Gospel on a 4 string

[quadrogong]

when I think of a more modern, urban gospel vibe I think of a 5er,
it gives ya that r&b/hip hop sound..
mixes well if the setting is a more soulful, smooth feel..

although to me, traditional gospel would use a jazz or P bass, pretty straightforward 4 banging stuff, I almost think a jerry jemmott j bass w flats..
..two different vibes

 

[Rudyboy98]

I've seen some sick players get down with a 4 stringer with lots of Gospel tunes. I still say: If you know HOW to play Gospel-finding a bass that will do the job is no real big deal. 4 strings are great, 5 are even better. Honestly, I don't think a 6 string bass is even necessary unless you are doing some real sick solos.

4 strings are just fine-sometimes I miss having one. That's going to give me a serious case of GAS now...thanks a lot guys!

R...

 

[lowphatbass]

A four still has about 80% of the notes a five has, right?

Which means absolutely nothing if you're playing in Eb or Db. Honestly, statistics and percentages mean nothing, you have take it one song at a time, but I'm guessing you're joking here.

 

[Clarkster]

Are there any basses playing gospel on a 4 string standard tuning? I'm trying to learn some songs to play with my church.

Check the praise& worship club

 

[MisterMagician]

Which means absolutely nothing if you're playing in Eb or Db. Honestly, statistics and percentages mean nothing, you have take it one song at a time, but I'm guessing you're joking here.

I wasn't joking.

There are such things as octave pedals you know.

 

[Rudyboy98]

Maybe WE as bass players should come up with a drop down bass pedal to be able to tune-down to lower pitches then. (Not an Octave pedal, but an actual pedal that will allow you to transpose, just like on a keyboard.) Perhaps that would be a viable solution for those that need it.

R...

 

[lowphatbass]

I wasn't joking.

There are such things as octave pedals you know.

I have a feeling you must be joking now....

....but if you're not: Octave pedals are great as an effect and most musical sounding when the natural octave is blended with the lower one(s). The tone of the lower octave generally sounds quite unlike a bass guitar on by itself in the range were discussing. Even the high-end programs that digitally shift things a step or two start sounding strange and unnatural in a hurry.
Octave pedals don't track good enough or fast enough to rely only on the low octave alone, while I know they're are some good ones, the slew rate still still makes it an unacceptable option.
If that isn't enough, if you were to use an octave pedal in this way you would be effectively playing a 3 string bass until you got into a higher position(around the 6th fret or so), and even then you would be missing quite a bit of your high range. That being said stringing a bass B E A D would be a far better option than an octave pedal.
I totally respect players that can get it done with a 4(Fred Hammond is a BAD boy on 4, all that old Commissioned stuff, WOW). I've always felt the need to cover the range of the Hammond organ, and the sheer impact of the lower notes gives a congregation something they can feel in their bodies, as well as their hearts. It's been to big of an advantage to me to pass it up.

 

[velalv]

Are there folks out there who use a 4 and use BEAD tuning on their basses for their basses, or is that G string really essential? Do you find you use your BEAD tuned bass more than your standard bass? I know I don't use the G string that much, so I might not miss it.

I adore my four string jazz bass, and getting a five string lefty at an affordable price is not easy. I think there is only the Dean Edge 5 (did not love it) and an Ibanez, maybe a Rockbass. I rather stay under a thousand.

 

[dudelove]

they do play a four string in my church, it is acturly a squire with i think it back from late 80s or early 90, it sounds really awesome