I played bass as a teenager and decided I was going to start playing again so I went out and bought a MIM Fender 5 String Jazz bass. I had a kid and never got around to playing it and roughly 20 years later decided it was time to put that bass to use. Any technique I had is long gone and I find my hands getting uncomfortable after a shot amount of playing Decided to look at online courses as I have a very up in the air schedule and taking in person lessons doesn't fit. I decided most likely to sign up for the bassbuzz course. In one of his youtube videos discussing starting he pretty strongly recommends against a 5 string to start. I bought a 5 string mostly because I played a lot of metal as a teenager and always wanted a 5 string but am starting to think I should have just got a 4 string to get back into it. I haven't signed up for the course yet but feel it would help a good bit looking at reviews from people who have signed up. I guess I'm just looking for advise between 3 paths forward. Trade in the 5 string Jazz bass and get a decent 4 string. Just deal with how bad I sound playing on the 5 string until I build the muscles back up in my hands. Or plan C buy a cheap Glarry 4 string p-bass knock-off and use it while relearning and transition to the 5 string later. I'll only ever be playing along with music by myself so I'm not overly concerned with the low quality on the glarry as I can setup/adjust it myself so long as nothing is too bad out of the box.
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Advice for someone starting over after 30 years
- Thread starter scamp2112
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Starting with a 5 is fine. I did. For the first couple of years I just used the b string as a thumb rest, mostly. And if the b string really bothers you, take it off. You can always put it back on, later.
Why do you think you sound bad on the 5 and think you will sound better on the 4? Having to mute either 3 strings or 4 strings when you are on the g string is pretty much the same thing.
Why do you think you sound bad on the 5 and think you will sound better on the 4? Having to mute either 3 strings or 4 strings when you are on the g string is pretty much the same thing.
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I think I found the video you mention
The reasons he gives:
- muting is hard, 5 makes it harder
- plucking the right string is hard, 5 makes it harder
- slapping is hard, 5 makes it harder due to narrower string spacing
- more notes to learn
- "clunky": bigger bass, fatter string can be awkward
- non- classic sound
- possible overuse of low notes
The gap between noob and competent is not really much bigger between 4 or 5 string.
I don't think starting 5 is that much of a problem, I would not worry about it.
I'd say Focus on practice not gear for now. Once you can play with some confidence, then you can try out other instruments and see if 4 is better for you.
The most important thing is having a bass that inspires you to pick it up every day. If you are inspired by the 5er then that's the right bass for you.
I always recommend Rich Brown for anyone really. Find his beginner videos and have at it.
www.youtube.com
Rich Brown - The Brown'stone
Welcome to The Brown'stone, friends & neighbours. Thanks for being here.
www.youtube.com
Hello to someone in a very similar position as myself one year ago.
The 5 string is fine. Like you, I had a 5 string from a long ways back. Unlike you, I also still had a 4 string.
I decided to shake off all of that accumulated rust and stretch my brain with the 5 string. As other people have said before, you can treat a 5 string as though it's just a 4 string with a big thumb rest.
However, I also decided to modernize my technique as I was relearning, and learned floating thumb. Not a floating anchored thumb, but the kind where your plucking hand stays in the same position, with a straight wrist, and your thumb lying on the strings to mute them, with your arm moving your hand back and forth over the strings.
My goal was better ergonomics, but it also opened up the low B string for me. I found myself using the low E on the B string a lot more than the open E and playing in the upper positions across the fretboard rather than down in first position.
I also joined Pickup Music, which is an online learning site that fuses personal feedback and live lessons into the mix. I've found it to be a good platform for learning, with "pathways" that lead you through from beginner to advanced. Corbin Jones' instruction videos on that site are great! You can get a free trial and they have a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied after the first 30 days (I think... I didn't use it).
Anyway, one year later and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm so thankful for the TB community, and for being able to play music. It really helps to have something positive to focus on when the world is falling apart!
Oh, and if you can find some friends to play with, do it as soon as you can. Playing along with music is fun, but playing with other people is magical. Even when you know that you have a long way to go (I certainly do), it's an amazing feeling.
