Do I need a 4 string if I have a 5?

[D Von]

I like to play certain songs on a 4 and certain songs on a 5. I prefer my 5vr for a lot of stuff were I can use the E on the B string cuz I think it sounds better. But, the string spacing is tighter so I like to use my 4 string for the more technical stuff we play. I started on a 4 and got really used to it until just resently purchased my 5vr, that's what I would recomment IMO.

 

[IotaNet]

Genre, preference, feel, whatever ...

For the genre I most piddle around in (Urban Gospel), it's almost a necessity.

I do however, have a 4-string Yamaha P-bass that I keep just because I love it's tone and vibe.

 

[RSalvador]

I'm not sure that there is anything advanced about a 5 string over a 4 string. In fact for me it makes things easier. I can cover so many of the tunes we play without having to having to think too much about positioning cause I can drop down and hit a note on the B string. It's not so much about the lower range as often as I'm hitting notes that are covered on the 4 string. It's about positioning and it's easier than 4 string in some ways.

However, I really want a 4 string too, and some sort of Jazz bass will be my next axe. I think it will make me play different and force me to come up with different ways of covering the tunes. I want to learn to utilize open strings and use the entire fretboard to cover tunes the way I see really great 4 string players do.