Can't play 4-string anymore!!

[Sixgunn]

A few years ago, I got bit by the 5-string bug and have never looked back! I LOVE my B string, the feel of the neck etc. Fast forward to now. My band is playing some songs that were very specifically 4-string songs (Hallowed Be Thy Name, for one) so I thought it would be cool to dust off my old (1965) P-bass and "Steve Harris out"! FAIL!! 4-string just feels WRONG now. 5s have made my "floating thumb" technique (finger player obviously) totally second nature now so the B string is often times where my thumb is. Also, I love having the A string in the middle. String orientation, playing a 4 now is confusing! I'm sure that I could re-learn it quickly but honestly, I love my 5s and I don't really see the point. Long story short, I now play Iron Maiden songs on boutique 5-strings..... The SACRILEGE!! Oh.... steel rounds too!!!!

 

[The Ryantist]

I don't know for sure, but I'd expect to be in the same boat. My first bass I got in high school was a 5. Now I've owned a total of 7 basses, none of them were four strings. Tried a 6 in there somewhere and went back to 5. Actually my first 3 were all 16.5 mm spacing. I've now settled on 2 EBMM's as my keepers (probably), so at 17.5 mm they feel "wide" haha I don't know how I'd fare on something with 19 mm.

 

[ScarfFace]

I'm curious as to what it means for songs to be, "very specifically 4-string songs." Are we talking image here? Just that the line never goes lower than an E?

 

[Baird6869]

A few years ago, I got bit by the 5-string bug and have never looked back! I LOVE my B string, the feel of the neck etc. Fast forward to now. My band is playing some songs that were very specifically 4-string songs (Hallowed Be Thy Name, for one) so I thought it would be cool to dust off my old (1965) P-bass and "Steve Harris out"! FAIL!! 4-string just feels WRONG now. 5s have made my "floating thumb" technique (finger player obviously) totally second nature now so the B string is often times where my thumb is. Also, I love having the A string in the middle. String orientation, playing a 4 now is confusing! I'm sure that I could re-learn it quickly but honestly, I love my 5s and I don't really see the point. Long story short, I now play Iron Maiden songs on boutique 5-strings..... The SACRILEGE!! Oh.... steel rounds too!!!!

I'm the same. I pick up my 70's Fender P or J now and they just feel weird.

I wouldn't say I CANT play them, but I miss the B string even on songs where it is basically a thumbrest.

My 6 string also feels weird as the C screws me up, so it is obviously all about personal preference.

 

[Baird6869]

I'm curious as to what it means for songs to be, "very specifically 4-string songs." Are we talking image here? Just that the line never goes lower than an E?

Not to speak for the OP, but for me there are a few songs that I wouldn't touch the B if I played them. I don't really play Sweet Home Alabama, Brown Eyed Girl or Mustang Sally, but they would be good examples of songs I likely would just play as recorded. If basic songs like that are in E or D, I would likely go low on the B if it fit, but I wouldn't play an easy song like Sweet Home on the 8th-10th frets on the E and B strings. Just my weird way of playing, I guess.

 

[Makatak]

It might be an age thing, I dont know how old you are but im 47 years old and after playing 4 strings for 30 years, and attempting to feel confortable with 5 on many occasions, I can`t seem to get with it. Im able to " switch off " on 4 and enjoy the gig and either slap furiously or groove seamlessly without feeling cramped. I totally get the five drive but it`s just not me. Give me a Hipshot D-Tuner though

 

[Dash Lashes]

sell off your 4

 

[Sixgunn]

I'm curious as to what it means for songs to be, "very specifically 4-string songs." Are we talking image here? Just that the line never goes lower than an E?

Not image. Just songs that never go below E. Well, I guess there could be a bit of image like for older songs (and Maiden lol) that people (ok, bassists) associate with P basses, etc.

 

[BBox Bass]

Assuming you're not a heavy user of the G string, consider converting your 4s to BEAD. Mine sat in storage for awhile because I have the same problem. I started playing them again after I put them in BEAD tuning.

 

[Baird6869]

It might be an age thing, I dont know how old you are but im 47 years old and after playing 4 strings for 30 years, and attempting to feel confortable with 5 on many occasions, I can`t seem to get with it. Im able to " switch off " on 4 and enjoy the gig and either slap furiously or groove seamlessly without feeling cramped. I totally get the five drive but it`s just not me

In my case, I am 46 and started playing 4's when I was 15 or so. I bought my first 5er about 8 years ago and went back and forth with 4,5 and 6 strings for a few years.

I finally standardized on 5ers almost exclusively about 3-4 years ago. I finally realized that I don't have to use the B for everything or change my playing a ton. I still have a few 4 strings and I still play them, but really prefer 5ers.