Welcome back to bass! And to TB! I think you'll like it here, the people are generally very supportive.
Keep your five string. Back in 2009, It was close to 26 years for me when I started playing again but with a four string fretless. Then I quickly realized that the majority of songs that motivated me to play bass in the first place had low B and C notes in them. So I special ordered a five string fretless and have been at it ever since
If you want to eventually play 5, then stick with the 5. I played a 4 for over a decade, transitioned to 5, and finally transitioned to 6. For most of us this sort of transition knocks you back quite a bit. So I would recommend avoiding the hassle and frustration of adding another string down the road.
If the bass requires too much strength, get a good setup done with low action. If the setup is already good, you need time for your muscles to become conditioned and develop the necessary coordination. It takes time and practice to learn how to play efficiently with optimal force. Beginners tend to apply too much force and tend to clench.
If the bass requires too much strength, get a good setup done with low action. If the setup is already good, you need time for your muscles to become conditioned and develop the necessary coordination. It takes time and practice to learn how to play efficiently with optimal force. Beginners tend to apply too much force and tend to clench.
what bass do you have? i think more important than number of strings is do you like your bass. if it beckons you to pick it up all the time then thats the right one.
IF you aren't going to use all the strings on a 5, then get rid of it and get a decent 4. Why start playing again on a bass that plays like a brick. Play some basses before you buy one. Pickup something comfortable and give it a good setup! You may not stay with it if you don't? Keep the 5 you have and go after it. Don't take the damn B string off and try to learn that way. That will only cause problems. Good luck!
I also agree with the floating thumb technique. When I first learned bass it was on a 4. The 5 did not exist back in the 60s. When I went to a 5, I was lost, as my plucking hand orientation was off. I adapted to the floating thumb technique and everything came together on the 5. If you can find a decent teacher, in person lessons are a great way to start. Good luck.
One of my relatives did the bass buzz course and I had a chance to look through it. It’s very good, very flexible schedule wise, and even had a couple of things in it that were challenging for me….even though I had been gigging for years. It will definitely take you to a level that you could start playing with a band. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best one that I have seen if an actual teacher isn’t an option.
Though the recommendation may be to use a 4 string, there is no reason that you can’t use your 5 string. The muting of strings is more difficult on a 5 string, but the overall technique isn’t that much different. As was already suggested, use the B string as your thumb rest and it really won’t even be too noticeable that you are using a 4 string. After you’ve gone through the course, just spend some time learning how to add the low b string into your playing and you’ll be set.
The one big suggestion that I do have for you though, is the bass buzz course has a short section on the nashville number system. In my experience, a 5 string bass is PERFECT for using the nashville number system since the scale can go horizontal across the neck with a wider range. So REALLY learn how to use it.
You find a way to do the things you want to do. With current technology you can take live lessons from anyone anywhere in the world. One on one live lessons are the best way to get restarted.
Watching a video isn’t a lesson. A lesson provides feedback on what you are doing right or wrong.
Nobody is so busy that they can’t spare an hour every couple of weeks.
Watching a video isn’t a lesson. A lesson provides feedback on what you are doing right or wrong.
Nobody is so busy that they can’t spare an hour every couple of weeks.
I found this really helpful for making NNS easy to understand: https://www.eastmountainbluegrass.com/files/Bass_Number_SystemWEB.pdf
I agree with the suggestions of the YouTubers mentioned above (Brownstone & BassBuzz) as good resources, and a third that I also use and would recommend is eBassGuitar eBassGuitar – Start Playing Bass at 50+
The big downside of just using videos is they don't provide feedback like a teacher can, so there's that. If you can find a good teacher in your area and do both, I'd recommend both.
I'll also chime in with my opinion that having a bass that you want to pick up and play, one that you feel comfortable with, is really important for long term progress. This isn't always the most expensive bass, either. I wouldn't rush to sell your mim jazz, I'd maybe buy an inexpensive four string to help get back up to speed until you feel ready for the fiver. Maybe a Glarry, or maybe a Yamaha TRBX174 which is also an excellent value. Whichever feels better in your hands.
