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How many 5 string players actually use the B?

#61
I use mine sparingly. sometimes in E and F. one tune in D, and one in G (just so I can get a long slide at the end of the riff). I use it a lot for a deep punch at the end of songs too.
I have always loved my 5's, but now I am starting to jones for the rock n roll feel of a 4. Played my first gig (in 18 years) on a 4 a few weeks ago. I was stressing over it, but it was a blast! I think I am a re-convert? LOL
 
#62
I'm simply not talented enough to use a 5 string like a 4 string and ignore the low B. My bass playing soul gravitates towards the string closest to my chin.
The second I got my first 5 string something like 13 years ago I started repositioning all the songs I was playing at the time with my oldies band.
Best reason to switch to 5 string? Horn sections- they like Eb so much and Eb is such a difficult key for a 4 string bass but its simply organic as heck on a 5 string!
 
#63
OK lads! This is different. In the 1960s I chanced upon a Danelectro 5 string Bass. It had been converted and customized by a London luthier. This bass served me well for years when I was non-stop live-work. It did gigs, tours, residencies deps & sessions. Like a dumdcluck, I chopped it in for an SB2 (Gibson) in Stuttgart whilst on tour. The SB2 went bent neck.
The BIG difference was - whoever had the Dano Longhorn bass customized, had a 5th string - higher - above the G string or below it if you are an Italian Lute player!!! I did find occasional notes to produce for it in some songs and music.
I would have considered stringing a Fender 5 string with a low B using another E string but not the Dano. I tried Fender 5 string bass and 6 string bass in music shops several decades ago.
If you go to Invalid Link Removed
I have posted a b/w photo (courtesy of U.S. Army personnel 1969) on:- > your page <
The headstock is behind a PA cabinet. but the strings are clearly visible along the neck and at the bridge.
To those using a 5 string. It all depends on the job in question.
If you are in a band that has pieces with the low B already arranged for then it would be logical to follow that arrangement. If you get a chance to jam then if it exists try to include it.
 
#64
When i play metal in B or Drop A i use the 5th string all the time.
When i play standard tuned music (which i do more often) i use B-string occasionally or don't use it at all: it depends on what the song needs. You don't need those low notes all the time (unless you're playing downtuned music), but it's nice to have them at hand.
Most of the 5-string guys you see on youtube are just playing basslines written for 4-string bass, i guess.
 
#67
EAdanikDG said:
On many of the bass videos on Youtube that I've watched in which the player has a 5 string, the B string remains largely unused. So that made me wonder, how many of you 5 string players use the low B often (when writing basslines etc)?
Click to expand...

I use the B string a lot.
Having to shift positions a little less makes life a bit easier I think.
 
#68
When you see someone playing a 5 or 6 string bass, and not playing the extremes of the instrument a lot, that is called 'taste' and 'being a professional'. Watch Anthony Jackson.... he uses the whole instrument, using only the extreme range when appropriate, which is often just a few times or never in a given song.

And, as others have pointed out, the B string is not just for 'going low', but rather to open up other fingering options and also eliminating any need to detune.
 
#69
In addition to using the upper frets of the B string to facilitate different passages, I actually do use it as a thumbrest. On my SR5, the pickup was always to close to the bridge to find the fingerstyle sound I wanted. I usually rest my thumb on the B and move closer to the fretboard when I want to "tone down the beast" a little and make the Stingray a *little* less aggressive ;)
 
#71
I use it a lot.

When I practice, I play 3 notes per string, modes and scales, So its not an 'extreme range' for me anymore, no different than the E or the A.

Its like any other string, don't want to sit on it for too long. It really gives me a lot more freedom I feel. I love to jump octaves and whatnot. Really wish I bought a 6 string though.
 
#74
I must use it enough to laugh at my guitar players, when they constantly change guitars for different tunings. Hell, there was one point, where they insisted that I use a different bass for 1/2 step down tunings, I asked , "why"?......... I had already learned any of the 1/2 step, on my standard tuned bass, of course a 1/2 step back.....not a problem, they were confused for awhile, entertaining at best.......
 
#77
JAUQO III-X said:
Interesting. Never ran into the problems that you mentioned.
Click to expand...

Me neither. I do agree that with some very heavy B strings, it is hard to intonate accurately, and having a heavy gauge B string that is tapered at the bridge can really cause some ugliness with the intonation. However, most don't use the B string that much above the 12th fret, and with a 'typical' .125 or .128 gauge, it really doesn't behave that differently from a 105 E string for me on the scope.
 
#78
KJung said:
When you see someone playing a 5 or 6 string bass, and not playing the extremes of the instrument a lot, that is called 'taste' and 'being a professional'. Watch Anthony Jackson.... he uses the whole instrument, using only the extreme range when appropriate, which is often just a few times or never in a given song.

And, as others have pointed out, the B string is not just for 'going low', but rather to open up other fingering options and also eliminating any need to detune.
Click to expand...

This:hyper:
 
#79
KJung said:
Me neither. I do agree that with some very heavy B strings, it is hard to intonate accurately, and having a heavy gauge B string that is tapered at the bridge can really cause some ugliness with the intonation. However, most don't use the B string that much above the 12th fret, and with a 'typical' .125 or .128 gauge, it really doesn't behave that differently from a 105 E string for me on the scope.
Click to expand...


I wonder? How many people play on the B string past the 12th fret?
 

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