6-String Basses. What’s the deal?

[TheLowDown33]

OP here. It’s funny. For years I’ve said, if you want to play high notes, just get a guitar… lol. In fact, I pissed off a fairly prominent bassist on this thread. Am I about to join them?? d’oh!!

Funny! I missed that thread. I more agree with Bromberg on this one too, where playing "high notes on a bass" still constitutes playing a bass. I mean, there's upright bassists like Xavier Foley and Lauren Pierce who regularly play in violin range, but not a single sane person would say that they're not playing an upright once they pass "X" Hz.

At least for me, playing more complex harmony is just easier on guitar because of the G-B interval. It's just physically easier to play extended chords and alterations when I have 6 full strings and an asymmetrical tuning system to utilize. I think this is again where I fall in Bromberg's camp, where I think of the instrument almost as an effect through which the music in my head is filtered.

 

[g-dude]

Funny! I missed that thread. I more agree with Bromberg on this one too, where playing "high notes on a bass" still constitutes playing a bass. I mean, there's upright bassists like Xavier Foley and Lauren Pierce who regularly play in violin range, but not a single sane person would say that they're not playing an upright once they pass "X" Hz.

At least for me, playing more complex harmony is just easier on guitar because of the G-B interval. It's just physically easier to play extended chords and alterations when I have 6 full strings and an asymmetrical tuning system to utilize. I think this is again where I fall in Bromberg's camp, where I think of the instrument almost as an effect through which the music in my head is filtered.

It’s funny you mention the upright.

I recorded some music using my piezo pickup on my upright, almost entirely on the D and G strings, and I was amazed at how deep it sounded.

When I listen back to music I play with the concert band I’m in on the electric bass where I use the G and D strings, I’m also impressed by how much bass there is compared to what I hear at the time.

 

[lowendblues]

A six string bass has always made more sense than a five string for me. I mean, if your wanting to get into extended range basses a guitar has six strings, why did the bass have 4 strings to begin with?

On a side note, I've tried a couple of sixes in my career, and it always felt like I was playing on a 2"x6". Not for me.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Advice Transitioning from 5 to 6 String Bass
4 string or 5 (or 6)
Fretting strings with fingertips or pads?
6 String BASS Club (Guitarists keep out!)

 

[tb-player]

Advice Transitioning from 5 to 6 String Bass
4 string or 5 (or 6)
Fretting strings with fingertips or pads?
6 String BASS Club (Guitarists keep out!)

Thanks, but I prefer to have a discussion.

 

[krfoss]

Thanks, but I prefer to have a discussion.

It's talkbass, not readbass.

 

[g-dude]

Thanks, but I prefer to have a discussion.

It's talkbass, not readbass.

Plus, there are some folks who didn't participate in those threads that might have some good insight -- I would hope that there is an evolution over time in terms of members and skills.

Besides, if all we do is look at old threads, there's no reason to post.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Thanks, but I prefer to have a discussion.

Many of the points that I have to make have already been made by myself in those in those links.

 

[J Posega]

I love 5-string bass. It’s my go-to. I normally string B-G, but I’ve also done the E-C thing with good success.

Lately, I’ve been looking at 6-string basses (B-C basses, not the Bass VI) for the purpose of exploring solo playing, chords, and learning full tunes on the 6. It seems like it could be a nice challenge and an opportunity to shop for something cool, of course.

Anyone here ever make that transition? Curious to hear how it went. Any tips?

I started playing on a 5 string and a year later got a 6 string. I played 6 string almost exclusively for several years.

 

[hbarcat]

I had no problem going from 4 to 5 strings, but the extra 6th string on top is constantly in my way. My reach just isn't long enough and my wrist gets unbearably sore.

I tried for 6 months to get used to it and just couldn't.

Anyone want to buy a 6 string on the cheap?

 

[DJ Bebop]

I started playing on a 5 string and a year later got a 6 string. I played 6 string almost exclusively for several years.

And now?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Thanks, but I prefer to have a discussion.

"6-String Basses. What’s the deal?

