i just made the switch after a couple of years playing only 4's and i love it. felt natural right from the first time i picked it up. 4 string stuff is easier with the b as a thumbrest too.
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Going from 4 to 5 (merged threads)
- Thread starter unbasslichkeit
- Start date
Heh. The other day I was playing along to Me'Shell: Plantation Lullabies, and lo and behold she's hitting notes on her low B. Fine, I play a 4, so I switch over to Blood Sugar Sex Magik, good old standby, and whaddya know, Flea's playing a 5-stringer on some (maybe all?) of those songs, too! I think I'm getting a subtle hint here! 
It's surprising how some of your favorite recordings might contain lower notes than you thought when you really go in and try to play them.
It's surprising how some of your favorite recordings might contain lower notes than you thought when you really go in and try to play them.
dhomer
Commercial User
- Apr 9, 2009
- 675
- 13
- Disclosures
- Owner, Gigmaster Soundworks, Auth. greenboy designs builder, MI
Several years back I was with a country band, and I realized the fiver was necessary. Found a Fernandes fiver on ebay for about $100 and just kept working on it every day. Played both the four and five on gigs simply because the tones were that much different, but when I was home practicing I picked up the 5 exclusively. Took about a couple months to really start feeling comfy w/ the B string and the closer spacing. A year later I traded in the 4 for my Peavey Millenium Plus fiver, haven't gone back. In fact on the rare occasions I try to play a four string nowadays, it feels unnatural...
Ive only been playing for a couple of years at this point - started on 4s, but recently decided to jump onto the 5 bandwagon in order to be able to play Anthony Jackson's Chaka Khan basslines.
I'm finding the transition pretty smooth (maybe because I haven't been playing althogether for very long?), but I think some of the posts about changes in string spacing and neck length are right on the money. Both 5s that I've bought have 34" scales, so I have not had to make any changes there; one (Brubaker Brute) has narrow string spacing, the other (Fender Jazz 24V) has the same string spacing as my 4s - there's no question that I'm more comfortable with the Fender, and I don't have fat fingers either.
I'm finding the transition pretty smooth (maybe because I haven't been playing althogether for very long?), but I think some of the posts about changes in string spacing and neck length are right on the money. Both 5s that I've bought have 34" scales, so I have not had to make any changes there; one (Brubaker Brute) has narrow string spacing, the other (Fender Jazz 24V) has the same string spacing as my 4s - there's no question that I'm more comfortable with the Fender, and I don't have fat fingers either.
Actually the Brute has 19mm spacing. The neck has a slim front to back profile so it feels easy to get around on.
Both the Jazz 24V and the Brute have the same 19mm spacing at the bridge, but the width/spacing at the nut is significantly different - 2" wide neck on the Jazz vs. 1-3/4" on the Brute. The string spacing at the nut on the Jazz 24V is the same as the string spacing at the nut on a standard Fender Jazz; on the Brute, the strings are much closer together.
Just wanted to be clear about what you meant by narrow spacing... didn't want people thinking it wasn't 19mm at the bridge.
I haven't made the transition, when I do it will be on a Fender J-bass, preferably the Marcus Miller J V
Believe me, I never thought I would be playing a 6 string bass but now I cant put it down. I have a Cort Curbow 6 string made in Korea. I love the four string bass but the 6 seems to be so natural to me. Maybe because because I'm a guitarist also but I dont think that's it.
I've played bass from 2006-2007 (I never really had a bass, so the only time i could practice was at JUST THAT PRACTICE) and 2009.
Now I own a 4-string Epiphone Les Paul Limited Edition (not really sure if that's what it's called). Then i got accepted my school's band, they only had a 5-string tuned to EADGB. I had to practice with the band for 2 hours with that 5-string. I okay with it but I was familiar with BEADG tuning on a 5-string and my left thumb started to feel like the veins in it were popping because either my hands are too small or they're not used to playing on a 5-string. For me, 4-string to 5-string is pretty hard to get used to.
People probably like the 4-string better because it's neck's width is not that big. At least that's the reason i'd play 4 instead of 5
Now I own a 4-string Epiphone Les Paul Limited Edition (not really sure if that's what it's called). Then i got accepted my school's band, they only had a 5-string tuned to EADGB. I had to practice with the band for 2 hours with that 5-string. I okay with it but I was familiar with BEADG tuning on a 5-string and my left thumb started to feel like the veins in it were popping because either my hands are too small or they're not used to playing on a 5-string. For me, 4-string to 5-string is pretty hard to get used to.
