How long after adding another string to your playing did gig with it ?

[Ryan L.]

When I switched from 4's to 5's, there was quite a long period, as I wasn't gigging at the time, and I had plenty of time to get used to, and learn to utilize properly, the low B.

From 5's to 6's was literally about 1 day. I picked up my first 6 on a Thursday evening, and Friday evening I was gigging with it.

 

[James Hart]

4 to 5.... 2 weeks
5 to 6.... rehearsals within 2 days... next gig was about 3 weeks

 

[Debased]

It took me a little over a month to work up the confidence in my intonation, but I was switching from:

A five to a six;

34" scale to 35";

17mm spacing to 18.5mm;

28 fretless stops to a full three octaves (36),

and a side-lined fingerboard to completely unlined

...so perhaps my long acclimation period was warranted.

 

[Stox]

Same day

 

[mccartneyman]

It took me about a month of playing only twice week for four hours total to acclimate myself from four to five strings, but I hadn't played in almost 20 years and had never played a fiver before. Now, after six years on a fiver, I have to think VERY hard for the first few tunes if I play a four string. I never realized how much I play on automatic pilot, but with a four, I find myself reaching for those low Eb, D, Db & Cs that aren't there. Oops.

 

[Mr.Phil]

I got my 6 stringer on a Monday and played out with it on a Wednesday. So thats about 3 days. You won't get used to it unless you play it, so take it out and dont worry about making a few mistakes.

 

[Eilif]

Took me about a month to play out with my first 5 stringer, and even then it was only for a few songs each gig. It was, however also my first frettless, so the comparison may not be entirely valid.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Sounds like the 6 string transition is a little easier then the 5 string.

 

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I picked my 5er up at the store, drove directly to a rehearsal so we could audition a drummer, than a few hours after that took it to the gig.


At the rehearsal things went just fine. The gig was a little different.

Flubbed my share of notes, did the last two sets with my four banger. I don't know about you guys, but I hate that sound.

The next weeks gigs went fine. Just had to get over the whole "which is the E string again?" thing. Little by little I would adapt certain songs fingering to better suite the five string and before you know it I was on my way.

 

[jonathan_matos5]

thanks for making this thread comrade im actually thinking about making the switch to a 5er pretty soon. so it is good to get an idea of how long it could take me to be ready.

 

[spiritbass]

I was a four-bangin' guy until about three years ago. I didn't wait too long after I got it before playing my five-string in service. I play with and for very loving and forgiving people.

Ken

 

[Flintc]

The real problem I have now is not going completely ******** when I pick up a 4 string after playing 6 exclusively for the last 10 years

Amen, brother. This is a transition I would dread having to make. Hopefully, I never will.

 

[Maaak]

When I switched form 4 to 5 I could immediately wing it without mistakes, but I had to think about it actively while playing. I was only comfortable to the point where I wasn't thinking about "having an extra string", instead of just "playing my bass", after about two weeks of playing every day. Once in a blue moon I grab and turn the tuner of the B string when I'm trying to tune my E. "*** why isnt it tuning up?! Oh."

Oddly enough I find it takes about the same ammount of time for me to incorporate a new complicated lick or idea into my bag of tricks to where its comfortable.

 

[darthplagis]

the biggest trouble i had going up to a 5 was the repositioning of my hand for the right sweet spot to pluck the B.

it is weird when you get those "ahhhh where is the B???" when you play a 4 and go for those low D and smooth E notes tho.

 

[JansenW]

I gigged my new fiver after a week. It took me about 3 months to learn not to overplay it and another 3 months to play it like a fiver should be played.

 

[a.green.martian]

I never gigged with my 6 before I sold it, but I played a gig the night I got my 5 working. It was just a party at the singer's house, so it was low pressure.

Edit: The gig the next night at an actual club, I went back to my P, due to it being a much bigger deal.

 

[TheRam]

Right away ...

 

[trainyourhuman]

My first 6 I literally unboxed on the gig. When I got my first Modulus, the UPS truck arrived as I was loading up. It went in the van with the rest of the gear, and I played it from intermission to close that night. Probably my worst performance ever, but I was hooked!

 

[PilbaraBass]

always played 4 bangers...but in a similar vein, I played a B-E-A-D for a couple of tunes 1 week after making the change...

I must admit, it was a bit of a struggle.

 

[SGT. Pepper]

One week. I figured the best place to get adjusted was on the set. I now been playing 5 string for two months and I love it. I brought a four string to practice one day and it didn't feel right anymore. I felt restricted too. I just traded that 4 for another 5, which will give me three five strings total.