Going from 4 to 5 (merged threads)

[pbass6811]

I made the switch from 4's to 5's about 20 years ago. At the time, it was out of necessity, almost every piece of gear I owned at the time had been stolen. All my basses and most of my rig. I didn't have the money to replace everything and I was still gigging. I went out and bought what I thought would cover the most ground and get me through until I could replace what I'd lost, a used head and a 5 string bass. I've been playing 5's ever since. I bought a really nice Spector Euro 4 several years ago. It had a spalted maple top(Like the Modulus 5 Sweetspot that was stolen in the aforementioned incident)and it sounded good...and it sat in it's gig bag for almost 2 years before I decided that it needed to go to someone who might actually play it. I may get another 4 one of these days, but it's not high on my list of things to do...

Maybe I'm one of the weird one's, because switching from 4's to 5's was a very easy and quick transition for me. Come to think of it, so was switching from "normal" to fanned-frets. I think I got my first Dingwall on a Wednesday, took it to practice on Thursday, and gigged with it that Saturday. Easy. I need to look into getting into 6's...

 

[muscadinewhine]

Playing bass was on my bucket list. So about a year and a half ago, I got a base model Dean four string because it was " pretty". Girls....lol After playing for about a year, I decided I wanted an acoustic. After shopping around and playing quite a few, I was sincerely disappointed. I couldn't hear them. Then, I ran across a Breedlove Atlas sbj Jumbo. Omg this thing sounds amazing. It makes my other one feel like a toy. I love it. But I have no idea what to do with this B string. I don't want to use it as a thumb rest. Is that really all it's good for?

 

[Slade N]

bought a user 5 a few years ago, would pull it out and play around with it now and again, finally forced myself to get comfortable with it. still have an oh thats odd moment everynow and then but for the most part its right at home. now when i pull out my 4s they fell odd but good.

 

[tbear1776]

I found 4 to 5 quite easy and love the low B. I can't see going to 6, that starts to get into what I consider guitar territory. No reason to antagonize them any more the bassists usually seem to do.

 

[Luke575443]

The main problem I remember was plucking the wrong string particularly when anchoring on the pup because I was used to four. Takes some getting used to, but totally worth it.

 

[Moe Monsarrat]

People make a big deal out of switching but it was not one for me. I've been playing 5s since the late 80s. It offers so many more options I cannot see not playing one. I still use 4 strings sometimes in the studio for the sound of that particular bass like my Kay 163 Reissue. But, live it's 5s all the way. Took me a whole two weeks to get used to it.

 

[jrick7]

I'm having a LOT more trouble with the transition from a 4 to 5 string (BEADG) bass than I ever thought I would, and it's beginning to get very discouraging. My old workhorse 1984 G&L SB2's neck is in a twist, and will have to be sent to G&L for repair. So I thought I would buy a 5 string and learn to play it. I got a beautiful Sting Ray 5, used. I knew narrow string spacing would be an issue (I have fat, short little "sausage" fingers), and the Sting Ray 5 seemed to have the widest string spacing at the nut of all the 5 strings that I tried. I'm 51 years old, and have been playing 4 string bass professionally since 1971. I know a good deal of theory, but have always been such an "ear" player, not really "thinking" about every actual note I play. Perhaps that is what is causing my extreme difficulty. Besides the string spacing at the nut being bothersome, I just can't seem to wrap my weak mind around the fact the the lowest string is now a B, and NOT an E. I have a house band gig on the weekends and took the new "monster" to the gig. What a near disaster! I only played on it for 3 or 4 songs and it was rough to say the least. I ended up playing my warped G&L SB2 for the rest of the night. Even practicing the 5 string has negativly affected my 4 string playing as I keep getting the B and E mixed up in my head. I REALLY would like to learn to play this "monster", and be able to switch back and forth seamlessly between the 2 basses. At the end of this selfish rant, I guess what I am seeking are tips, tricks, theory, instruction, Voodoo magic, devine intervention, or anything else on how an old 4 string dog like me can learn to play the 5 string without going insane (if I'm not already). Thanks!..................Mark

I had that exact same issue for a while when I first switched to 5 string using the low B. Part of what made it worse for was that I started playing my 5 string as EADGC...then when to BEADG. Spend some time just noodling with the bass not thinking about the actual notes you're playing, but also spend a lot of time playing stuff you don't already know on the 4 string, and then relearn the stuff you do know. Eventually it just clicks probably took me a month or two of playing with my church band learning new stuff and forcing myself to think about purposefully using the low B string when reading chord charts when applicable.

Now that I've spent time with my 5 string both ways, I can pick up a 6 string without any issues (that I know of lol...I've only had a chance to play them at music shops...won't really know until I actually buy one).

 

[martyonbass]

Another easy solution is simply take off the B string. Sounds crazy but this way you can really see if it's the b string holding you up or the spacing. If you make your fingers just solve the spacing issue first, then it will be easier later to "add" the B string later. Get used to your closer spaced 4 first.

