops, and non-mainstream shops are kind of far apart so I can't just walk into one on my way to somewhere else. Anyway, while thinking about whether the B sounded good in relation to the other strings, I realized by accident that I could reach two octaves from any note on the B with a span of only 5 frets. This is opposed to 10 frets on a 4-string (from the E). Now, I'm not really technically strong, but most of the stuff I like to play aren't specific songs, but more walking bass or blues kind of jam stuff. This freedom, at a first glance, is a blessing! Two octaves, without super-shifting and mega hand-eye coordination! What kind of amazing things can be done with two octaves? And this is without pushing into the lead guitar's world (which is why I am not talking about 6-strings here).

But then another thought hit me - 4-string players have that ability to super-shift and hand-eye-coordinate. They do it all the time. If I play a 5, I will never have the need to develop this! Sure, if I want 3 octaves I can get it with 17 frets and 5 strings, but why would I? Would this mean playing on easy-mode forever? How will this impact my overall ability?

I am saying this because when I started playing bass (without even trying to play guitar first), I played for a year and a half solely on an Acoustic with Flats. If anyone tried that, you know this requires tremendous physical strength. So the first few months were rough, but then when I finally moved to an electric (due to volume issues) I've had absolutely no problem fretting on any kind of string anywhere on the fretboard.

So does this mean I need to reach a certain "achievement" of skill in order to feel safe moving to a 5? Like playing a two-octave span of any kind of chord anywhere, fast and with all types of fingerings, without thinking about it, etc? Or should I put the technical difficulty aside and focus on the music?

What do you guys think? Of this idea in general and my dilemma in particular.
Click to expand...

Am I correct in summarizing that youre asking about fingering vertically over fingering horizontally? While its great to have mastery at both, it just boils down to what is best for you. You do have to consider a few things: For example: Open A, fifth fret E-string, and tenth fret B-string are all the same note but tonally sound nothing alike (especially to players that like brightness in their tone).
 
#80
You can always play a 5 just like a 4 if you want.

You can never play a 4 just like a 5 if you want.

I like tighter 17.5mm spacing. That makes my 5 strings only slightly wider than a 19mm 4 anywhere on the neck. Works for me.

Like to spend some time on 6 strings as well, not because I use that C-string much at all, but I get used to the wider neck and then a 5 string seems "skinny".
 

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