How many 5 string players actually use the B?

[chokeslam512]

If you have a 5 string and you don't use the B string, you are not a 5 string player. By definition, one who plays a five string bass must use the B. If you have a 4 string bass and never use the G, you are only a three string player. In some metal bands I was in during my younger days, I was technically only a two string player. Hope this muddies the waters of bass philosophy a little.

 

[Simorchid]

er...why wouldn't it be destined (sic) to be tuned EADGBE?

Good question. There is no real reason why a 6 string bass should not or could not be tuned like a 6 string guitar. Or any other miscellaneous tuning.

But in my opinion the B tuning in 4th's is the most usable tuning for a 6 string bass guitar. Firstly, being tuned in fourths makes it easy to play scale patterns in the same way as one would on a 4 string. I also I think that the major 3rd tuning of the 2nd string of a guitar was adapted primarily to make chordal playing easier and since chordal playing on a bass is normally limited to double stops it seems a bit superfluous.

The B tuning covers the low range of a piano and a long scale 6 string covers almost 5 octaves which is plenty high enough. After all our role as bass players is to fill out the bass range of frequencies.

Also, to use the example of a string ensemble i.e violin, viola, cello, bass. These instruments each have 4 strings and are each tuned differently in order to cater for the various voicing's assigned to those instruments. So it makes sense that a bass guitar tuning would be altered to cater for the lowest frequencies possible. As anyone who has tuned down lower then a B note would know, it does start to lose definition of the audible note which makes B a good cut off point.

But ultimately this is my opinion and whist it is shared by many others it doesn't make it any more valid then anyone else's. So if you want to tune a 6 string bass E A D G B E then do it.

 

[GBassNorth]

Nearly all my "go to" basses are 5ers and I use the B string in nearly every song - (as a thumb rest)
Seriously, probably only 5% to 10% of the songs I play actually offer any real advantage in using the B string.
I started on a 4 string years ago and ran across a great deal on a Pedulla Buzz 5 fretless so I bought it and got hooked on using the B as a thumb rest and an occasional played string. Since then nearly every bass I've bought has been a 5 and now I find it less natural to play a 4 string. So is it essential, nope - just look at what Victor Wooten can do on a 4 string but it is nice to have vs drop tuning.

 

[cassius987]

When I play 5 strings, I use the B about 1% of the time--actually the more I think about it that seems generous but whatever. Same goes for some of my favorite 5-string players, the B string is just sort of icing or filler every so often.

 

[dhagler]

I use the B alot. The type of contemporary gospel that I play at chuch has many songs in Db and Eb. It like playing in the lower register, so it works for me.

+1. Also, if you are playing in F you can walk up from C.

 

[B_Lo]

100% gospel
0% 4 on the flo rock
1% blues
20% funk
64% country

 

[Bassforyourface]

I play in a live hip-hop band, and I absolutely love playing the main bass line/riff down an octave every once in a while cause it can really make the verse hit by changing it just that much; the B string comes in handy in such situations.

 

[Iris_Bassist13]

plenty man, I use it in most of my bands songs to hit that low rhythm and keep a nice solid background, not to say i dont throw in a bass solo but you get my point

 

[David1234]

100% gospel
0% 4 on the flo rock
1% blues
20% funk
64% country

A tidy summary.

I've recently been enjoying the B string so much I'm looking into trying out a low F# string on my 6-string bass. Funny thing is, notes that low only seem to sound good at fairly high volume, and only when there's a band for it to be in context with.

(I tried going back to 4 string and failed; I need 5 string for most gigs if I'm to relax and be myself).

 

[bassbenj]

Good question. There is no real reason why a 6 string bass should not or could not be tuned like a 6 string guitar. Or any other miscellaneous tuning.

But in my opinion the B tuning in 4th's is the most usable tuning for a 6 string bass guitar. Firstly, being tuned in fourths makes it easy to play scale patterns in the same way as one would on a 4 string. I also I think that the major 3rd tuning of the 2nd string of a guitar was adapted primarily to make chordal playing easier and since chordal playing on a bass is normally limited to double stops it seems a bit superfluous.

The B tuning covers the low range of a piano and a long scale 6 string covers almost 5 octaves which is plenty high enough. After all our role as bass players is to fill out the bass range of frequencies.

Also, to use the example of a string ensemble i.e violin, viola, cello, bass. These instruments each have 4 strings and are each tuned differently in order to cater for the various voicing's assigned to those instruments. So it makes sense that a bass guitar tuning would be altered to cater for the lowest frequencies possible. As anyone who has tuned down lower then a B note would know, it does start to lose definition of the audible note which makes B a good cut off point.

But ultimately this is my opinion and whist it is shared by many others it doesn't make it any more valid then anyone else's. So if you want to tune a 6 string bass E A D G B E then do it.

