5 string prejudice applies to 4 as well.

[SAlcott]

Sounds like a real world Spinal Tap moment; move on and tell the story whenever you can.

 

[MikeBass]

I showed up to a R&B/Funk gig (sub-gig) with a 4 and a 5.
Pulled out the 4 first, just to tune it and set it on a stand as a back up to my five.
The guitar player looks at me and says" "Oh! You didn't bring a 5 string?!?! Man, good luck then bro".
So at that second instead of telling him it was a double bag and I brought my 5, I said, "Yeah, just have a 4 string. I'll try not to sound too bad back here".

End of the first set, he said "Man, you should have brought a 5 for the next set- it gets tight and funky".
"Tight and funky"....I'll NEVER forget that comment!!

So, we rip through the next set, yup as you guessed "tight and funky" and everything.
Guitar guy turns around and says (again, something else I'll never forget- funny as well) "Man, I guess you can play this stuff on a 4 string".
HELLO?!?!?!!!! MORON?!?!?! IT'S 70's & 80's funk!!!!!!!!!! with some newer stuff thrown in.

So, for the last set....I pulled out my 5.
He was mad because I didn't play it all night! (I switched back and forth as much as I could that set!)

Now here's the kicker. He calls me for gigs still. Tells me to bring a 5. I show up with a 4. We both get a good laugh from it. He grabs my second bass out of my double bag- which is my 5 and says play that one.
I do, for the ballads only. All 5 of them!!!!

Heck, I should screw with him the next gig and bring two 4 strings!!!

I should add, we're friends and have been for a long time, so it's kinda the running joke when we see each other.

 

[BassyBill]

That's a great story, Mike.

So, I can't really play the 70s and 80s disco/funk/soul stuff that our cover band does on my 4 string basses, eh?

Jeez, I hope nobody ever tells the rest of the guys that.

 

[TomA1234]

One of the guitarists says to me: "Ow, so you're not into heavy music."


They obviousley never heard of Cliff burton. He (I think) Exclusively used a 4 string and was Metallica's first (proper) bassist (until he got killed in a bus crash)

 

[heroincredible]

One of the guitarists says to me: "Ow, so you're not into heavy music."


They obviousley never heard of Cliff burton. He (I think) Exclusively used a 4 string and was Metallica's first (proper) bassist (until he got killed in a bus crash)

He did exclusively use 4 strings. Tom Araya uses 4 strings exclusively (I believe). Troy Sanders of Mastodon uses 4 strings. Martin Mendez uses 4 strings (although I guess he recorded with a 5 on their latest album). The bassist in Black Dahlia Murder uses 4 strings. There are many many more examples of guys who use only 4 strings in metal, perhaps you should educate that guitard.

 

[denhou1974]

I could understand if a band expects you to bring a 5-string bass. Some tunes sound better when a low D or C (for example) is used. But to ask that a 5-str NOT be used is rediculous. There are more important things to worry about.

 

[totallyfrozen]

You should've punched him in the face.

I LIKE the way you think, kid!

Seriously, one of the re-occuring stories that we seem to hear on TB that always baffles me is story after story of how somebody is TELLING the bass player what/how to play.

We don't want a 5 string bass! Really? How do you know?
We don't want a 6 string; we want a 4! Do you even realize that it won't make a difference?

It's just silly. Like the OP said, the guitarist didn't even notice the difference (i.e. couldn't HEAR a difference) until he looked at his hands. Then he SAW a difference and thought you were "tricking" him, got ticked, fired you. Just stupid!

I serioulsly DON'T understand why other instrumentalists can't just mind their own business and stop worrying about the other guy's gear or his technique--UNLESS it makes the song sound wrong.

People are just so dang petty about stuff. It's really, ultra stupid to me. I don't tell the guitarist what type of guitar and amp to use. I don't instruct him on his pedal board. Why does everybody want to tell bass players what they "should" be doing.
Honestly, I have never played with anyone like that and I don't think I could stomach it.

 

[anthowl]

OR, maybe I meant the other C. You know...the one below B.
Anyone?

i can't tell if you're being serious or not, but just to clarify,
playing a low C below a 5 strings B reaches would be playing two octaves below the guitarists lowest C in thier chord.

PLUS it's be completely inaudible short of perhaps a mild thud or scraping noise.

 

[chjohnst]

You should always plays whatever you want.. 4/5/6 whatever, it shouldn't matter just as long as it sounds good.

Find another band to play with the guy sounds controlling if you ask me.

 

[MNAirHead]

From the guitard's perspective he was right.

I play in bands where I"m faking 24x7.. makes it tougher if the guitard or keys are dropping or modulating.

part of this depends on how much of the groupish type activity you're needing.

