Gigging Professionals Question

[LBS-bass]

I've been playing for 40+ years and no one in any gigging/recording situation has ever asked me to play a 5 string.

No one has ever asked me to, either. What they do is trust me to know the right tools for the job I'm doing. I have done auditions for New Country bands where the first thing out of the BLs mouth was "Oh, I'm so glad to see you brought the five-string, most people don't."

So they do notice even if they don't always ask.

 

[bobyoung53]

I've been a gigging musician for around 23 years in all kinds of bands. I don't do much studio recording, so I can't really comment on that scene. As far as the need for a five is concerned, I think it really depends on the kind of music you're playing. For the wedding/corporate gigs I do, having a five string has really helped. I know guys who play weddings on fours but at least one of them has relied heavily on an octaver for some of the material. Could I get by on those gigs by down-tuning? Maybe. But I've never been comfortable playing with only my E string detuned. The only times I can remember specifically being asked to play a five is for reggae gigs (even when the majority of the material - and some times all of it - required nothing more than a four). I like having the options that a five string affords, but I could probably get by on most gigs (wedding/corporate bands aside) with just a four string.

I played with my E tuned to D enough during the 70's when it was fairly popular to do, you get used to it after a while. But tuning it to different notes? Nope.

 

[TheLowDown33]

I’m a full time musician, and I couldn’t imagine not having a 5 or 6 on hand. Heck, even a synth bass is becoming somewhat of a necessity. Between transpositions, modern bass composition and the need to be as versatile as possible I wouldn’t dare be a 4 string only player. I guess you could make it work if you really were adamant about it, but it’s probably more work than just getting used to a 5 string.

edit to say I’ve never been asked, because it’s been assumed that I’ll have one. I run into charts written with low Ds and Cs all the time, and as a professional I should be able to play them.

 

[JRT64]

I've played in numerous country bands over the years. At one time I had 2 nice Carvin 5's. I soon realized I just didn't need the extra string. I only used the low B rarely, and enjoyed playing my 4 string basses more. So I wound up selling both of them. With the music I play now, (classic rock and R&B), I certainly don't need it. But as always YMMV.

 

[theduke1]

Oh man... look at that green fretless beauty.
That photo should be enough to convince anyone that they absolutely require a fretless 5 string.
Damn.
You could say that I'm "green" with envy.

I get that a lot
Thank you for the compliment.
PM me if you would like details about it
Duke

 

[bass12]

I’m a full time musician, and I couldn’t imagine not having a 5 or 6 on hand. Heck, even a synth bass is becoming somewhat of a necessity. Between transpositions, modern bass composition and the need to be as versatile as possible I wouldn’t dare be a 4 string only player. I guess you could make it work if you really were adamant about it, but it’s probably more work than just getting used to a 5 string.

edit to say I’ve never been asked, because it’s been assumed that I’ll have one. I run into charts written with low Ds and Cs all the time, and as a professional I should be able to play them.

A synth could very well be more useful than a five to a bassist today. Again, depending on the style of music being played...

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

If playing bass pays the bills, feeds your family and pays the rent, you can’t afford not to have the right tools for the gig.

5 string is a must.
If a gig pays well and you need to pay rent, you gotta play it.
I was a gigging pro and when you have to transpose songs 2 mins before downbeat for the sub singer, the 5 string is an absolute must.

Add that you don’t want to lose calls since “that guy can’t play the gig” since it requires a 5 string on the theatre charts

but since I retired from that “life” I only play 4 strings in multiple tunings.
Personally I don’t really like 5ers.

 

[Ed Goode]

Full-time musician for 50+ years, now retired … if you are a journeyman and in it to get paid, you have the right tools available. That means being able to play electric, acoustic, & double bass, playing 4’s & 5’s (or using an extension on DB), being able to read notation, Nashville charts, tabs, whatever. Not having the tools means not getting paid and not getting call-backs.

