help with getting used to 5 stringers

[Tyler_W]

Play one all the time. It'll come to you.

Qft

 

[John D Harris]

Congrats on both the possible five string and the prom...they both sound fun.

I very recently switched over...and my strategy was to *gasp* ignore the low b for the first day or two...I used it as a thumb rest, and didn't really try to 'hit it'. Then after a day or two, I started to get used to playing it a bit...restructuring how I thought of lines, so I could stay in one position rather than having to dive down an octave to hit notes. I practiced on it pretty relentlessly though...I upped my practicing from 2-3 hours a day to around 4+ hours. 3 days later I played it on stage...

Exactly!

Picture in your mind, the (physically) bottom four strings as being a regular bass -- this should be your current comfort zone.
[Once this clicked in my brain, I knew I could do it.]
Work on expanding your comfort zone from there.

 

[Blunt]

I imagine this will make me unpopular, but if you can't get used to playing 5's, what's wrong with sticking with a 4? About 10 years ago, I switched back to playing 4's after a 5 year period of playing nothing but a 5. I got pretty good on a 5 but never felt comfortable. And I've come to the conclusion that there is nothing I can do on a 5 that I can't do on a 4, save for 4 extra low notes, which other than a low D, are pretty much useless in my book.

As for this business about not having to make position jumps with a multi-string bass, I just don't get it. Well, I get the concept, but I don't get why it bothers people to make the jumps. Is it that difficult and painstaking that you need a neck the size of a baseball bat with more strings? I would think any gains by not jumping positions would be more than offset in the lack of playing ease.

Not trying to put those of you with 5's and 6's off by my opinion. I'm just saying that it's not necessary to play a 5 or 6 if you don't really want to. I've never been thrown off a gig for showing up with "only" a 4.

I have rediscovered the 4 string myself. Such a beautiful and wonderful instrument. You miss those low tones at times but rarely in most forms of music.

 

[mikezimmerman]

Not trying to put those of you with 5's and 6's off by my opinion. I'm just saying that it's not necessary to play a 5 or 6 if you don't really want to. I've never been thrown off a gig for showing up with "only" a 4.

Of course not! Unless you're a pro trying to meet very specific demands that can't be met any other way, there's no reason to play *any* particular bass--5, 6, fretless, whatever--for any reason except that you really want to.

I play 5 because I like it, it makes my life easier, and I can do some things on it much more easily than I could on a 4...but for the kind of stuff I play at least, I'd be pretty lame if I couldn't make a 4 work!

Mike

 

[xring]

Definitely set the 4 aside for a while. When I first started, I was "off a string" on alot of stuff. Know and mentally picture where the C is - middle string, 3rd fret. When you need to grab a low G for example - remember the C location and you won't automatically grab the lowstring D. It takes a while to lose the muscle memory you've acquired on the 4. Also try to float your thumb instead of planting on the B string (previously the E) or plant on the E if that's comfortable.
I actually struggle with the 4 a tad after having had my 5's for a couple of years...
Randy

 

[DblG]

Definitely set the 4 aside for a while. When I first started, I was "off a string" on alot of stuff. Know and mentally picture where the C is - middle string, 3rd fret. When you need to grab a low G for example - remember the C location and you won't automatically grab the lowstring D. It takes a while to lose the muscle memory you've acquired on the 4. Also try to float your thumb instead of planting on the B string (previously the E) or plant on the E if that's comfortable.
I actually struggle with the 4 a tad after having had my 5's for a couple of years...
Randy

This post makes me feel better! I switched to a 5 string about 2-1/2 months ago. I too have been "off a string" quite a few times. I found myself hitting a lot of open strings above the fretted note I intended to hit. I referred to this as "wrong string syndrome", and it is slowly clearing up with time and practice.
My other problem to solve is thumb placement on my picking (fingering) hand. I've been placing my thumb on the B string alot and noticed at times I am pushing it into my pickup, creating a popping noise. I tried resting my thumb on the pickup, or the end of the neck, but in never feels comfortable to me. I will take above advice and try to "float" my thumb. (I was actually thinking of affixing something to the front of my bass, right above the B string, to rest my thumb on. If I get the floating thumb technique down, my bass will stay pretty!)

Great forum everyone.

Greg

 

[John D Harris]

...
I will take above advice and try to "float" my thumb. (I was actually thinking of affixing something to the front of my bass, right above the B string, to rest my thumb on. If I get the floating thumb technique down, my bass will stay pretty!)

Great forum everyone.

Greg

If you float the string you rest your right thumb on, to the string just above the string (or 2) that you're currently playing, that's another string you don't have to worry about muting with your right palm (I just use the part of my palm that's at the base of my thumb). That helps me with the angle of my right hand to keep it more comfortable for fingerpicking.

 

[BuffaloBob4343]

I have actually started placing my thumb between the B and E (in contact with both) while playing the top three strings, and moving my thumb to the B while playing the E, and floating when playing the B.

It takes some practice but I could not find any other way to mute the B (and the E) while playing my Warwick Thumb 5. I find I have to mute both because that B can start really humming if I don't. There isn't any other place to rest the thumb on my Thumb other than the strings anyway.

As for pushing the string into the pick-up, while I have never done that, I do notice that my thumb gets dented from pressing on the string on which it is resting. This is simply a matter of relaxing while playing, something that I have to remind myself of constantly (especially when I feel my thumb start to throb!).

If anyone can suggest a better technique, please do!

 

[Juneau]

To agree with other posters here, put the 4 away and only play the 5. If its giving you trouble at first, you might use the B as a thumb rest for a bit. This will free you from having to double check your right hand all the time.

Also as others have said, learn songs for 5 string, or learn new songs that you can play on the 5 rather than relearning 4-string songs you've played forever. Switching from songs you know on 4 to 5 can sometimes be problematic logistically. Or like I was saying, use the B as a thumb rest and play your 4 string songs on the 5 and ignore the lowest string for a bit.

Scales, simple finger excercises, pretty much everything you practice on a 4, practice on the 5 and incorporate the new string into the mix. After a bit it will actually feel more odd to go back to a 4, you'll feel nakid without the B hehe.

Oh and +1 on the floating thumb. Playing a 4, this technique is rarely if ever needed, but the more strings you have, the more strings you have to keep quiet. Floating your thumb and using it to mute strings above where your playing is much easier than it sounds after some practice and will only make you a better, cleaner player. And if you decide to jump into more ERB's like 6+, this technique is almost required to keep everything quiet when not being played.