 

[ralenti]

My first bass was a 5er, I bought it because it was an offer I couldn't refuse, and coming from guitar I thought 5 strings would be piece of cake. Well, it got some getting used to, with the E string actually being a B string, but it wasn't hard at all. 4 strings is cool for slapping and whatnot, but I love the tight string spacing of the 5 for my small hands, and honestly, nowadays it only makes sense. Sound systems and amplifiers have no problems putting up with low frequencies. I don't use the B string as much as the other four, but it's great to have it there. There's a lot less fingering gymnastics, transposing to Eb and lower is a piece of cake and it's awesome to blast people with a handful of low-D. I love it!

 

[Plaz]

For me the biggest difference between playing a 4 vs. a 5 is the need to be much more conscious and deliberate about muting open strings. This may be a by-product of my right hand technique, as I don't always play using the "floating thumb" approach, especially if the sound I'm going for requires me to really dig in.

 

[Lizardskyball]

I like 5 string because i don't normally play open notes. The 5 allows you to play what would be open notes higher up on the neck. I guess I love me some scale shapes.

 

[kkaarrll]

my biggest issue is keeping the dang b string quiet while I slap? suggestions?

 

[sxwr]

ive played a 5 string pretty much the entire time ive played, i dont use the low B string much, its almost to the point to where i ignore it, i really want to change it to where i can tune to EADGC because for what i play the C string would be helpful and would get a bit of use

 

[s0c9]

ive played a 5 string pretty much the entire time ive played

Coming from guitar to bass, I never really started on a 4-string. Went straight to 5 as it was closest to guitar, and 6-string was simply too much wood for me to start with. Never owned a 4-str bass and to be honest, while I use the low B often (I am aware of the tonal difference between an open "E" and and "E" on the low B) I'm as lost (missing something?) going from a 5 to a 4 string as are those going in the other direction!

 

[furym]

Just got my first 5 yesterday but I have to agree with both of these posts as I am transitioning.

Another easy solution is simply take off the B string. Sounds crazy but this way you can really see if it's the b string holding you up or the spacing. If you make your fingers just solve the spacing issue first, then it will be easier later to "add" the B string later. Get used to your closer spaced 4 first.

This was the first thing I noticed but I spent a few hours last night just playing my "normal" stuff on the four strings I was used to to make sure my fingers adjusted to the new spacing.

For me the biggest difference between playing a 4 vs. a 5 is the need to be much more conscious and deliberate about muting open strings. This may be a by-product of my right hand technique, as I don't always play using the "floating thumb" approach, especially if the sound I'm going for requires me to really dig in.

This is also my only real issue right now, remembering to mute the E string as my thumb used to do that. No problems with the rest but I am finding I am leaving the E ringing when playing certain runs.

Love the bass so I am determined to overcome.

 

[sg101]

I made the jump from 4 to 6 string a year ago and I don't regret it. The sixer felt right in my hands. I usually play technical/hard songs which require me to more across the fretboard frequently, and the extra two strings + narrower string spacing really helped. The only thing that was a small bother to me in the first week when I owned it; I'd look down, and in my mind, I'd expect to see 4 strings, but instead saw 6, which felt a little jarring.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

my biggest issue is keeping the dang b string quiet while I slap? suggestions?

use one of your fretting hand finger to mute it ... use your palm to mute while you pop, this is what I do on a 6 strings.

 

[thehangingmist]

Had a fender 4 then got me a ibanez 5 with 16.5 mm spacing at bridge. Had it for a year but it never felt right. Went back to the 4 all together. Then got a 6 again with 16.5 mm spacing. Thinking my tiny hands/fingers won't adjust to a 19mm 5 or 6. Wrong!!

Getting a 19mm spacing 5 string was the best call ever! Just feels right! If I get a six it will have adjustable spacing so I can find the right spot between 17-19mm for that!

Playing/knowing note wise it takes a little getting used to but it is the easiest part really!

 

[Ironbar]

The main problem I remember was plucking the wrong string particularly when anchoring on the pup because I was used to four. Takes some getting used to, but totally worth it.

Same here. I made the switch about a month ago to a fiver, and it was somewhat traumatic for me. I lost all sense of where the damned strings were with the extra B on top. However, after playing more and more and just keeping at it, I'm a lot more comfortable now. There are still a couple songs in my lineup which are made more difficult with a five- particularly songs with a repeated box pattern, go figure.

That said, I'm seriously reconsidering my desire to buy a Rickenbacker. I'm liking five strings too much to go back to four!

 

[AMp'D.2play]

I'd been dipping my toe in the 5-string waters for about 2 years, but none ever was a keeper. I bought my most recent 5er about 2 months ago, but due to a string of gigs & a bunch of new songs introduced, I didn't get a chance to really focus on it until about 2 wks ago. It's all I've been playing since. Some days seem easier than others. The one I purchased introduced 3 variables that I'm dealing with all at the same time. One, of course, is the 5th string (B). String spacing is tighter, and the 3rd adjustment is that it's a 35" scale. I'm planning on sticking with it, although I don't know if the 5er will result in me getting rid of my 4s altogether. Perhaps if I had gotten a 19mm spacing &/or 34" scale, the adjustment would've been smoother, but the bass I ended up getting after 2 years of trial & error is worth the added frustration, so far! (IMO)