Also, if you are self -teaching as a beginner, consult the holy trinity of safe bass technique videos
Heya, BassBuzz alumni here! 
I highly recommend the course.
KEEP your 5 string!!! I followed that same advice from Josh when coming back to bass in 2022 (even though I knew I wanted a 5 string), wish I had bought the bass I wanted in the first place. You can absolutely go through all the material with the bass you have, you’ll just have to be aware of muting like others have mentioned.
If/when you start the course, be sure to give yourself some grace! Go through the lessons at a pace that works for you. Don’t get too hung up on the “normal” workouts (he’ll talk about that a bunch), you can always come back to them.
GLHF!
I highly recommend the course.KEEP your 5 string!!! I followed that same advice from Josh when coming back to bass in 2022 (even though I knew I wanted a 5 string), wish I had bought the bass I wanted in the first place. You can absolutely go through all the material with the bass you have, you’ll just have to be aware of muting like others have mentioned.
If/when you start the course, be sure to give yourself some grace! Go through the lessons at a pace that works for you. Don’t get too hung up on the “normal” workouts (he’ll talk about that a bunch), you can always come back to them.
GLHF!
Number of strings is not as important as just learning solid technique and following a well-structured path to re-learning the instrument, or possibly learning it correctly in the first place? I too quit for a very long period, 25 years in my case, and returned to find I had forgotten most everything I previously knew. I worked my way through Rich Brown's curriculum from beginner to the more advanced lessons, and found this to be a very effective way to relearn the instrument. I do not slap, and I do not pick, never have, so I did not need instruction on that. For picking up pure finger style playing I do not think you can beat Rich.
Keep the bass you have. If its the only one, you will pick it up.
Jazz bass 5's have a decent neck profile to get used to.
Practice what you have to for the lessons but also practice the songs and style that interests you. You will learn faster playing songs you like.
Never keep the bass in a case. You want it clearly visible and enticing you to pick it up.
Never forget your roots. The songs that moved you towards learning the instrument are alway key to you gaining some mastery and providing a yard stick for self review, which is often the harshest of critique.
Jazz bass 5's have a decent neck profile to get used to.
Practice what you have to for the lessons but also practice the songs and style that interests you. You will learn faster playing songs you like.
Never keep the bass in a case. You want it clearly visible and enticing you to pick it up.
Never forget your roots. The songs that moved you towards learning the instrument are alway key to you gaining some mastery and providing a yard stick for self review, which is often the harshest of critique.
D
"Jaco only needed 4 strings."
People have fun here and repeat silly quotes here on TB.
Welcome to TalkBass!
I suggest that you make sure your bass is accessible at all times.
I do not keep my basses in the hardshell cases buried underneath a bed or in a closet.
It helps me to improve if I play every single day.
Most days I do not have any plan on what to play so I just pick up the bass and thump away.
I find it very relaxing.
Over the years there is one habit that has improved my technique in every way possible and that is by video recording every single thing I play and watch it back.
It has profoundly improved my ability.
Keep those fingers moving.
Immerse yourself and everything bass.
Try to watch videos on YouTube on subjects you thought you would not even be interested in just to learn as much as you possibly can regarding bass.
Congratulations on your 5 string!!!
People have fun here and repeat silly quotes here on TB.
Welcome to TalkBass!
I suggest that you make sure your bass is accessible at all times.
I do not keep my basses in the hardshell cases buried underneath a bed or in a closet.
It helps me to improve if I play every single day.
Most days I do not have any plan on what to play so I just pick up the bass and thump away.
I find it very relaxing.
Over the years there is one habit that has improved my technique in every way possible and that is by video recording every single thing I play and watch it back.
It has profoundly improved my ability.
Keep those fingers moving.
Immerse yourself and everything bass.
Try to watch videos on YouTube on subjects you thought you would not even be interested in just to learn as much as you possibly can regarding bass.
Congratulations on your 5 string!!!
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