Tim

 

[fretlessguy]

I know that the drop thing is popular amongst that style of music. In vogue, more or less. I would guess that's why the guitarist wanted it done that way. It's probably all he knows. However, bassists do not exactly grow on trees. That's why so many of us are actually quite adept at playing many styles and it makes us more adaptable, or willing to be than a lot of musicians that play other instruments. He should have been happy just to have a good bassist.

I was kicked out of playing in a band because I played a five pimarily at the time. They hired a four string player that was not dependable, and had the gall to ask me to come back. At the time I felt I could do better, and had the oppurtunity to learn some other instruments, learn a new style of music, start home recording, and finally picked up the fretless for the first time. So, look at this time as a time to grow and learn. You know, expand your horizons sort of thing.

We fine arts types can be so...tempermental, can't we?

 

[Rick in Dixie]

Here's something I found on my local craigslist that I thought was kind of funny, no finger acrobatis and number of strings on your bass not important Looking for bass player (really....not chat) (Arab and surrounding area)
Date: 2009-07-24, 6:59PM CDT
Reply to: [email protected] [Errors when replying to ads?]

Keyboardist and drummer looking to start trio...maybe expand to 4 piece later. Light blues, light jazz, ballads, new arrangements. Age not important (we're older 50ish seasoned veterans). Looking for laid back easy going personality, can capture a nice groove, open minded about material, professional experience. Process will be reply thru craigslist, then phone dialogue with each of us. If possible match then we'll invite you to audition. DO NOT RESPOND IF YOU CANNOT TAKE "NO HARD FEELINGS" REJECTION. We want to try to get it right the first time. Tasteful without overplaying, good tone and taste means more than acrobatic finger work and number of strings on your bass. Vocals a plus but not necessary. Will not be playing hardcore complex jazz or blues, just touching on the outer edges of both of those and reflecting this in the material. This is a project that we want to mature into weekend, local at least to Northern Alabama gigging, which with the right bassist should not be very long. Please reply thru craigslist. Thanks, we look forward to talking to potential candidates.

 

[Mo'Phat]

i can't tell if you're being serious or not, but just to clarify,
playing a low C below a 5 strings B reaches would be playing two octaves below the guitarists lowest C in thier chord.

PLUS it's be completely inaudible short of perhaps a mild thud or scraping noise.

I'm never serious online.

Far too much is misinterpreted or misconstrued.

I still don't know a C from Shinola.

 

[Arpeggiator]

i feel it can be a security issue with bassist + number of strings, guitards commonly assume i am an amazing player because i have 5 strings, which is obviously a daft thing to think. but its happend a few times even with some bass players! i then remind them of the great who play 4's (wooten, clarke, miller geddy etc...) and the go "Oh"... and see the light, that number of strings doesnt equel skill.

 

[The Owl]

So one of my band projects sort of fell apart recently with the sudden disappearance of the singer/guitarist. ( I usually have at least 2 bands at any given time) I have a lot of spare time so I decided to go find another side project with another band.

I hit craigslist and started surfing for bass player wanted ads.

I find this band that's playing some modern rock stuff. It's not the stuff I normally play but I like to expand my horizons so I respond to the ad.

In the ensuing correspondence they notify me that that most of their songs are originals and in Drop C. They continue to tell me that I must play a 4 string bass.

Now a little history here. I own 4 sting basses as wells as 5's. But it just completely baffles me that people want to drop the E to C on a 4 when its way simpler to just play a 5. I'm really not a fan of non standard tuning.

So, I realiase the guys are tools but figure I'll get smart and solve the problem and go jam and have some fun. My solution I grab a 4 string and a pack of strings for a 5 and string up and tune B E A D. I figure if they are in drop C they aren't going to need me to play anything on the G string anyway.

The next day I drive out and setup and jam with the guys and have a general good time. Their songs were pretty simple but had a nice groove and was fun to play. Everyone seems happy. They ask me if I'm willing to join the band and if I have time etc. I agree and they set me up to come to normal practices.

So at this point. No problems right.

The 3rd practice I went to after that we are playing one of the tunes and the guitarist is looking at my hands with a confused look on his face. He does this for a couple of songs and then on a break between songs he askes me "hey man why are you playing all the wrong notes". To which I reply, "I'm not playing the wrong notes". He they procedes to play a chord and have me play the root. I follow him for a couple chords and he says "I'm playing a C chord why are you fretting your C string?" So I tell him "because it's a B string to me".

At this point he gets pissed off and gives me a speech about how the tuning I'm using is ruining his music. And if he wanted it played on a 5 string he would have asked me to bring a 5 string.

The next day I get a text message asking me not to come back and that they replaced me.

