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At what point should a new player try a 5 or 6 string?
- Thread starter RabidMusic
- Start date
I have played 4 string basses my entire life, and was weaned off a 1970 Tele bass bought brand new. Still play 4's exclusively. In 2009 I had the opportunity to pick up an excellent MIJ Yamaha BB5000 (5 string). What they did was convert a 4 string to a 5, meaning the strings are much closer together than standard 4 spacing.
So now I pick it up and it is very difficult to overcome years of muscle memory based on Fender (std 3/4") Fender spacing.
All I'm saying is, if you want to go to 5 string, do it. Just make sure the bass you choose doesn't feel so alien that it becomes a dramatic change in your playing method. Adding the extra string should be a moderate change, but not an OMG change. Feel comfortable playing the 4 strings you know and then feel you can add in the B when you need it while maintaining your style.
New instruments shouldn't make the change very drastic and I'm sure there's one out there just for you!
So now I pick it up and it is very difficult to overcome years of muscle memory based on Fender (std 3/4") Fender spacing.
All I'm saying is, if you want to go to 5 string, do it. Just make sure the bass you choose doesn't feel so alien that it becomes a dramatic change in your playing method. Adding the extra string should be a moderate change, but not an OMG change. Feel comfortable playing the 4 strings you know and then feel you can add in the B when you need it while maintaining your style.
New instruments shouldn't make the change very drastic and I'm sure there's one out there just for you!
Saw that this morning in a video. Never knew about it before that. One of my biggest worries is finding beginner level 5 or 6 string online lessons. I've found a few. Very few.
Yes for modern music with synths low E isn't very. For classic rock blues funk r&b etc etc you play higher octave notes and they are just as effective because that's the range that moves air and people can hear. But I Love the low D on a B string...C and C# are nice to have too... just find the scale that fits you, when I got a Lakland 5 it was the right scale. Fender or Ibanez BTB, fahgetaboudit.
I agree, there is No Reason not to start with a 5 or 6 if it fits the music you like. If a person wants to play French Horn there is no reason they should start on trumpet or sax for oboe Other than FHorn and decent oboes are Expensive and it's good to see if a kid has the perseverance to justify it.
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Yeah, most beginner level videos, books, lessons will be for four string. But, you don't *have* to play the B or C strings. Start on the EADG strings and then branch out the you're ready.
At whet point should a carpenter buy a framing hammer? How about before he does framing, so he gets some practice with it?
Different basses are different tools, useful for different tasks. My 5 strings aren't all that useful right now - all the gigs I'm doing are virtual church services, and a low B isn't going to play well with your 5 inch (or smaller) woofers while you're watching Youtube. But, my fretless is useful now - I can change basses between songs now, because....they're separate recordings, so no matter how close it is between sections where I play, right now that doesn't matter.
A 5 string bass is much more useful when I play through real PA's - even a bass amp doesn't really do the B string justice. So, when choosing a bass, consider the situation(s) you'll use it in.
Different basses are different tools, useful for different tasks. My 5 strings aren't all that useful right now - all the gigs I'm doing are virtual church services, and a low B isn't going to play well with your 5 inch (or smaller) woofers while you're watching Youtube. But, my fretless is useful now - I can change basses between songs now, because....they're separate recordings, so no matter how close it is between sections where I play, right now that doesn't matter.
A 5 string bass is much more useful when I play through real PA's - even a bass amp doesn't really do the B string justice. So, when choosing a bass, consider the situation(s) you'll use it in.
He made it look easy, yes?
It would be wise to get a 'no questions asked refund if necessary' guarentee, just in case you change your mind.
Perhaps you could discuss your intended bass model here, might help point you in the right direction.
Also, be wary of shop salesmen, times are hard and they have a lot of stock the want to shift. (They're not all bad, some are very helpful).
I waited WAY too many years to try new things. It was a big mistake. I have corrected all of that this last year. While the saying “life is full of choices “ is certainly true, having “options” is a really good idea. I would look at whatever you are contemplating to be used in ADDITION to what you have now and are comfortable with, NOT to replace it. I would look at something moderately priced, new or used, WITH the ability to return the item if things don’t work out. This in the long run IS a really big deal. Just some advice.
Immediately, although my technique ( such as it is) and approach to the instrument varies considerably from 4-5-6.
I’ve changed my mind on this issue recently. I always assumed one should learn 4 as a basis and go from there. However, I have a friend who just fell in love with Starting the bass and he asked me what I thought.
As many of us have experienced, when you but a low B on there, it seems simple to just add the options the extra string allows, but when you get playing, your muscle memory kicks in and suddenly all goes haywire. Your brain says the E is the 2nd from bottom but your body says the lowest is E. I might not be saying this clearly.
I ended up telling him to start with the 5 because then he won’t have all the muscle memory to deal with. He will simply learn the bass as a 5 string instrument. He bought a 5 string and took off.
As many of us have experienced, when you but a low B on there, it seems simple to just add the options the extra string allows, but when you get playing, your muscle memory kicks in and suddenly all goes haywire. Your brain says the E is the 2nd from bottom but your body says the lowest is E. I might not be saying this clearly.
I ended up telling him to start with the 5 because then he won’t have all the muscle memory to deal with. He will simply learn the bass as a 5 string instrument. He bought a 5 string and took off.
