6-stringers - which string do you use more, Low B or High C?

[spade2you]

+1

It seems there's still a group of owners who see the B string only as five extra notes.

I think most simply don't know how to use the 6er in their favor. Most claim that they're only for soloists and it's not nearly as complex as people try to make it sound.

 

[cassanova]

I use them about the same. I use the C primarily for notes C or higher this way I don't have to climb all the way up the neck on the G string.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

I detune my low B to an A for the ease of octaves, so I use it all the way up to the 12th fret quite frequently.

We have two guitarists in my band, so I rarely (once or twice) use the C-string in that context unless it's some sort of area that cuts out and leaves room for a prominent bass part. I could get away with a 5-string in the band, but I love my tone, wide neck, and narrow spacing....why switch?

When I'm doing any sort of solo work, I play with chords and tap a lot, so my B sees very little use but my C is probably played most.

It's just a matter of situation I'm in as it dictates the need for string X.-

 

[Johnny6string]

I use the low B for playing notes and the high c for driving guitarists who take way waayy too long to tune up crazy : )
Ive grown fond of the puzzled "hey was that me?" looks on thair poor faces.

 

[rarbass]

I don't have a six-string, but very rarely have I ever thought "man I wish I had a C string" because I don't really see a use for it in what I do. I could see for soloing, but I'm quite fond of how the strings I have sound when played up high. I prefer to simply stick with my beloved 5 string.

I could see the C string becoming useful for chords and whatnot too, but I don't really play chords all that much.

The low B is so useful, like often I'll just use it strummed lightly just to add that extra octave below. The extra support is incredible. Right now I'm using it for songs in mass, and it's great. It's not like a heavy metal use obviously, it's just great support under the choir.

 

[Johnny6string]

"Right now I'm using it for songs in mass, and it's great. It's not like a heavy metal use obviously, it's just great support under the choir."

Thats what i like about the low B. you can do the "pretending to be a church organ bit"
So nice : )

I find I really dont use the c much at all, its nice for noodleing around at home, I really dont have the chops to make use of it.
My six was a totaly uniformed spur of the moment buy as it was really really cheep on ebay and i took a chance as i had just sold a hifi power amp and has the cash in my paypal, got me back playing bass after years on the guitar though so its all good.
Id be better off with a five really.
Or i should just stick with my 4 string jazz.
Hmm.

 

[wvbass]

A B string is great to have and is a terrible thing to use too much.

Bull malarkey. This is absurd. Ever been accused of using your A string too much? Of course not. How can it be wrong to play a G on the 8th fret of your B string but ok to play it on the 3rd fret of your E string?

Some basses have a B string that is more of a thunder cannon sound effect than a legitimate other string. Maybe this is what mikeyswood is referring too. If so, then I agree - use it sparingly while you shop for a new bass.

I'm still finding my way around on a six, but am already comfortable on a four or five. So I find the B string more often than the C. It took me a while to incorporate the B string when I first got a five; learning to use it just happened naturally over time.

I do find that its a little more difficult, technique-wise, for me the use the C than the B. When I play the B, my left hand is naturally in the right position to mute the other strings. When I play on the C string, I have to mute with my right hand, which forces me to abandon my semi-anchored thumb (a style I prefer) and use more of a floating thumb technique.

 

[82Daion]

Depends on the band. In my funk group, I use the low B a lot more than the C. In the university big band I play with, they both get used about equally.

 

[138BASS]

I've only had my 6 for a couple months and some of that time it has been on the bench being defretted, and now getting coated. But while/when I had her up and going I was finding it easy to play in one area of the neck without having to go up and down as much with the utilization of ALL 6 strings, which makes 4 hour gigs and long practices a little more manageable. Notes on the high C do have a different sound then the same notes on the G string(way more so than the B vs E ,IMO) but it still adds a level of flexibility and economy of motion that isn't there on my 5(or 4 for that matter) and for soloing it's the icing on the cake!!
I love having 6 strings and don't see myself purchasing anything with less strings in the near future.