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5s only for me, been playing them since 1998. When I was singing lead for a rock band, I went 4 because it made things simpler. I've been doing vocals long enough now it doesn't matter so it's 5s only now. My remaining 4s are here for sentimental reasons only.
Switching back and forth is simply a matter of practice. The problem is, we all have limited time to practice, so it becomes a question of whether or not you want to spend your time woodshedding between 4/5/6/? or just focus on one instrument and work on other things. I really don't think 5-string is "a 4-string with an extra string." To me it is a different instrument that lends itself to different approaches to playing music. Sure, I can play the exact same thing on a 5 that I'd play on a 4, but why would I want to? There are certain approaches that work great on a 5 that I can't do on a 4 (like playing vertical in a single position and getting more notes), and there are approaches that work great on a 4 but can be a pita on a 5 (working in open E and having to mute the B-string). So you can either use different instruments, or practice to enable the best outcome on a single instrument.
There is no best solution - it totally depends on the player. Some guys like my friend steubig (who is a freakin' monster player) only plays 6-string, 34" scale, 19mm spaced instruments. But oddly enough he also has some of his basses in different tunings
). Others like Ant Wellington go seamlessly from 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 and back. Just depends on what you want to do with the instrument, and how you want to then get there.
There is no best solution - it totally depends on the player. Some guys like my friend steubig (who is a freakin' monster player) only plays 6-string, 34" scale, 19mm spaced instruments. But oddly enough he also has some of his basses in different tunings
). Others like Ant Wellington go seamlessly from 4 to 5 to 6 to 7 and back. Just depends on what you want to do with the instrument, and how you want to then get there.
Back and forth and back and forth for me.
I learned on a four-banger, so if that's all the music requires, that's where I'll gravitate. But I'm equally comfortable on my fivers.
I learned on a four-banger, so if that's all the music requires, that's where I'll gravitate. But I'm equally comfortable on my fivers.
Lots of players use strings as thumb rests. It's just as legit on a fiver as anything else.
The main thing is, you eventually need to use a consistent anchoring and develop a more intuitive feel for the instrument. If you're only using visual cues, that will throw you when adding or subtracting a string. Pattern-based playing and an intuitive feel should be used, and visual cues should supplement that.
In short, I use string 5 a a thumb anchor all the time on my fivers.
I played exclusively 5 string for over a decade (from 99 to 2013 or so) but these days I own a 5 tuned standard beadg and a 4. I'd still say the 5 is my main instrument and definetly the one I push my ability on.and I have the 4 setup bead as a backup when we're not writing. I've noticed the last couple years that sometimes I like the limits of a 4 string. Mainly for songwriting purposes. I just approach a 4 string a bit differently and it helps me write my lines differently. Like instead of trying to play something fancy for the verse of a song I'll focus more on keeping the bassline simple but using my Pedalboard to make it a little more interesting. Another example... in our band the guitar player uses a lot of baritone tunings and it's really easy to fall into just playing low notes through entire songs. That gets kind of boring to me so when we're writing sometimes I'll setup my 4 string for eadg to force myself to play something different and then take that line I wrote in eadg and combine it with other lines using the low B. I like the dynamics of using the low B string for parts here and there. When it's used too much it kind of loses its magic IMO. As far as using my 4 string in bead as a backup for my 5. It seems to work ok. There's a couple songs I just can't pull off on the 4 but they are songs we rarely play anymore. I can play most of our songs on the 4 string when its setup bead. Just requires playing parts in a higher position. The few parts I can't pull off on the 4 when it's in bead are things like where I'm droning on an open D and playing on the g string. An example of what I mean is try to play lateralis by Tool without using the g string. You can kind of do it but it's not the same sound and is Kind of ridiculous.
Between the mid eighties to around 2009 I played five and six string basses exclusively unless I was asked to bring my Precision to a recording session. I thought I was never going to gig a four string again, but I surprised myself and started playing the fours again. I'm not sure why. Maybe I just like to surprise myself. I play whatever bass I'm in the mood for these days. String count doesn't matter unless I'm on a gig where the extended range is necessary.
I change the strings on the sixer less often than on the fives & fours. Too expensive.
I change the strings on the sixer less often than on the fives & fours. Too expensive.
Got my first 5 in 1991, a Peavey TL-5. Took me a while to get used to it (I'm not very bright!). It wasn't a 4 with an extra string; the extra string kept showing up in the middle, depending on where I was playing. Now I would have a hard time going back to a 4. I don't use the B that much, but it's as handy as a pocket on a shirt when I DO need it. And I like to shake the walls... 
Yes, 5 only here... I was strictly a 4-string player, since starting (as a young teenager) around 1985.. never considered a 5 & was almost "anti-5", I honestly thought it would be a hassle to "relearn"& id never played a 5 that I liked.Plus all my former bass heroes played 4's mostly. Fast forward to oct 2014, I played several high end basses @ the Lowend- an Mtd, Smith, a Ritter & ended up loving a used Modulus Q-5, bought it & immediately grew to love it. I transitioned fully in one week of daily practice! I haven't missed my 4's any. 5's are what I like, & work best for me- although a nice sunburst 62 Pbass reissue might be added to the stable someday- they are simple, sound great & look cool
Just to shake things up...anybody give any thought to what kind of sympathetic vibrations one deals with when it comes to basses with more than 4 strings? Especially when NOT using the B string as a thumb-rest? (pick playing especially)
Yes... and then no. I certainly seek out 5 string options whenever possible and prefer playing 5's first and foremost. I always thought I wouldn't like them, but I really do. The "no" part is that I have recently acquired a Rickenbacker 4003W and absolutely love it. This is only a 4 string option, so now I am playing both.
I pretty much went all 5 around 1991 and never played a 4 since. My first 5 was a peavey dynabass but I didn't like the neck. I got a 4 str EBMM stingray in 1989 then a EBMM stingray 5 in 1990 and it has been all 5 since. I am in a classic rock band that also plays some country. I work in occasional low notes on the classic rock.
I switched to a 5 string several years ago. I did try another 4 string in a trade here in the classifieds but ended up trading it for another 5 string a month or so later. I now own a 5 and a 6 string and wouldn't know what to do with a 4 string bass now. I do find a 4 string easier to slap on but I don't do much slapping these days so I don't see me going back any time soon.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Played 4s for about 12 years before needing to play a 5 for a specific project. Now, I've played both 4s and 5s since, but I don't think I'll ever be as at home on a 5 as I am on a 4. Something about that thinner neck just makes my hands feel like lightning...and I generally like the appearance of a 4 better.
Love all my basses, though, and am always happy to play one of my 5s when it's called for.
Love all my basses, though, and am always happy to play one of my 5s when it's called for.
I went 4, 5, then 6 within my first year of playing.
After a couple years went back to 5, and have remained there ever since. Been playing 10 or 11 years now I think.
After a couple years went back to 5, and have remained there ever since. Been playing 10 or 11 years now I think.
