For all of these reasons plus:
6. Changing keys is a breeze as you can play everything without using open strings.
7. You can cover 2 full octaves within 5 frets (playing across the strings)
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Hey, 5-stringers!
- Thread starter howlin
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For all of these reasons plus:
6. Changing keys is a breeze as you can play everything without using open strings.
7. You can cover 2 full octaves within 5 frets (playing across the strings)
Like others, I find it helpful to have the low notes from B to D# available. Playing a tune in D on a four-stringer, for instance, means the lowest tonic you can play is in the middle register.
More and more covers seemed to be incorporating notes lower than E and I'm not comfortable with D-tuners. I figured I should have at least one fiver in the "quiver" and now all but one of my basses is a five. I actually prefer the feel of a five string neck to that of a four (when I look at a 4 string Jazz now it looks so... fragile 
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I have since converted to an all four-string fleet, but I previously played an Ibanez SR305F because I was interested in fretless and I was into playing extended range at the time. Not that I really needed it, but it was fun to have.
Yes. The Ibby SR series are some of the most ergonomic basses out there. I play as my main gigging bass with my party band a 2011 Ibby SRA305 that the only reason I upgraded the pickups from EMG HZ to actives was to lower the noise floor for our digital board. Yes, we cover some songs that have 5-string motifs in them, and our singer has asked us to take the occasional song down a step or two, and I can retain the integrity of the bass lines this way using a 5-string. Up the neck, some patterns are easier to play across the fingerboard instead of leaping frets. Rock on!
I tried some early 5er's back when they first started to be more commercially available in the early 90's. Needless to say that the choices available (basses, strings, amps, etc.) were not ideal and my experience was disappointing. Today, there are many wonderful choices that allow you to play comfortably, with the right string spacing, tension, sound, etc. I play Lakland Skyline 55-64's pretty much exclusively now.
To the original question of why, at first it was because I was playing a lot heavy music back then, and lower and louder were considered better. When I started playing regularly again a few years ago, I was able to afford all the cool 4 string basses I had wanted but couldn't have back in the day. The problem was, a lot of songs and singers needed Eb, D, Db - one even needed C. I wasn't going to have a fleet of basses for all the special drop tunings, so I just found a 5er footprint that I liked (that also sounded great), found the strings that gave me the tension and tone I wanted, amped up, and that was that.
To the original question of why, at first it was because I was playing a lot heavy music back then, and lower and louder were considered better. When I started playing regularly again a few years ago, I was able to afford all the cool 4 string basses I had wanted but couldn't have back in the day. The problem was, a lot of songs and singers needed Eb, D, Db - one even needed C. I wasn't going to have a fleet of basses for all the special drop tunings, so I just found a 5er footprint that I liked (that also sounded great), found the strings that gave me the tension and tone I wanted, amped up, and that was that.
I started considering a five when I was in a band whose songwriter often wrote in E flat and D. I managed with a drop-tuner, but realized a five would have been better, so when Fender slimmed down its five string necks in 2008, I bought a Jazz V, since replaced with a G&L M-2500.
I mostly play rock that doesn't require a five, but I like my M-2500 so much that I use it anyway. I only use the B string on a few tracks, but for those, it's darned nice to have. Plus, I've played in a couple of musicals that required a five, so I'll always have one around. In fact, I'm considering a less expensive five as a general purpose backup.
I mostly play rock that doesn't require a five, but I like my M-2500 so much that I use it anyway. I only use the B string on a few tracks, but for those, it's darned nice to have. Plus, I've played in a couple of musicals that required a five, so I'll always have one around. In fact, I'm considering a less expensive five as a general purpose backup.
1. Abject laziness, so I don't have to shift as much.
2. Being able to play around any manner of drop-tuned guitar-bage, keyboards, etc.
3. More note options where I need them.
2. Being able to play around any manner of drop-tuned guitar-bage, keyboards, etc.
3. More note options where I need them.
You should check out the Sire V7 5. I have 2 of them and for $499 plus shipping they are a great value.
I use a V tuned E-C because I'm trying to play solo instrumental music and the extra upper range helps supply melody notes.
- Jul 30, 2006
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- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
Everything written so far. A 5 is more versatile and (IMO) is on it's way to becoming the industry standard. I played 4s and kept needing to jump from 1st position to mid neck just to hit the octave pedal for two or three notes per song. Unlike some players, I had a great transition into 5s by convincing myself that I was still playing the "same ole' 4" that I had always played with just a lower string attached. However, just because I have a low B string, doesn't mean I live on it. Using the low string thoughtfully will pay big dividends for you as a player.
Reading big band charts and playing "distorted guitar style solos" in an acoustic guitar/bass duo.
Both situations made a 5 stringer an easy choice. All of my instruments are strung E~C, including 2 EUB's.
I came to this realization after owning a couple of different 6ers and a few B~G slabs. The low B string was handy when I was playing pop tunes in the key of D or E flat.
Now, it's a matter of playing with minimal position switching, not so much as extended range.
Both situations made a 5 stringer an easy choice. All of my instruments are strung E~C, including 2 EUB's.
I came to this realization after owning a couple of different 6ers and a few B~G slabs. The low B string was handy when I was playing pop tunes in the key of D or E flat.
Now, it's a matter of playing with minimal position switching, not so much as extended range.
Everything said before me.
I started out on a five and played it for 16 years, didn't even own a four until last year, and its still in seperate pieces in my closet. I have always been in one guitar bands, and being able to play the low ocatve without switching positions.....or the low d-b octaves especially, makes filling that space much easier.
I started out on a five and played it for 16 years, didn't even own a four until last year, and its still in seperate pieces in my closet. I have always been in one guitar bands, and being able to play the low ocatve without switching positions.....or the low d-b octaves especially, makes filling that space much easier.
I made the jump from 4 to 6 within the first year of playing. I didn't get my 5 string until I had two 6 strings and five 4 strings. I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I like tapping on the 6 strings and slapping on the 4s. The 5 is like that happy medium. But for more aggressive metal its nice having the low A and a high a#
The music I was listening to required a low b to play along and my hands are big. So I started on 5. Tried 4 and it's not natural to me even though I pretty much rarely use my 5th string.
I never owned a 5'er for the first 24yrs or so of playing. It is great to have for certain elements, feel is a big thing (more wood of course) and some of my songs require the B string. Otherwise its a long stretch (but doable kinda) on a 4 banger. We do this sizzling jam thing in B and I prefer to have my 5'er for that but find myself on my 4 string and just wing it.
A lot of the songs I wanted to learn are tuned down and I hate tuning down. That's what got me into 5-strings.
I always learned songs by (generally) down-tuning only the Estring. Finally, the call came to learn 'Are You Ready' by Creed which I realized I would have to tune to BEAD or get a 5string. Decided on the 5string and, for a long time, was my main axe. More recently, went back to alternating basses between sets to give the Rick more stage time.
