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Anyone else struggle to play 4-strings after playing fivers (or more)?

Naigewron

Naigewron

Jan 5, 2018
1,576
4,488
Norway
#1
I started playing fivers three years ago and enjoyed it so much that I stopped playing fours entirely. My right hand technique massively shifted to adapt to the extra string (especially to improve muting, but also to comfortably reach across all the strings without any effort). I fully adapted floating thumb, and everything about my picking hand adjusted accordingly, like wrist angle, the way I attack the strings, no longer resting my forearm on the bass, and so on. All in all, this was a great move, and my playing improved leaps and bounds (and my right thumb stopped hurting from all the weight it was supporting).

Now I bought a 4-string again, because I wanted to have a classic "P-bass with flats" available to me, and I really struggle with it. I can't move across the strings comfortably, and nothing feels good about it. So now I'm torn between just replacing it with a 5-string version of the same bass, or try to stick with it and force myself to get used to the 4-string.

Now, I don't have any problems with the prospect of only ever playing 5-strings for the rest of my... ehh... career (?). My main concern is that if I ever need to borrow a bass, like for a jam session or sitting in with another group, I will most likely be handed a 4-string, and I will need to be able to play it at least semi-competently. But it's not like this is a common occurence, and I'm not sure I'll ever really be in a situation in the foreseeable future where I'm going to be jamming with someone and not bring my own instrument.

Anyone else have the same struggle?
 
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#2
I got my first five for xmas in '21 from my wife. I sold all my other basses, except for the one I learned on, mostly for sentimental reasons. I play my five every day a lot, but still periodically pick up my four. My fingers of my left hand fly off the board looking for the extra string lol. I switched it to BEAD just in case I need an emergency bass for a show, and that helped, but my fingers still fly off haha. I'm sold on fives. Just makes sense, especially with jazz. I love that I can play Eb and other 'horn keys' in comfortable and good sounding positions. It just makes sense to me. Be well, BASS.
 
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#4
I'm 4-string guy, but years ago I adopted the floating thumb technique for all the reasons you did (although muting isn't as big an issue on a 4-string, of course). I don't see why you shouldn't be able to transfer the same technique from 5 to 4 with a little practice. Or, maybe with a 4-string you need to tweak your strap length, or angle of the neck, or something simple like that so your hand position is the same as on the fiver.
 
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#5
I've played nothing but 5 string electric basses for the past 40 years (admittedly, I don't play bass consistently... I'm primarily a pianist so my bass playing goes in spurts) since those are what "fell in my lap" as good instruments at great prices over the years, but never really had a use for that 5th string, having learned to play classical string bass first. Bought my first brand new bass, a four string, a month or so ago, and it was like getting hugged by an old friend. Man, it feels great not to have that 5th string on it. No adjustment needed at all.
 
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#6
I switch between six and four string basses regularly, but it comes naturally. However, I play both differently, as if they were two distinct instruments (I play fours thinking about how I would approach a song or line from an upright point of view, I tend to play more 'money zone', while that region is pretty awkward to play on a six with a longer scale)

It may take a while, but keep at it. It'll only get easier over time.
 
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#7
Lee Moses said:
like someone switching between bass and guitar.
Click to expand...

Weirdly enough, I don't have any problems switching between bass and guitar, or fretted and fretless bass. But once I pick up my 4-string, I just don't feel at home anymore.

My fretless is even the exact same model bass, equipped with the same strings, just with 5 strings instead of 4, so you couldn't really get much closer.
 
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#11
Naigewron said:
Weirdly enough, I don't have any problems switching between bass and guitar, or fretted and fretless bass. But once I pick up my 4-string, I just don't feel at home anymore.

My fretless is even the exact same model bass, equipped with the same strings, just with 5 strings instead of 4, so you couldn't really get much closer.
Click to expand...
When you play a fiver, how much do you use the B-string? If you're accustomed to using it a lot, and using fingerings for scales and such that include notes on the B, then switching to a 4-string means having to re-learn a lot of fingering patterns that you haven't practiced in a long time.

I'm just spitballin' here, but maybe it would help you transition if you spent some time practicing on your five-string, but without ever using the B string. It would be the same physical instrument and would feel familiar, but it would force you to use fingerings without relying on the B. Once you feel like you're getting the hang of playing without a low B, take off the "training wheels" and try the 4 again.
 
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#14
I can go back and forth easily as long as I'm not playing the same things. I use my 5 strings for B focused music. Playing those songs on a BEAD 4 string can mess me up. Similarly, playing E standard songs on a 5 might throw me. But in either case not enough that it takes long to adjust.
My 5 string basses are also 35" scale, so the E feels a little funny.
 
#19
Like everyone (most everyone) I started out on a 4. Changed exclusively to 5 for 15 years? Life changed, I started playing at a really small mostly acoustic joint. So I changed back to a 4. The 4 seemed to fit better. I know I could have played my 5, but it gave me an excuse to own a few 4 stringers. I can switch between the 2 OK. I use a thumb rest or edge of pickup for my thumb on my 4's. When I play my 5, I use the 5th as my thumb rest. So 1-4 strings are still the same on either bass in reference to my fingers. I float my thumb off when I play the 5th string. (which I probably do a little too much)
 
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