Now i do agree that it is possible that some people might want the sound of an open ringing string C instead of a fretted C. But this guy didn't notice for 2 full practices and only then because it "looked wrong"

I just found it humorous that the stigma against 5's seems to translate to string tuning and not necessarily the number of strings.

-Rav

That takes both "guitard" and "TOOL"
to a whole new level. Pathetic really.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

NOT A DAMN SOUL exept an occasional bass player WILL NOTICE THE BASSPLAYER. Even if he sings. True story.

To quote my brother-in-law (provided I ever get down to actually proposing to his sister) when I told him about the bass player's WWLD (What Would Lemmy Do) wisdom:

"Lemmy plays bass?"

Seriously, he's seen Motörhead more times than I have (which is not hard, I only saw them once) and never even noticed that the guy is actually playing bass and singing at the same time.

 

[dave64o]

.
.
.
People are just so dang petty about stuff. It's really, ultra stupid to me. I don't tell the guitarist what type of guitar and amp to use. I don't instruct him on his pedal board. Why does everybody want to tell bass players what they "should" be doing.
Honestly, I have never played with anyone like that and I don't think I could stomach it.

That's the thing that gets me. I find it incredibly ironic that the instrument that no one notices and is allegedly so easy to play is the one and only instrument that these self-proclaimed artists have such rigid requirements for in order to fully realize their musical vision. GAFB.


To the OP, that band did you a huge favor. They're going nowhere.

 

[PSPookie]

So one of my band projects sort of fell apart recently with the sudden disappearance of the singer/guitarist. ( I usually have at least 2 bands at any given time) I have a lot of spare time so I decided to go find another side project with another band.

I hit craigslist and started surfing for bass player wanted ads.

I find this band that's playing some modern rock stuff. It's not the stuff I normally play but I like to expand my horizons so I respond to the ad.

In the ensuing correspondence they notify me that that most of their songs are originals and in Drop C. They continue to tell me that I must play a 4 string bass.

Now a little history here. I own 4 sting basses as wells as 5's. But it just completely baffles me that people want to drop the E to C on a 4 when its way simpler to just play a 5. I'm really not a fan of non standard tuning.

So, I realiase the guys are tools but figure I'll get smart and solve the problem and go jam and have some fun. My solution I grab a 4 string and a pack of strings for a 5 and string up and tune B E A D. I figure if they are in drop C they aren't going to need me to play anything on the G string anyway.

The next day I drive out and setup and jam with the guys and have a general good time. Their songs were pretty simple but had a nice groove and was fun to play. Everyone seems happy. They ask me if I'm willing to join the band and if I have time etc. I agree and they set me up to come to normal practices.

So at this point. No problems right.

The 3rd practice I went to after that we are playing one of the tunes and the guitarist is looking at my hands with a confused look on his face. He does this for a couple of songs and then on a break between songs he askes me "hey man why are you playing all the wrong notes". To which I reply, "I'm not playing the wrong notes". He they procedes to play a chord and have me play the root. I follow him for a couple chords and he says "I'm playing a C chord why are you fretting your C string?" So I tell him "because it's a B string to me".

At this point he gets pissed off and gives me a speech about how the tuning I'm using is ruining his music. And if he wanted it played on a 5 string he would have asked me to bring a 5 string.

The next day I get a text message asking me not to come back and that they replaced me.

Now i do agree that it is possible that some people might want the sound of an open ringing string C instead of a fretted C. But this guy didn't notice for 2 full practices and only then because it "looked wrong"

I just found it humorous that the stigma against 5's seems to translate to string tuning and not necessarily the number of strings.

-Rav

That may be the dumbest thing I've ever read.

What a moron

 

[NickInMesa]

Didn't Ross Valory tune in BEAD at one time?

 

[Rav]

Oh I am quite aware that not playing with these guys is a good thing. I was just looking for a side project to waste some time anyways.

I just wanted all of you to share in my laughter at this guys expense.

I usually play 4's. I just play 5's when I need a low B or high C ( prefer how 4's generally have a slightly better sound IMO ) I also play 5's or 4 in BEAD when something lower than standard E is required and I want to preserve standard tuning.

I've never found it hard to play in Drop D or C but It limits my improvisation to some extent because I have to think about arpeggiation positions rather than just having them at my fingertips sans thought.

I've ran into guitarists on both sides of this so to speak. Ones that hate bass players to have more than 4 strings as well as the aforementioned guitarists that think if you have 5 strings your a better player.

I can't think of a reverse situation. I've never heard of a bass player upset with a guitarist for having a 7 string, non standard tuning, whatever. I'm not sure why guitar players care so much.

I've always felt that if a bass player can play in the chord and stay in the pocket what difference does it make what gear he uses or how.

just IMO.

-Rav