5 string songs

[still laughing]

What are some songs, mainly in the rock/funk/or metal styles, that take advantage of a five string bass. A lot of the songs I learn are for four string and I feel bad wasting that low B.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Sorry that I'm not of so much help here. I just wanted to say that unfortunately you're not into the latin style called Dominican Merengue. The modern-style merengue (from circa 1995 to present) simply can't be played on a regular 4-string. I mean, you can do it, but will never sound as expected. This music's basslines heavily rely on the low B string.

 

[still laughing]

Can you give me a few songs or bands to look into? I can't say I've ever heard of this style much less have put much thought into it, but I'm always up for new things.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

I'm always up for new things.

I'm glad you're like that! Here I'm sending you a YouSendIt link with a sample recording of this genre, which isn't technically difficult, but authority is the key word for playing it. This is a bootleg live recording from a very popular dominican singer called Sergio Vargas, which I chose in spite of its not-so-good sound quality because the bass is very prominent there. I did some editing (you'll notice it at 0:30) because there's so much babbling from the singer to the audience like asking for help with singing and stuff like that. Besides, this is originally a 3-song medley, but I removed the third one because it's not very good to me (total time: 5:56). Hope you find it interesting. Let me know if you want further info.

Link:

Link Removed

(It will expire in seven days)

 

[still laughing]

Although I gave it a listen, that's not really my style. Does anyone else have other bands/songs to look into that are on a five string but fit in more with the genres I talked about?

 

[Twistad]

You should take a look at The Glass Prison by Dream Theater, it uses the low B a lot. Some parts are very hard though, good challenge.

 

[nashvillebill]

3 AM (Matchbox 20??) uses the low Eb so unless you want to retune your 4 string, the 5 is in order.

Another Brick In the Wall (Pink Floyd) uses the low D

But even if I don't necessarily use a note below the E, having the 5th string gives me the option of fingering in higher positions, for example Love Shack (B52's) gets really tiring done at the 1st fret, but not so bad on the 6th.

 

[burntgorilla]

What about transcribing some classical pieces?

 

[metalguy2]

I wonder if you can consider death metal type music to be 5 string songs.

 

[WillPlay4Food]

You should take a look at The Glass Prison by Dream Theater, it uses the low B a lot. Some parts are very hard though, good challenge.

What a great example. This is one of the first songs I worked on when I got my 5 string Spector.

 

[TechZilla]

Never Again - Nickelback
Whiskey in the Jar - Metallica Version
Lie - Dream Theater
Youth Gone Wild - Skid Row

I also agree with nashvillebill you can change things around a little bit and use your B instead of your E.

 

[Matthew Bryson]

Primus!

 

[Bushfire]

p.o.d.

 

[Xanadu]

american baby- dave mathews band

any power metal song, all those guys use the b string alot, like jag panzer, nevermore ect.

los lonely boys- he plays six, but usuallly is transcribed for 5 when ppl tab his songs

gasoline- audioslave

not my fav by far, but korn or limb bizkit use a 5 string bass i think

all i can think of right now, ill edit and post more later

 

[4x4Given]

Lot of SRV is in Eb. (personally, I can't imagine not having a 5 string)

 

[Petary791]

"Shadow of the Sun" by Audioslave uses the B. It's in B minor.

Lots of Audioslave is in B seeing as Timmy C. tunes BEAD.

 

[f'nar f'nar]

Some Tool, P.O.D, Korn (feildy, yuck), Metallica, Dream Theatre, Slipknot, Mudvayne (ryan martinie, hurrah!), Disturbed, Megadeath, Slayer (downtuned 4, but 5er works just as well)

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Lot of SRV is in Eb. (personally, I can't imagine not having a 5 string)

Problem here is that many of SRV tunes, as with many rock guitarists like Van Halen or Ace Frehley, are in that key because they down-tune their guitars. They are really playing in the key of E (tuning the guitar to standard tuning). If your guitarist does the same, no problem. But if he/she plays with standard tuning, it may be "problematic" to play some of those tunes in the key of Eb instead of E natural. I mention this because your suggestion automatically brought to my mind "Scuttle Buttin' ", one of the coolest tunes in SRV's catalog (to me). This song is a great example of that situation. I know how that catchy riff is played and it relies on open strings. Transposing it a half step down may be complicated if your guitarist wants to keep the original sonority of the riff. Of course, Tommy Shannon's 4-string bass is also down-tuned.

 

[BassGod]

If you like metal, In Flames will make excellent use of your B string. Peter Iwers, their bassist, uses a sixer, but you can pull of most of their songs with a five I'm sure.

Graeme

 

[i like tictacs]

american baby- dave mathews band

he plays that on a four string



but a GREAT song that loves the low b is You Never Know by the Dave Matthews Band. incredible song.

here is a link.

Link Removed