I think it is more than just your opinion. I believe there is a logic and practicality behind your statements that can't be dismissed as simply "opinion". Notes below B are muddy. And the break from 4ths in guitar tuning is to make certain chords more playable.

But what you have not referred to is one major reason people tune a 6 string bass E A D G B E. And that is because they are also (or primarily) guitar players. Hence since one of the major advantages of a 6 string is the playing of chords or solos, that tuning allows a person with guitar experience to directly transfer scales for solos and chord fingering over to their bass. The tuning is not THAT far off from normal bass tuning to cause any problems. Of course the problem this gives you is that overall patterns cannot be moved to the strings not tuned in 4ths, just like they can't on a guitar.

Personally, since I played bass LONG before I played guitar that tuning is a disadvantage to me because I make liberal use of the "moveability" of scales and patterns and the total tuning in 4ths gives me that on all strings. But I DO know bass players who use guitar tuning and they do it for the very reasons I stated.

 

[Andy_colassal]

I played in a 5er in high school (playing rock, raggae, gospel, folk, indie, pretty much everything but metal) for 3 years and used the low B all the time, but to be fair a lot of the choir and vocal jazz numbers used Eb's and the low Eb works great.

 

[mccartneyman]

I don't know why you'd have five string if you never use the B. I use mine all the time, and not only for the notes from Eb down to B. Having the fifth string opens up a lot of positions for you. That said, I don't use the low B all that often, but it's ther when I need it.

 

[WalterBush]

Notes below B are muddy.

No, they're not. Mine ring out clearly.

I use my B (and lower) pretty often if the song calls for it, which happens frequently at church. Lower notes sound great on a lot of gospel and modern worship tunes. Nice and full, while leaving plenty of sonic space for a host of singers, guitarists, and whatnot.

At top 40/classic rock gigs or my New Wave project, I show up with my 4 string. Notes lower than E just seem to stick out and stomp over songs that were written before low Bs were common, at least to my ears.

 

[R Upsomegrub]

I seldom play an open low B, but I do a lot of stuff in B, Bb, and F for my current main projects and I use the low Eb and D quite a bit.

 

[Blankandson]

I played professionally in the 60s and 70s but then just quit. Three years ago I got back in. I began with a 4 but found a lot of the music written recently for orchestras and praise bands is written with the low B in mind. So I switched to a 5 and don't think I could ever go back to a 4. I agree with one comment - when I played years ago I never used the G string and I stayed within the first 7 frets. That has changed. I now stay mid-neck and the B string has more punch there than when played open. One thing I do on my own is this: most sheet music written with the low B usually has the low B written in all the way through. I play an octive higher (sometimes 2 octives higher) and don't use the low B until the end or when a hook needs some help. My advice is use the B to highlight.

 

[Marton]

I wasn't using my B string much... so I sold all my fivers .

 

[scraig]

A contact core B String sounds great. It seems to be tighter and cleaner tone. I play the B most songs. It however depends on the type music, and when a lower note will work with the music.

 

[polyrhythmia]

I just bought a fiver this week. I am already loving what that B string can do. It seems that most fivers have string spacing just like that of four-stringers, but the bass I bought has a closer spacing, which I prefer. It is interesting that praise bands would heavily use the B. I know of a guy who works at the local music store who had six string bass set up to go even lower than B.

 

[bassbenj]

No, they're not. Mine ring out clearly.

I use my B (and lower) pretty often if the song calls for it, which happens frequently at church. Lower notes sound great on a lot of gospel and modern worship tunes. Nice and full, while leaving plenty of sonic space for a host of singers, guitarists, and whatnot.

At top 40/classic rock gigs or my New Wave project, I show up with my 4 string. Notes lower than E just seem to stick out and stomp over songs that were written before low Bs were common, at least to my ears.

Are you sure you are talking about notes BELOW THE B STRING on a 5er? I'm not talking about the notes ON the B string! I've played basses with the Low F# and was less than impressed! But I do want to say one thing. Many people who complain about the tone of the B string often aren't playing the best basses. A great bass will have great notes on the B string. When I buy a 5 or 6er I always compare tone on the B string to the E string. They should sound close if it's a good bass.

And I totally agree that a 5 string is just somehow musically "wrong" for the classic old school basslines. To me the bass serves the music. I really don't get guys who decide on just one bass and then try to cram it into every style of music there is.

 

[lfbassguy]

And I totally agree that a 5 string is just somehow musically "wrong" for the classic old school basslines. To me the bass serves the music. I really don't get guys who decide on just one bass and then try to cram it into every style of music there is.[/QUOTE]

i agree, but since i can only afford one bass at the moment, i went with a jazz v. that way i can cover all the gigs i play. classic rock, jazz, 80's hair band, blues, country, and never show up with the wrong bass.