Modes and most theory strangely come much easier on a 5 for me as an example.

My 5ers are all 19mm 34" as well. I couldn't slap or play very well on a 16.5mm 35" 5er to say the least.

To each their own!

 

[Sixgunn]

It might be an age thing, I dont know how old you are but im 47 years old and after playing 4 strings for 30 years, and attempting to feel confortable with 5 on many occasions, I can`t seem to get with it. Im able to " switch off " on 4 and enjoy the gig and either slap furiously or groove seamlessly without feeling cramped. I totally get the five drive but it`s just not me. Give me a Hipshot D-Tuner though

Hey youngster I'm 52 and have been playing 4s since the 1970s. I think what pushed me over to the 5 (dark?) side was playing in a "technical death metal band" and getting VERY used to it.

 

[Sixgunn]

I bought my first 5er about 8 years ago and went back and forth with 4,5 and 6 strings for a few years.
To each their own!

Yeah, I actually got a 6 before I got a 5. After trying a 5, the 6 felt like playing a surfboard!! Playing metal with a lot of low B string gets to be uncomfortable. 5s are perfect for me.

 

[TheBass]

It's the opposite for me. I'm 51 playing 4s since the 70s too. Being driven to 5s +10years ago because bands/music demands it but without developing any love for 5s. I play both but my love will always be the 4-string.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I know what you mean.

Once I went to a five years ago,I never when back to a four.
I went to a six string fretless.
And even to a seven string fretted!
But not back to a four.

Besides.
Each one HAS a four stringer in it.
The E,A.D, and G strings!

 

[Muddslide]

I'm thinking of going the OTHER way...like Mark Sandman (RIP) from the band Morphine or the guy from Presidents of the United States of America--I'm gonna drop down to TWO strings!

How's that old saying go? "There's no money above the A string??"

 

[Alaotatto]

you crazy

 

[jim nolte]

Hey youngster I'm 52 and have been playing 4s since the 1970s. I think what pushed me over to the 5 (dark?) side was playing in a "technical death metal band" and getting VERY used to it.

Hey youngster I'm 62 and have been playing bass since 1968. I switched to 5 strings in 1992 with one of Fenders first 5s a Jazz Bass Plus 5. with 5/8ths '16mm?' string spacing. Funny you mentioned your '65 P bass, I have a '65 Jazz bass that pretty much sits in the closet, I know , I know it's a shame and I should sell it so a real gigging player could rock it . But I've had it for 45 years since I was in High School, and it really is a stellar bass. But yeah, whenever I strap it on it's fun for a while but when I pick up my BN5 I just prefer it for a lot of the reasons you stated, even if the material I'm playing doesn't require the B string to be anything but a thumbrest. I like the wider neck, better ergos, better balance on a strap etc. The only thing I still feel more easy on with the Fender is slapping, but I don't do much of that, nether with the players I jam with or the material I'm personally into playing nowadays. It's not that I can't slap on a 5, buts it's kinda of nice not to have to maneuver around the B string if my right hand technique gets a little sloppy! Jim

 

[rob2966]

I actually started on a 5 and only recently (about 2 years ago) picked up my first 4 string. I actually play both pretty equally now, so I can swap back and forth pretty easily. For the two cover bands I am in I use the 5 string for one of them, the 4 string for the other. I actually play "I Wish" in both bands and can swap with no issues.

Also recently picked up my first 7-string guitar. Again, after a few days of adjustment I am pretty comfy going back and forth between it and all my 6-string guitars.

The key is to not neglect either one for a long period of time.

Later
Rob

 

[mojomike001]

There is plenty of musical material that sounds wrong when notes lower than a low E are played. In many cases it's simply because the originals were played using four strings. This is often older pieces of music. Notes lower than low E sound too "modern" for that sort of music. Old blues is one example.

 

[Ric5]

A few years ago, I got bit by the 5-string bug and have never looked back! I LOVE my B string, the feel of the neck etc. Fast forward to now. My band is playing some songs that were very specifically 4-string songs (Hallowed Be Thy Name, for one) so I thought it would be cool to dust off my old (1965) P-bass and "Steve Harris out"! FAIL!! 4-string just feels WRONG now. 5s have made my "floating thumb" technique (finger player obviously) totally second nature now so the B string is often times where my thumb is. Also, I love having the A string in the middle. String orientation, playing a 4 now is confusing! I'm sure that I could re-learn it quickly but honestly, I love my 5s and I don't really see the point. Long story short, I now play Iron Maiden songs on boutique 5-strings..... The SACRILEGE!! Oh.... steel rounds too!!!!

I sold all of my 4 string basses for that same reason.