Are 5-string basses dying out?

[Mudfuzz]

5 string basses [upright and then bassguitar] with a low B have been used in popular music for over 100 years, they are not going away.

 

[MTD Man]

Some have said that 5's (with low B) complete the package for them, and that is definately the same case for me. When I am playing, often I will funk a groove up by playing 5ths, and having the low B to play a 5th lower of say a note on the E, is very cool. It serves as a great thumb rest too...

To me anything lower is a bit too much, but maybe my mind will be opened to even that someday....

The worst thing you can do is not be open.....


Chris

 

[malthumb]

Actually Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller have both played a 5er at some point in every live show I've seen them play. Granted the 4 is their primary, but they still have use for the 5 string.

I've never seen Nathan East play anything but a five string.

Peace,

James

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Nathan's got a newer six-string (that looks exactly like his white Yamaha five-string) that he's been pictured with already as well.

 

[Bernie Connors]

Nathan's got a newer six-string (that looks exactly like his white Yamaha five-string) that he's been pictured with already as well.

Yeah, he uses it on the Crossroads festival DVD too. Very nice bass.

 

[Lokire]

Victor and Marcus both play fives and sixes as well- Vic's one fretless that he always plays is a five-string, and I think all of Marcus' fretlesses are five or six-string.

They just don't get seen as much because people focus on their slapping, which they both do primarily on four-string.

And Victor's Joe Compito 6-string. That bass both looks and sounds incredible

 

[j-raj]

And Victor's Joe Compito 6-string. That bass both looks and sounds incredible

his fretless 5 compito is pretty killer too!

 

[All_¥our_Bass]

+1

The low B probably completes the package for many players - as opposed to the high C. I know that's the case for me. I had a 6 and personally just didn't use the high C as much as the low B.

I play my 4 string quite a bit. I tend to use the 5 in church. The 5 is the bass I would take if I could only take 1 and wanted the bass on which I felt most comfortable.

lol this ironic for me to read beacause I would like to have more 'upper' range as opposed to lower. Personally(in MY opinion) most notes on a B string are really boomy and muddy.

I am serious considering getting a custom seven string made in the future.. tuned (low to high) E-A-D-G-C-F-Bb.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I don't think the 5-string is dying out in the least. IMHO the 5-string is the standard.

 

[patrickj]

I've sold all of my 4 stringers (well, still have a fretless 4, but it gets zippy play so doesn't count). All I have left are 5 and 6 strings.

I don't "get" de-/alternate tunings. Makes no sense, don't see the necessity or any advantage, so for me a low B is required. And I like to throw a lot of harmonies and other general sound thickening things in when I play (octave major 3rds, major 5ths, or seperate tapped out lines, whatever sounds good) so I get a lot of workout on the C string as well.

4 strings are nice and have their place, but summarily dismissing anything else is rather narrow.

 

[Tbirdbassist]

I can honestly say I've never been offended by a musical instrument. Looks or otherwise.

Wish?

 

[Bassic83]

Ooooh! Sting!

I'm thinking about doing a 3-string. Maybe I'll expand and do a two. Gotta finish my six first, though.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I don't care in the slightest whether 5 string remains popular or not. I'm gonna keep playing mine regardless! It's just right for me.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I don't think the 5-string is dying out in the least. IMHO the 5-string is the standard.

One of my bands is working in a new singer who likes modern radio rock. So, we're learning tunes by Nickelback, Fuel, Stain'd, Velvet Revolver, Gavin DeGraw, 3 Days Grace... maybe even tunes by Godsmack, Puddle of Mudd, Crossfade. The bass lines in these songs usually go deep into 5-string range.

I guess that's Duff with Velvet Revolver? I assume he's still playing 4-string, but he's hitting a low D in "Slither". With a fiver, I don't have to tune down to hit that note!

It isn't just modern metal, though. I often hear five string bass lines in pop, blues, and even country. 5 string is increasing in popularity, not decreasing.

 

[heath_the_great]

nah, i doubt it, its like saying telecasters are becoming less popular...who cares, a bass is a bass until it has more than 6 strings ....but for the music im playin (covers pop/rock/dancy stuff) a 5 string is handy, that and also where im going rnb, hip hop, soul, jazz belnd stuff a 5 string i great

 

[SGT. Pepper]

The 5 is slipping in sales and the four is taking off more and more. Even in the stores there are more 4's than fives on the shelves. People are getting back to the basics and expanding the basics once again. Even the metal bands are useing fours with 37 inch scales and 27 frets to acquire the low end. I reality all you really need is a four.

 

[Lokire]

The 5 is slipping in sales and the four is taking off more and more. Even in the stores there are more 4's than fives on the shelves. People are getting back to the basics and expanding the basics once again. Even the metal bands are useing fours with 37 inch scales and 27 frets to acquire the low end. I reality all you really need is a four.

That was a joke...right?

:ph34r:

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

I reality all you really need is a four.

Glad you decided that for us. I'm sure you could easily play all of Anthony Jackson's fantastic lines with a four-string, right? Or when Bill Dickens plays chords that have five notes in them. How about posting a video for us to prove that's all is needed?

 

[SGT. Pepper]

To play music in a band all you need is a four. Jaco proved that years ago and I can't play like Jaco...

 

[Bernie Connors]

To play music in a band all you need is a four. Jaco proved that years ago and I can't play like Jaco...

Jaco isn't Anthony Jackson.