• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Can someone show me some examples of how a 5 string makes fingering some things easier?

drewphishesp

drewphishesp

Feb 14, 2017
3,831
2,997
#1
besides the extra low notes I am always reading about how the 5 string bass makes some things easier as well

I can think of blues progressions in e and c as being one of them but what other examples are there?

If your playing scales it seems like ull still have to shift to play 2 octaves right?9
 
#2
I'm not sure if this is why folks say that but I considered it because if you've got a low B as the 5th string, as opposed to a high C, your low E is the 5th fret. This means that some of the lines you'd play that are at / around the first fret, where the fret spacing is wider would now be up around the 6th / 7th where it is narrower. In that range doing one finger per fret is more manageable. Curious to hear what others have to say.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Matthew_84, reddog and drewphishesp
#3
Say you want to play the chord progression Bb Eb Bb F using the root, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and diminished 7th. On a 5 string that would be the same pattern across the 5th position. On a 4 string you will need to shift to shift at some point. Like say you play the F and Bb in first position, you will need to either shift the entire chord to the 5th position for the Eb or play the last two notes in the 5th position. You could also play the Bb and Eb in the 6th position, but it would make more sense to play the F in first position.

It isn't really difficult to play things on a 4 string, just sometimes more difficult than on a 5 string.

The reason I picked that chord progression is because it is the one that made me appreciate what a 5 string does. My first bass was a 5 string and I never played the B string except to play an open B or in lieu of drop D.
 
#6
I do not own a 5 string, but, always thought of it as a 4 string with the low B for the low ledger notes. Same if you go high C, the C is for the high ledger notes. As I use standard notation only at home and never at a gig my 4 string gets me by.

Once you go up the neck yes you have more notes in each position. If your hobby budget can stand it - give it a try.
 
#8
On a 5 if you use extended fingerings you have 2 octaves in one position. That means that you can play more without shifting up and down the neck. Also the first position notes on the E string are now 6th position notes on the B string where they are easier to play and fretting them and the fretted E gives more consistency in volume and tone plus the frets being closer together in that position makes the stretches smaller.

C/S,
Rev J
 
  • Like
Reactions: Garret Graves
#9
just curious: do you intend to play all the notes in 2 octaves while laying down the foundation of a 12-bar blues? wouldn't that sound too busy? or maybe you meant for improvising during your solo? in which case the 5-string will be lots of fun and allow you to do upper register double-stops and still provide access to low notes on the b-string - all without having to switch positions too much.
 
#10
What turned me on to the 5 string was not just the low B. but the 5th position Low E, the 4 position Low Eb and the 3rd position Low D. (honorable mention to 6th position F) I went all in and got the 24 fret beast so I could have 2 octave on every string.

I was in a cover band for a few years. I started out on a Fender Precision 4 banger. I loved it, but when we played a song in Eb I would have to play higher up the bass, or have to have a separate bass tuned to Eb.. Sonically it would sound off. I wanted to sound like the "CD" (dating myself) I would have to detune all four strings in order to play the low Eb. takes time and energy from the gig. if the next song in the set was back in E... yea dead space while I re-tune..:sour: (song flow in the set list is (was) pretty important for how we structured our sets). Yes, our guitar player was an engineer who was very particular, but it helped me indirectly become a better bassist.. I digress.

after I went 5, I never had to detune for a song in Eb and most of the "Drop D" stuff either. I hardly ever play my 4 string anymore. It does take some shed time to get used to the tighter string spacing and muting the monster. but I don't ever see myself playing a 4 string if I am being honest.

IMO its worth the shed time and you will notice economy right away. I dabbled in reading some. As Mambo said those extra 4 or more notes in a position is super valuable. Low E is now 5th position (closed) or open E. so possibilities were a lot more wide open. its a confidence boost for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Garret Graves
#11
csc2048b said:
just curious: do you intend to play all the notes in 2 octaves while laying down the foundation of a 12-bar blues? wouldn't that sound too busy? or maybe you meant for improvising during your solo? in which case the 5-string will be lots of fun and allow you to do upper register double-stops and still provide access to low notes on the b-string - all without having to switch positions too much.
Click to expand...

There's an old saying just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should. What I've found after years of playing 5 and 6 string basses is that even though I might not use the whole range even in one position I still have options within there. One example of having that range making things easier is "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. With the exception of the C# in either the 3rd or 4th bar (I can't remember which at this moment) on a 4 string bass you can play the whole thing in first position. On a 5 with a high C (like the original Fender 5 string basses) or a 6 you can play that C# on the first fret of the C string. From what I've read Jamerson had one of those original Fender 5 strings and given his approach it wouldn't surprise me if that was what he played on that track.

C/S,
Rev J
 
#12
Rev J said:
There's an old saying just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should. What I've found after years of playing 5 and 6 string basses is that even though I might not use the whole range even in one position I still have options within there. One example of having that range making things easier is "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. With the exception of the C# in either the 3rd or 4th bar (I can't remember which at this moment) on a 4 string bass you can play the whole thing in first position. On a 5 with a high C (like the original Fender 5 string basses) or a 6 you can play that C# on the first fret of the C string. From what I've read Jamerson had one of those original Fender 5 strings and given his approach it wouldn't surprise me if that was what he played on that track.
Click to expand...
i'm happy with a BEAD and it doesn't take long to forget the G string was even there.
 
#13
One that comes to mind is"Green Onions". The bass riff during the tonic chord "F -Ab-Bb" is a bit of a stretch when played on the E and A strings. I find it much easier to play the F on the B string then the next two notes on the E string. It also makes the transitions to the other chords a lot easier.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back