Am I simply not a 5/6 string player?

[Pings Bass]

If you don't need it, don't bother.

If you work with singers who to transpose songs, you might need it, and you'll soon realize it's not about the extra 5 low notes, it's about transposing by 4ths and 5ths with ease.

If you're playing rock covers in original keys, you don't need it. My $.02 worth.

 

[SJan3]

There are only 12 notes in the musical alphabet, and 4-string basses have all 12 of them, which means any song ever written, in any key, you can adapt to the 4-string bass, if you choose.

That said, 2 months is not a long time to master a new skill. The main "value" of a 5-string bass (in my opinion) is that it allows you to study music by the great 5-string players (of whom there are many). If any of your favorite bassists are 5-string players, then in my opinion it might be worth holding on your Squier for a while longer, if nothing else as a study tool for learning songs that were originally recorded on 5-string.

Good point, and on that note(no pun intended), all of my favorite players play 4 string. Nuff said..

 

[dkelley]

Carrots

 

[Hambone70]

It took a little getting used to, especially the neck width, but I found so many benefits to a 5, so I stuck to it.

The more I play a 5, the more it makes sense to me. I treat the 5th fret like the nut, which effectively gives me a E-C 5-string with the option of dropping down for the notes below low E when I want/need to. Otherwise I don't have to reach below the 5th fret if I don't need to, and I have two entire octaves available with a shift of just 2 frets. And OFPF is a lot easier at and above the 5th fret, even with 35" scale.

It's a pretty straightforward transition from 4, just drop everything down a string and up 5 frets. It's great to have the option of playing songs in keys below E down to B an octave down from a 4-string, too, although this obviously requires some work below the 5th fret.

Transposing songs is a lot easier, too. So many 5-string benefits to me, but not to everyone. This is a great time to try it out. Good on you for being open-minded enough to try it.

 

[mouthmw]

Just play what you like. I don't really care for fivers either, and I'm fine with that.

 

[dmt]

Almost bought a 5 string once...nah, who am I kidding, no I didn’t

Unless you’re trying to meet some requirement, play whatever you want. If you just wanted to explore, now you’ve explored. Now you know.

Still, I’d keep it around (assuming you have the space and don’t need the money for something else). The itch may come and go, a need may arise, etc., and you’ll have a familiar one right there on hand. Unless of course you become sure that it’s just not for you and you just want it out if the house, lol. Then, it’s out she goes!

Otherwise, no need to push it. Maybe you’ll get more into it later...

That’s kinda how I am with fretless. I was both curious and wanted/needed a certain sound for an idea I had, but after getting one I eventually found out I wasn’t ever going to be a big fretless guy. But it’s still nice to have one around for when the itch or occasion arises. Not essential for me, but a cool tool to have on hand. Maybe that’s how you’ll be with a 5

 

[whitedk57]

I had a 5 string bass in the early 80's. Moved away from it - amps don't really do a B string justice. Now, almost 40 years later, I started playing 5's at some gigs - a decent PA nowadays can do a B string justice. The other half of your instrument (whatever rig you play it through) can make a huge difference in how useful those few extra notes are.

That's what an Acme cab can do. It was designed for the Low B. My cab is a Low B2, but alas, I only play 4 bangers...

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

You're in denial.

Just kidding. If you aren't feeling it don't do it. I'm able to enjoy both.

And if you're gonna play a Fiver always remember..... A is in the middle!

So do whatcha like

Rezdog

 

[eddododo]

Two months is a decent amount of time, assuming you’ve been focused. If you’ve been hopping back-and-forth or just putting the bass down every time you stumble, or similarly if you only play bass for ten minutes twice a week or something, then that’s not a long enough adjustment period; If you play a lot and you’ve been gigging etc, while not allowing yourself to backslide into 4 strings, then I’d say you had a fair go. That being said, even if you have been playing a ton I wouldn’t say the two months is enough time to completely assimilate five string playing into your long term muscle memory etc, so there’s still some growth curve to be climbed, but it’s definitely enough time to make a ‘fair enough’ call


As far as the advantages, you have the obvious extended range, Do you have a wider pitch range available in a single position, and you have a new fat and different string to choose for the tone of your notes (I.E. G on an E string sound vs on a B string)

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I've been playing 4-string bass guitars for over a decade and two months ago I purchased a "starter" Squier Jazz V bass to test out playing a 5-string. Not sure why, but I'm just not feeling it and consistently fall back to my favorite 4-string bass. I'm not seeing the value in the extra string for my playing yet Am I just being impatient or am I just a 4-string player?