People probably like the 4-string better because it's neck's width is not that big. At least that's the reason i'd play 4 instead of 5
i actually gave my four string to a musician friend of mine to give to his five year old. it was a beat up slamer by hamer and i got it for like 70-80 bucks, so i figured it would be a good starter for the boy. but i bought a 5 string in its place. it took me a week or two to get use to it, but i like the versatility it gives me. i have been looking at getting a four string again however, for a backup bass or playing songs i might not need that b string for and can have a faster neck. but so far i've not been disappointed in my choice from switching from the four to five string
Like most, I started on a 4 string. Then I discovered drop-D tuning (thank you, Tim Commerford) and eventually installed a Hipshot D-tuner on my bass after I got tired of tuning up and down all the time. My interest in drop-D and the growing use of 5-strings in modern rock and jazz led me to try one myself, and I really like 5-strings now. I like having two full octaves both across and down, and the extended low end without having to drop tune. I made the transition to the 5-string by thinking of the scale as two full octaves from B to B in first position (instead of E to C on a 4 string) and going from there, and had very little trouble that way. YMMV, of course...
A few years ago I started with my 4. A year later I got a 5. It took me while to adjust but I got the hang of it, but I never had any problems wih the reach. I recently got a 6 and reching for the 12 and higher on the B has been murder.
So now 4s just seem so tiny and its made playing them like going from hard to easy. I love the feeling.
Just switched to a 5er fretless (unlined). Not as big an adjustment as I imagined. I think most of the adjustment for me is string muting and spacing.
I'm finding it very useful in minimizing position shifts, which is a particularly important strategy for good intonation on an unlined. It also comes in handy on Sunday when we're playing music written in a piano key (Bb, Ab, Eb) or when our worship leader decides to use an unusually high capo setting to optimize vocal range for our singers.
I'm finding it very useful in minimizing position shifts, which is a particularly important strategy for good intonation on an unlined. It also comes in handy on Sunday when we're playing music written in a piano key (Bb, Ab, Eb) or when our worship leader decides to use an unusually high capo setting to optimize vocal range for our singers.
Just yesterday I bought my very first 6 string. Before I had been only playing a 4 string, needless to say yesterdays band practice went down the toilet. But anyways, it doesn't seem overwhelmingly hard to switch to the six string. The only thing it really takes is getting used to, and learning the floating thumb technique.
I'm trying to remember--I think I made the leap from 4 to 7. I bought a Conklin GT7 my junior year in college, and I'm trying to remember if I'd bought a 5 before that. I remember it took a long while to wrap my head around all those extra strings, but after that I played 5's and 6's no problem.
I don't think I could ever go back to a 4. I currently play 5's because I *love* being able to get down low on that B string.
I don't think I could ever go back to a 4. I currently play 5's because I *love* being able to get down low on that B string.
I just scored a great deal on a Warwick Thumb 5 string. I figured I'd take the plunge into fives since the deal was so good. I didn't really need one, but after playing it over the weekend, I'm in love. I never realized Warwicks were so nice. Anyways, back to the point...
I love the B string. Knowing the notes on the B string is easy enough since I used to be a guitard in a past life. Occasionally, I do hit the B string instead of the E, which I'm sure I'll get used to in time. The thing I'm really having difficulty with is muting. I had a really good muting scheme going when I was playing 4 strings, but now I have to seriously readjust my technique. I know it will be worth it in the long run.
Does anyone have a specific method of muting strings for a 5? I've been using the method I learned from the Jaco instructional video.
I'm not sure I want to go back to 4 strings again.
I love the B string. Knowing the notes on the B string is easy enough since I used to be a guitard in a past life. Occasionally, I do hit the B string instead of the E, which I'm sure I'll get used to in time. The thing I'm really having difficulty with is muting. I had a really good muting scheme going when I was playing 4 strings, but now I have to seriously readjust my technique. I know it will be worth it in the long run.
Does anyone have a specific method of muting strings for a 5? I've been using the method I learned from the Jaco instructional video.
I'm not sure I want to go back to 4 strings again.