Not all situations are equal … if it’s a dedicated band setting, then use what is necessary for that setting. If your only a rocker, or only a country player, or only a jazz guy, make the tool adjustments for your scene. But in any case, if you intend to be a paid pro then be professional and be prepared ….

 

[TheLowDown33]

A synth could very well be more useful than a five to a bassist today. Again, depending on the style of music being played...

Yep. Playing in pit bands, a 5 string is undoubtedly more useful than a synth. In my wedding band though, I use low B notes and a synth about equally…and I use them fairly often.

 

[jimmydean]

I've had to rent a 5 string two times in the last 15 years ......so I guess the answer is no .

 

[Jefenator]

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and there are a lot of niches out there.
Inability or unwillingness to play a 5-string is just one of many disadvantages a player might be able to thrive in spite of. (Easier to accommodate I think than a weak groove or a monster ego.)

 

[iiipopes]

A 5-er is my primary bass. For me, the question is whether to bring a 4 along.

 

[gregbackstrom]

After many years of playing 5 string basses, I try from time-to-time to go back to 4 strings, but I don't like the compromises. Also for me, 5's are a must for modern country, modern jazz, musical theater and worship gigs. I bought a P bass recently just to have it available, then traded it shortly afterward for something I actually play!

 

[Chickenwheels]

I’ve had a 5 string on hand since the early 90s. It gets used quite often.

 

[badinage]

Because they have become so prevalent I think a five is just a natural thing for a bassist to be proficient in regardless of what someone's preference is. I don't recall anyone ever asking me how many strings would be on the bass I'm bringing (I enjoy playing 4s and 5s), but I knew some stuff was really written for a five, and for gigging a five is just easier to be "ready for anything" with, so less stress to just show up with one. I have a six, but after the new wore off, I realized my bass-work didn't need to be in someone else's territory so it mostly sits in the case now.

A very playable/gigable used 5 string can be purchased cheap ($350 or even less) if you don't insist on marquee brands. Just do it.

If you want to invest real money and time on a bass-addition that actually will mean more calls, more jobs, more gigs, and more money... add an upright.

 

[filwitheneff]

the investment might not generate enough return to make it worth it

Here’s my $0.02 on this:
I look at my basses as tools. I don’t see one bass and think that it, by itself, needs to pay for itself. I look at each bass as part of my toolbox. If I only need a fretless bass once a year, that doesn’t mean buying it was a waste of money (and I’ll be really glad I have it when I actually need it). One other bass might get the majority of work, but the other basses are still necessary to have. And collectively, as a set, they’ve made me more money than they cost as a whole.

I think a 5-string is a vital tool to have in the toolbox.

 

[Snert]

Whilst I'm hardly a gigging pro, I don't get the negatives for a 5. As others have said, it's a tool and isn't it better to simply have it and be proficient so that you can play what's asked of you? If I were starting today, or my kid wanted to, I'd get them a 5.

 

[Leif Dering]

A 5 string is by no means a requirement but it is useful to have. I exclusively play my Jazz V right now if I'm not being called for doublebass, even just having access to Eb and D without having to think about it is worth it to me.

 

[badinage]

...I don't get the negatives for a 5...

A "negative" that I actually think gets over-stressed on TB is the potential for an unwanted resonance from an open, "droning" string. For me, when I quit focusing on "techniques" and just opened my ears and listened instead, keeping unwanted string-ringing muted was suddenly a non-issue. Think about it: how often have you been listening to a decent bassist playing a five and thought "that's an OK player but I sure wish he/she had a better muting technique"... It's just not the pervasive bane of fives that people make it out to be. IMO.

 

[LBS-bass]

A synth could very well be more useful than a five to a bassist today. Again, depending on the style of music being played...

There are several songs I've been asked to play that would have been more easily played on a synth. Keyboard bass is a whole different world of figures and patterns that don't come easily on a fretboard. If I were doing a lot of 80's new wave, I'd probably be using a 4 string and a synth bass rather than a fiver.