Going from 4 to 5 (merged threads)

[Fretlessboy]

I spent 2 years trying to transition. It wasn't really the extra string (that was just the first pew weeks to really become comfortable enough to not think about it. It really was a tone thing. I went through 3 fender 5's/ and Warwick, a G&L ,and MM . They each only had 3 strings that sounded good and 2 sucked. Then I found the Ken Smith. All was right in the world because everything was right (tho I think the neck is a hair thin for my slap style)... Lately, the Lakland 55-02 has been the ultimate bomb for everything. Tone, feel and wider string spacing to allow for ease of getting between the strings.

I also use the "B" only when needed or when I am way up the neck soloing nit let's me cover more ground in one possition.

 

[MikeVQ]

I had an Ibanez 5 string for a few months back during my early days. I basically used the B string as an anchor for my thumb and nothing else. LOL

 

[Mikeus]

i'd played an ibanez SDGR 4 string for about 10 years then switched to a Zon sonus 5/1 late last year which i got from here

i absolutely love the tone and sound of the Zon but now i think it probably was not a good idea to switch to a 5 string with 17mm after playing a 4 with a 19mm spacing.

i think the ideal first 5 string is one that is basically the same string spacing as your old 4string. the less things you have to adjust to the better.

i sound as if ive JUST started playing with this bass. i have to play much different also.

 

[1234-bass]

I think a 5 string is wonderful for playing chordal outlines higher up.
Depending on the keys employed it's nice to have that B string to go down to in a simple thumper I -V pattern.

It wasn't so hard for me to get comfortable on the five string; the challenge was in going back and forth between the long neck 5 string with active pick-ups and my stoic fender jazz with passive pick-ups and a shorter neck. I think the music dictates which bass to use and both are good to have in your arsenal.

 

[905]

I'm borrowing a 5-string with a high C from a bandmate; the downside is the incredibly high action (as opposed to what I'm used to) and the string spacing.

Everything else is cool beans.

Do you guys reckon I should spend the time & energy to get used to it, considering it's only temporary?

 

[Mutant Corn]

I actually started on a fiver, so fours were the weird ones for me. It seems that it's much easier to move from 5 to 4, though. It took me all of 5 minutes to get used to not having the B.

 

[tabufx50]

As I was reading through these threads I started to laugh..

I remember making the switch over to 5 string and after I played for a few gigs with it...I never went back to regular 4 string...well almost never.

I personally like the extra B because you can hit the D flat and D and C sharp on the low end and get that massive eeerie growl...Try getting that from a 4 string.

Although yeah most session gigs only require a 4 string....it's always nice to have the extra beef.

P.S. Regarding the hungate quote...Hungate used his low B all the time bro...I can think of 6 tunes right now that he used it..

 

[wazdabaz]

Not sure if this happened to anyone else. Back in time: when i swapped to a 5er, I had no clue as to what the strings must be tuned into. So I guessed I had to tune EADGB. Not a bad tuning for an amatuer, but I had a BEADG set on this bass, so I spent a hard week trying to play with a really high tension setup until I found out that I was doing something really wrong. Think I was just lucky that I did no damage to the neck or even do harm to my fingers.

 

[lexxmexx]

I just got a 5er 2 days ago, I really love it but I am still trying hard to get used to it. The narrower string spacing is really killing me and my plucking fingers keep on tripping over over the strings. I am putting away my trusty SX 4 banger and hopefully I can get over with this with perseverance.

 

[Drewbacca]

I plan on getting a 5'er in a few months (when i got the $$) and I just think the extended range will be cool (plan on tuning it with a high C)

 

[Jornan]

I started to play a 4-string, but after I while I bought a 5-string. Didn't have any problems with it. After some more years, I bought a 6-string. The neck was very wide in the start, but now I'm used to it. I have tried to play on my 4-string some times now, but THAT is hard! So I have experienced that it's easy to go from a 4-string to 5 or 6-strings, but really hard to go back to only 4-strings again!

 

[BjornS]

I more or less started out with a 5 string bass since I knew I would be doing a lot of jazz and heavy metal sound (john myung being a huge inspiration). I love the 5 string bass, I think I've found my soulmate instrument.

 

[shubball]

I plan to get my first five string soon, so I am currently going thru the theory in my head as to how to play the songs from the band.

I have decided as we have a few songs in D# as the key and down to B that it would be the best idea to get a fiver.

I have got it straight in my head now, but then the fingers will have to learn what they're doing too.

I can't understand why I haven't thought about getting a five string before now.

Just need to decide on the bass now

 

[OzDoug64]

I switched to a Stingray 5 and love it.

I only miss the 4 due to the string spacing and ease of slapping.

On the 5 I have to quickly mute the B while slapping the E as the B resonates from the thumb attack, don't like the lack of freedom with this

In modern country / current rock the 5 is great. If I was doing a lot of funk / disco then I would also have a 4 on stage.

 

[Shareef]

I got used to playing a 5 string on the first day i got it. I'm not sure whether that was because of the bass I used or me, but I definitely had no transitional problems whatsoever.

 

[Tylos]

I play a five string in a heavy rock band and find that the B string (tuned down to A) is useful for effect or adding something to a particular song, otherwise when I'm playing other styles of music, I hardly ever use it, still love my five string though.

 

[Asher S]

I just acquired an EBMM Stingray 5, after 25 years of 4-string playing. My first time playing the 5 was at a band rehearsal. It was a tad disorienting at first, but with some shedding and scale practice, and while mentally grilling myself on which notes I'm playing, I'm confident it will be a non-issue in a matter of weeks or even days. Like any other skill, practice and persistence will always pay off. It's unrealistic to expect a smooth transition from day 1.

ADDENDUM:
A few weeks and much shedding since I wrote the note above. Here's what's helping me adjust:
1. Grilling myself on naming and playing all of a given note's locations on the fretboard, as fast as possible
2. Thinking of the A string as the center string, around which the B & E, and D & G strings reside.
3. Lots of modal scales & arpeggios in all keys.

 

[slinkytrf]

I first started off with a 4 string and then upgraded to an Ibanez SR405 and I played it and gigged with it numerous times. Although I enjoyed playing the 5 string I am selling it now and learning every part and everything possible I can on a 4 string.

 

[james_dunn08]

i have had my five string for 4 months now and i havent found it that hard to play comperd to a 4 string but it took a bit to get used to the b string when i was playing slap bass

 

[Sav'nBass]

I went from a 4 string Jazz to a 5 string Ibanez 505... I am hooked on the 5 string though.. so when I get another bass it will be a 5 string.. my acoustic fretless is a 5 string... (I have a 4 string Tacoma as well that I am thinking of selling..) . I dont see myself getting a 6 string... LOL.. I am having a hard enough time getting around the 5... but I do like the smaller neck and the lighter weight of the Ibanex over the Fender. I break it out (The Fender) every so often just to love it up.. but then it goes back in the case. I like having the low B-Eb.