Do you use your B?

[KIL0117]

What up TB!
Been considering a 5 or 6 string for a while. Just to experiment with, i’m not a working musician, just play by myself mostly. Have an opportunity to purchase an mim Jazz 5 for $250. But I only have 4 strings, and I don’t really know how to use the low B. I’m considering buying it to string it to EADGC, just for fun, I like to play above the 12th fret a lot. So i’m sure this question is beating a dead horse, but do you really use your low b string, and how often? If not, do you roll with a 5 string like I’m considering (eadgc).
And........ go

 

[Nephilymbass]

What up TB!
Been considering a 5 or 6 string for a while. Just to experiment with, i’m not a working musician, just play by myself mostly. Have an opportunity to purchase an mim Jazz 5 for $250. But I only have 4 strings, and I don’t really know how to use the low B. I’m considering buying it to string it to EADGC, just for fun, I like to play above the 12th fret a lot. So i’m sure this question is beating a dead horse, but do you really use your low b string, and how often? If not, do you roll with a 5 string like I’m considering (eadgc).
And........ go

I use mine a lot. I think it just depends on what styles of music you’re into. If you’re in a 60s,70s, or 80s coverband I imagine they’d be pretty useless and a lot of folks on Tb fall into that crowd. 5 strings didn’t really explode until the second half of the 90s. Most rock and metal and even modern country music from the last 20 years uses the low B even if they are playing 4 string basses and 6 string guitars tuned down

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I use every time I play except for music that I study for lessons that was written for a four, and even some of that gets converted to my five.

 

[chris_b]

I use mine a lot. I think it just depends on what styles of music you’re into. If you’re in a 60s,70s, or 80s coverband I imagine they’d be pretty useless

So with that thinking no one can play Buddy Holly songs on an electric bass!

To the OP, if you play high then a C would be more useful to you. I play low and the B was great for me. Also I somehow manage to play every thing from Louis Jordan to Daft Punk on a 5 string bass.

 

[Epitaph04]

Nope. Never have and never will. Sometimes I dont even add the b string to my 6ers.

 

[Nephilymbass]

So with that thinking no one can play Buddy Holly songs on an electric bass!

To the OP, if you play high then a C would be more useful to you. I play low and the B was great for me. Also I somehow manage to play every thing from Louis Jordan to Daft Punk on a 5 string bass.

Do a poll on TB and ask how many people play 5 strings and bead 4s in their 60s, 70s, and 80s cover bands. Not saying there aren’t exceptions but those exceptions are pretty rare.

 

[chris_b]

Do a poll on TB and ask how many people play 5 strings and bead 4s in their 60s, 70s, and 80s cover bands. Not saying there aren’t exceptions but those exceptions are pretty rare.

When I started we were here to break the rules.

Now you're sounding like my Dad and telling me there are traditions I have to follow that govern what music can be played on what instruments!

 

[Nedmundo]

Yes, I find the B string useful. It's been essential in two rock musicals I've played, and in my last original band I occasionally used the low D and C, and also liked the B string for grabbing lower notes in higher fretboard positions, which IMO is one of the B string's best uses. Also, in 2016 I played in a cover band that went from early 1960's to modern material including a modern country track, and I found it useful there too. Apart from the musicals, however, I could have gotten by just on my fours.

Even when a four would do, I've often played my G&L M-2500 anyway because it's such a fantastic overall bass.

 

[RickBlair]

I play in a couple of big bands and I find that I have more need for a high C string than a low B. I have strung all of my 5-strings E-C. If you choose to do that I would recommend getting a 4-string set and ordering a C string that is heavier gauge than normally comes in a 5-string set. I have always found the C string to be a little thin sounding except for the last set C string that I ordered with a heavier gauge.

Rick B.

 

[TolerancEJ]

Consider the music you’re playing. With a traditionally tuned 5-string, you have 5 extra notes: Low B, C, C#, D, and D#. Do you play any songs in drop D? Would any existing songs sound better if you played some of those notes one octave lower?

 

[Dave W]

I use it all the time. Not only for playing the lower notes, but for better hand position too.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

You're thinking of the B-string as a separate entity.

Think of the B as part of the bass!

 

[bassdude51]

I use the B string all of the time.....................best thumb rest ever!

 

[Max Blasto]

Consider the music you’re playing. With a traditionally tuned 5-string, you have 5 extra notes: Low B, C, C#, D, and D#.

While this is a common opinion, it is not an educated one. And people who actively play 5ers know that.

 

[dvdtlsn]

Use the string all the time and sometimes the low B note itself. I bought the 5 a little over a year ago for the material at church and there were some unexpected benefits. It solves on the fly transpose down situations and as I don't have giant hands, I often find myself playing in a higher position for comfort. Obviously you get the lower notes.

If I am playing classic rock or country out, I always take the 4.

 

[TigerInATrance]

I use the extra low notes on the B string very rarely, and always more for a thunderous, vibrate the crowd kind of thing. On the other hand, I use the B string in just about every song I play because it's far more convenient than playing open strings. In fact, I can't think of a song where I use the open strings for anything more than octaves, and even then I'm only doing it sparingly...

 

[basspraiser]

I use mine all of the time...

Nice to be able to get a low E or F from the fifth fret and not have to move!

Also.. We do many tunes in Eb or Db.

For those tunes the B is almost mandatory ( Imho).

I also use the low D when I want a nice rumble....

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Carl Hillman]

...do you really use your low b string...how often?

Yes...approximately 19.7% of the time.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Yes, I use my B string all the time. It's opened up new avenues re: fretboard technique. On a more practical note: it's a 5 string bass, I paid for a 5 string set and, by gosh 'n golly, I'm gonna get my money's worth out of each and every string.

Riis

 

[MultiScaleMale]

The B string is very useful when you're playing with a band. Especially if they play a few songs in flat keys. If you're noodling at home, a high C might be fun to play with. Especially if you noodle with effects.