There isnt any. Basses have 4 strings.

 

[red_rhino]

As well as sit back and enjoy the next 10-12 pages of posts saying pretty much the same thing in various forms.

(sighs, deletes reply, closes boilerplate fill-in-the-blanks "4 vs 5" template and files it next to "P vs J" template, pours another cup of coffee and goes on with the rest of my day)

 

[Ric5]

I've been playing 4-string bass guitars for over a decade and two months ago I purchased a "starter" Squier Jazz V bass to test out playing a 5-string. Not sure why, but I'm just not feeling it and consistently fall back to my favorite 4-string bass. I'm not seeing the value in the extra string for my playing yet Am I just being impatient or am I just a 4-string player?

I used to have that same exact mindset … until I got in a band that played songs that demanded I play notes lower than a low E ...

I tried drop D and I hated it, I also tried BEAD and I missed the G string. Then I gigged with 3 basses, a Rickenbacker tuned normal, a p-bass tuned E flat, and a jazz bass tuned DGCF, then I needed a low D flat so I got a 5 string bass. At first it seems wrong and unnatural … but I got used to it and now I prefer a 5 or a 6 to a 4

 

[Ric5]

(sighs, deletes reply, closes boilerplate fill-in-the-blanks "4 vs 5" template and files it next to "P vs J" template, pours another cup of coffee and goes on with the rest of my day)

or you can ignore threads with topics you are not interested in ...

 

[chris_b]

I don't believe in terms like 4 string player or 5 string player. We're all bass players and our basses are the tools that get the job done. Choose the right tool for your job.

There's no harm in trying different basses and no problem in selling them if you don't get on with them.

 

[Rob112]

I tried a 5 years ago and my experience was similar then. I recently started wanting to play things that incorporate a five so now I had a need. I recently bought one and honestly is was so easy for me.

TLDR is you don’t have a real need it probably won’t be worth it.

 

[mikewalker]

I hated the five string I bought a couple of years ago. Sold it immediately! I have since discovered that I can play a fiver 'somewhat comfortably' only if it has extremely narrow string spacing. I'm in the process of building ' a house five string' for guests who drop in but I'm sticking with the four-bangers for my own personal use

 

[singlemalt]

After years of fives and six strings, I’m back to fours and very happy.

Try the five string E-C and see if that does anything for ya.

When I went to six, it had to be all six string, all the time. Or it wasn’t going to happen.

Same with five strings, whatever string set I used.

Wire up your brain for what you play.

 

[micguy]

That's what an Acme cab can do. It was designed for the Low B. My cab is a Low B2, but alas, I only play 4 bangers...

Actually, Acme's are about the only cabinets that even do a low E justice - even they are down about 6dB at 31 Hz (Low B) - they're as good as it gets in a "bass cabinet" (A solid PA does even better), and they give away a bunch of efficiency to do what they do. Loud, low, or small - pick 2.

 

[mattj1stc]

I was a 4 string bass guitar player because back when I started, basses only had 4 strings. I found myself needing some lower notes, so I tried out a 5 string. I had to try several before locking in with current bass. Because I was an old school P bass player, the Lakland 5 string P ended up being the best fit for me. 5 strings have a lot more variability in terms of dimensions and feel, s you may need to try several before finding the one that's best for you. You also have to be a little persistent in terms of adapting to it.

 

[Killing Floor]

Are you trying to play your new 5 through your old 4 string amp? Sounds like a whole new rig will fix the imbalance.