I finally bought a 5 string bass in 2014 - after playing 4 string basses exclusively since 1977 - that's 37 years! Still trying to break old muscle memory habits but it's getting better...
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How many years (if any) did you play 4 strings before buying a 5 string?
- Thread starter Bassheart365
- Start date
If you need more than 4 strings, you're not being creative enough.
I switched to playing 6 about 8 months ago. And it's BECAUSE I'm not good enough to play with less. The 6 lets me move my left hand less. When I can't look at my left hand (which is pretty much all the time in the Big Band I play in, because I am reading sheet music), the more I have to move it, the more clanker notes I end up playing because I'm not good enough to consistently hit the right fret positions without looking (at least every now and then).
When I become more skilled, I hope to be able to actually play the same music on a 4 string and comfortably move from playing down around 1-5 all the way up to playing high Fs and similar in the 10 - 12th fret range without ever having to look at where I'm putting my left hand.
Twenty-plus. The first five string I had was actually what was then called the NS Electric Bass Cello, now called the Omni Bass. I had mine strung E to C and loved it. Unfortunately, I wound up needing money and sold it. Fast forward another ten years and I bought both a Pedulla Pentabuzz and a Fender Victor Bailey five string Jazz. I just couldn't hang with either (though I WILL have a four string Buzz someday). I'm four stringer pretty much through and through.
Started playing bass at age 17, I'm 60 now, got my first 5er last fall, need it for some of the newer stuff. Should have gotten one years ago.
Total BS.
If you need more than 4 strings, you're not being creative enough.
Total BS.
I played 4 strings for about 5 years, then went to 5 strings for about 20 years, and then back to 4 strings about 5 years ago, where I am quite confident I will stay for many decades to come. 
First bass (4-string): 1966
First 5-string: 1985
First 6-string: 1993
These days I use them interchangeably. Most gigs can be played on a 4-string, but some need the 5 to accommodate singers who drop keys. When I first started playing the 5-string my low G note often sounded like a big fat rumbling D. Go figure
First 5-string: 1985
First 6-string: 1993
These days I use them interchangeably. Most gigs can be played on a 4-string, but some need the 5 to accommodate singers who drop keys. When I first started playing the 5-string my low G note often sounded like a big fat rumbling D. Go figure
I was 11 when i got my first Bass, 19 when i got my first 5'er and 26 when i switched back to 4's.
first 4 string in 2005. first 5 string just a few days ago. adaptation's gonna be a long interesting process as i'm not only adding a string but also 6 inches to the scale.
started on 4 in 86, bought my 5 about 22 years later. Took a little time to get comfortable, but now I think I play it better than I ever did the 4...I should add that I not only added a string, but I made a pretty substantial upgrade also. I've played the 5 pretty exclusively ever since. I just recently started incorporating the 4 back into my playing, because the band I'm currently in does about 2/3's of a set tuned down a 1/2 step. It's much harder to go from the 5 to the 4, than vice versa...probably because I've played the 5 so much in recent years.
Zero, my first bass was an Ibanez ATK305 bought used in '97. Bought a 4 string within a year, primarily played a four string for about 10 years, then switched back to 5. I feel comfortable on both, but I like the 5 for the ability to go below E, and also to play E in the 5th position. Helps mostly when our band leader changes keys and I can still play the low notes low, rather than bump some up an octave.
Probably about 12 years. I decided to get a back-up instrument for my solitary bass at the time, and ended up buying a 5-string. Still have both of 'em.
My first bass was a 5'er. Kind of a rare thing I suspect.
Bought a 5 string w/low B in 1991 after playing 4 string for 15 years.
Took me one year to get used to it. Main issue is confusing low B with open E.
Currently playing New Country and lowB is really needed.
Took me one year to get used to it. Main issue is confusing low B with open E.
Currently playing New Country and lowB is really needed.
Played bass since '74. Got first fiver in maybe '95-'96. Went through a few since then--some horrible(weird BC Rich metal-looking thing) to awesome(Dingwall AB1) until about 8-9 years ago when I finally accepted I don't like fivers and have no use for one in my work. Can't see ever getting another, but I suppose ya never know….
