How many 5 string players actually use the B?

[Staccato]

I use it a lot, specially when playing Dominican Merengue tunes with my tropical music band.

I use it lots, too!

 

[bassbenj]

I would think a thread about the converse would be more interesting. Obviously most 5 string players use the B. Who has it but doesn't use it and why?

It's the same situation just turned upside down! Who has a B string and never uses it? That's easy. It's the 4 string player who hasn't figured out yet that a 5 string bass is a different instrument from a 4 string bass. You've heard them in this thread all implying that 5 string bass is just a 4 string bass with a couple of extra notes that you really don't want to use unless the music FORCES you to play them!

So the "5 string player"..."owner" would be a better word, who only uses the B string for an Eb in a horn key at the end of the song is the person you are talking about and I just explained why.

A 6 string bass on the other hand plays very much like a 5 string except for an extended high range. Currently the music I've been playing didn't need any extended upper end and I simply wasn't using the C string. So I dropped back to my 5 stringers mostly because they are lighter and more convenient to play in the normal range. If, say, I were to suddenly get into an old school band that played nothing but the classic 4 string bass lines, I probably would drop back to a 4 string too. But not because I wasn't using the B string (I normally DO use it when playing old school on a 5 string) but rather to try to get the bass line closer to the original sound and intent. And unlike going from 6 to 5, going from 5 to 4 would mean I'd have to get my mind right once again playing a 4 stringer as I did for so many years. Because to me a 4 stringer is quite a different instrument from a 5 string bass. To me, a 4 string bass always gives me a feeling of limitation that I have to always apply my ability to overcome.

 

[bass12]

I use mine quite a lot, either for the extended range or to eliminate position shifts.

 

[mowburger]

I use my B string about 1/5th of the time

I it's nice to extend my range a lil, not having to drop D or retune to Eb for others.
I've had to learn/make up parts and

I decided not to retune; just learn new ways to look at the fretboard.
been playing 5's since been playing 5's, don't think

I would expand to 6, I could, but I dont feel the need to go a lil higher,
otoh a 6 would just open new fingerings for the high stuff I already do.

5 feels good for me, and I use my B as much as any of my other strings.

 

[LizzyD]

Just because you see someone not using their B string in a YouTube video doesn't mean they NEVER use it. I've played songs where I never use the G string, or even the E string but you wouldn't assume I never did, right?

I use a fiver a lot as required by the music. But there might be some songs in the set where I don't happen to use the B string, what's the big deal? It's not like I'm gonna switch basses for songs that don't require that string.

In my top 40 cover band I can get away with my 4 string, a Hipshot and an octave pedal.

 

[gravgaard]

I play a lot of gospel and worship music, I would rather play a V string in that type of music, than a IV string. It´s so nice when you feel the low B together with the bass drum in your chest.
When I play jazz and funk I always turn to my IV jazz.
How much I play the B string depends on type of music.
I would rather know how much you play the G string when you have the low B???

 

[P. Aaron]

I am auditioning for a Country band...in the set list they gave me, half the songs involve tones and lines lower than 'E'.

It works for those songs too.

I was wondering how I was going to work the 5'er in to my playing and Country Music has brought it along for me.

I have found that a much lighter touch is required to get a good tone out of the B string. When I dug into it, it flopped, if I use finesse, it sounds very good.

 

[Chris Sheaffer]

I play no open strings. I've played 4's for years and when I tried a 5 string there was no going back which was 7-8 years ago.

 

[Callum_Carcass]

Just about all the time, whether that be using it as the main string, for position shifts or using it for harmonising at the low end. Depends on the tunings as well, I mainly switch between B standard, Bb standard and G#C#G#C#F#.

 

[Dave]

Use mine a lot, as a thumb rest...but realistically, until my current gospel/contemporary mix gig, I didnt use it much. Now it gets lots of use with those Eb, and Db tunes. Biggest thing for me was the feel of the neck. The Lakland 5 string neck is the perfect shape for my hand.

 

[Jeff Scott]

When I play my 5 string it is because I need the B string for those particular songs; when I don't need the B I usually play one of my 4 string basses. Occasionally, I will drop D my 4 string.

 

[bottomzone]

It's very rare that I don't use it.

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

 

[moonshinegtrs]

Makes a great thumbrest...

Moonshine

This was said in jest...I have a couple fiver's & still use them occasionally when there is a need, but I find that I play faster & am more comfortable on a four.

There is far better players than myself that rock on a Five string.

Moonshine

 

[Soreinsun]

Just gotta throw another thought in here... I played a yamaha 5-er for years until I purchased a Carvin Icon that doesn't intonate my strings properly; even pushed to the max settings... so I switched to EADGC and played that for most of this past year. When a band I'm in called for the situation where I needed to switch back, I did... and I can tell you, practicing on a completely intonated EADGC bass changed the way I played 5 strings. Now I'm no longer afraid to use all 5 strings at any given time and it's amazing. I recommend this to any fellow 5-ers who get stuck in that "low-only" mode.

 

[Admiral Axtell]

when I write songs I use it a lot but Iv'e never really learned someone elses song that uses the B.
besides new metallica but Ive only really learned a little

 

[basspraiser]

I use it "most" of the time...I play alot around the 5th fret for comfort etc...nice to be able to hit low notes without moving far....also i am not an open string guy so I can play a nice LOW E now!

lastly - I play in a prause band and we do alot of music in flat keys etc so the B string REALLY comes in handy.....

lastly - there are a few songs where the bass lines get a little monotonous so being able to move up and down the the scales helps break the monotony for me AND the listener!

 

[basspraiser]

Use mine a lot, as a thumb rest...but realistically, until my current gospel/contemporary mix gig, I didnt use it much. Now it gets lots of use with those Eb, and Db tunes. Biggest thing for me was the feel of the neck. The Lakland 5 string neck is the perfect shape for my hand.

I agree....especially with your last point...the neck feels so good.....whether you use the B or not...

 

[Madwatch]

I use it all the time. Its why most of my basses have 5 strings. I use it for the low notes and also the extra positions that it affords me. As way of comparison I dont have a 6 string or 7 string bass because I wouldnt use the extra high strings. Everyone is different but to me it doesnt make sense to have something that you wont use. If you only use 4 strings then great, get a 4 string. If you use 5 get a 5 string. I had several 4 strings and after I while I realized I gravitated to and used the 5 string the most , so I sold all my high end 4 strings... You just need to figure out what works for you because either way its all good. Happy thumping!

 

[darthplagis]

the question you should be asking is why do all these fancy bassists have like 20+ frets when they dont move past the 5/7th

i actually do use my B like the majority, the added positions without moving is great and the ladies love the low B..... brings smiles to most ladies at gigs.

 

[Tasteebass]

Constantly. The low B is not there for the really low notes for me, it is there so that I can play in E in the 5th position/not have to slack tune/drop D. In fact, I hardly use open strings anymore.

+1. But I'm working on a hip hop/funk track in Bm and that low in 1/4 notes at a slower tempo really seals it