Anyone here ever make that transition? Curious to hear how it went. Any tips?"

 

[ad9000]

In the mid 80's I found myself often detuning the low E on 4 string basses, so after a good bit of that a 5 made sense. Got my first 5 (Stingray V) in 1987. I bonded with it right away, though I still used a 4 on some gigs.

I was 6-curious even before that point due to being a big fan of Anthony Jackson on the Eyewitness records. The first 6-string I ever got my hands on was John Patitucci's Ken Smith when he was a neighbor of mine. I liked the 6 right away and immediately felt it would work for me, though it would be several years before I actually got one, which was a Yamaha TRB-6P in 1990. The TRB was my main bass all through the 90's, at which point I moved on to an MTD 6 and a succession of others.

Since around 2000 I've used 4's, 5's and 6's pretty much equally, though the 6 has seen less time in the last few years and 5's get used a lot more. It depends a lot on what gigs I'm doing at any particular time.

 

[tb-player]

Many of the points that I have to make have already been made by myself in those in those links.

I realized that when I clicked the first link and the first comment was you providing the same list of threads to the that guy… lol.

 

[J Posega]

And now?

I play 4 and 5 string, and Bass VI.

 

[badinage]

To The OP: About a year after I started playing a 5 string and loving it, I decided "why not six?" ...So I bought a used Ibanez SR406 for $400 and "liking" it, the band I was in at the time thought the leap into the esoteric-zone was "really cool", so no resistance there, and I was at the time coming off a decade with a band where I played upright 90% of the time, so "neck size" and hand strength were not an issue. Soon I traded the 406 for a new Ibanez SR1806e, which is the same as the SR406 but lighter weight, better electronics and hardware, better sound, better looks. In hindsight I find the string-spacing on the SR series a little tight for my taste, but they are consistently well-made instruments and I like their shallow neck-depth profile.

Five strings are my default go-to now, but I still play fours fairly often, six on occasion, and swap back and fourth with zero confusion. Perhaps think of it as a sax player who very much enjoys playing alto, tenor, and baritone. Different instruments in the same family, different thought process, different creative process, all fun, and no need to "pick ONE". Good luck, have fun.

 

[Nashrakh]

Five strings are my default go-to now, but I still play fours fairly often, six on occasion, and swap back and fourth with zero confusion. Perhaps think of it as a sax player who very much enjoys playing alto, tenor, and baritone. Different instruments in the same family, different thought process, different creative process, all fun, and no need to "pick ONE".

Interesting analogy, but the neat thing about saxes is that they transpose... you read a C, and the fingering for it is the same on all saxes. Just the pitch coming out is different. No potential for confusion there like with added strings.

So... maybe we need transposing bass literature too? That would be something.

 

[steubig]

history: early 80s, used 4-string basses in different tunings. so, after playing 4-string for about 15 years, i figured a 6-string would be better. purchased a 6 from a pretty new company called fodera in 85 (by kismet i ran into them at namm). being an AJ fan i took his "commit to the 6" philosophy to heart, so jettisoned my 4-string basses and also got a fretless 6 that same year. it's still what i do 38 years on.


my advice: *do not* go back and forth between different string numbers and just commit to the 6—but i'm probably in the minority here.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Funny when I pick up my 5 now, I can fly all over it. A 4 string seems useless to me now, outside of the pbass with flats sound, I need my low lows.

The 6 is incredible. I can see jumping from 4 to 6 being tough on some folks. But if you want to get really good on a 5, it’s worth having a 6. I don’t find it tough to switch between them. I appreciate both.

 

[tb-player]

Funny when I pick up my 5 now, I can fly all over it. A 4 string seems useless to me now, outside of the pbass with flats sound, I need my low lows.

The 6 is incredible. I can see jumping from 4 to 6 being tough on some folks. But if you want to get really good on a 5, it's worth having a 6. I don't find it tough to switch between them. I appreciate both.

OP here. Thanks for resurrecting this thread. I had forgotten about it. I’m playing 6 now and it’s effortless. I really dig it. I sold all my 4s and exclusively play 5 and 6 now with no regrets.