I don't really have a way to quantify it, but I'd say a medium amount. I have my methods for picking which octave I use, but sometimes I'll throw in inverted 5ths on the low B and often play it above the 5th position.
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how often do you use the low B (5th) string?
- Thread starter hgregs
- Start date
at every available opportunity!!!!!!!
lol, jk....I like rattling the walls with my low Bb when it's tasteful and appropriate for the music.
-J
lol, jk....I like rattling the walls with my low Bb when it's tasteful and appropriate for the music.
-J
I enjoy playing what used to be E-string notes on the low B - they have a much thicker timbre up higher on the neck.
I go lower sparingly. I find it's cooler to just drop a little low tone occasionally than to clobber people over the head with it constantly. It varies of course on the song and what overall vibe you're shooting for.
I go lower sparingly. I find it's cooler to just drop a little low tone occasionally than to clobber people over the head with it constantly. It varies of course on the song and what overall vibe you're shooting for.
Amen - what he said!
I play alot at the 5th fret myself....I play in a praise band and my leader likes to do alot of flat keys and likes to change keys mid-song on many occasions. the B string allows me to make these changes easier and with less motion.
also - I really do like to be able to go through 3 octaves - sometimes i will go "high" on the verse and "low" on the chorus or visa versa for effect and variety....
PS - I notice many people saying that sub-G (or Sub -E) you are getting alot of "muddy sounds"....that all depends on your B string.....
I love my Lakies - pretty much crisp all the way down...although I do agree that the low C and D are more "felt" than heard....
I love my Lakies - pretty much crisp all the way down...although I do agree that the low C and D are more "felt" than heard....
My 2 main gigs at the moment are in a blues band and with a local singer/songwriter. Between the 2 of them, I play a lot of stuff in B, Bb, F and E, and it's just become easier to play in those keys further up the neck. I use the low Eb quite a bit and would really miss it if I went back to a 4. I also like being able to fret the low E.
Also: I learned how to sight-read after I started playing a 5, and I have all of the muscle-memory that goes along with that.
Also: I learned how to sight-read after I started playing a 5, and I have all of the muscle-memory that goes along with that.
It really depends on what you're playing.
Metal, obsessively
Rock, often
Jazz, sometimes
etc, etc...
Metal, obsessively
Rock, often
Jazz, sometimes
etc, etc...
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
its primary use for me is a thumb rest, but when i need it, im glad its there.
in my last band, i used it a lot. i had to separate myself from the guitars as much as possible, and i had a lot of chord outlining to do.
i rarely use it for notes that i can get elsewhere.. but that might just be a style thing.
on certain songs, i had to wail on it because thats what it called for. others, i wouldnt touch it. one particular song called for an E D C progression, and i liked to pull off to B between notes. so it was absolutely necessary. another required a HUGE boom from a low B to start a chorus.
i switched to a 6, and i found that i used the high C almost as much as i used low B. started making chords and reaching lines i couldnt before.
when i first started on a 5, i know i abused it. but it didnt take long to get it under control.
in my last band, i used it a lot. i had to separate myself from the guitars as much as possible, and i had a lot of chord outlining to do.
i rarely use it for notes that i can get elsewhere.. but that might just be a style thing.
on certain songs, i had to wail on it because thats what it called for. others, i wouldnt touch it. one particular song called for an E D C progression, and i liked to pull off to B between notes. so it was absolutely necessary. another required a HUGE boom from a low B to start a chorus.
i switched to a 6, and i found that i used the high C almost as much as i used low B. started making chords and reaching lines i couldnt before.
when i first started on a 5, i know i abused it. but it didnt take long to get it under control.
for a long time I was an ardent 5 and 6 user but in the last year i've returned to the 4, mainly due to personal prefernce and a need for light weight bases due to back problems
... i use the 5th string on the 5 and 6 strings for drop D and C songs, especially that off my 35" 6 string for it's amazingly defined low B string, the 34" 5er is good for low D but below that becomes more of a boom than a defined pitch so i use it as such, for BIG slides and BOOMING end or start notes etc but on the 6 I use it FAR more than the 6th string.
... i use the 5th string on the 5 and 6 strings for drop D and C songs, especially that off my 35" 6 string for it's amazingly defined low B string, the 34" 5er is good for low D but below that becomes more of a boom than a defined pitch so i use it as such, for BIG slides and BOOMING end or start notes etc but on the 6 I use it FAR more than the 6th string.
We do Country and Country-Rock...I LOVE the low notes for that DEEP Country vibe. I also do lots of walking,(because I never learned to slap.) That low string adds a LOT of variation to what would otherwise be some pretty boring songs. I'm REALLY HAPPY I invested in a 5.
Kent
Kent
