How should a beginner go about practicing a 6 string bass?

[Wasnex]

You are right. Or I hope you are, so that I can feel better about not wasting my money and time. hahahaha!

Seriously speaking, since most introductory books are written for 4 string bass, I just ended up learning the basics. After the first 4-5 books, I started to work on walking bass lines and that was when things started getting confusing but at the same time as I started working on approach methods, I realized the true power of a 5 and 6 string.

I don't have long fingers or long arms. And to my surprise, 6 string was easier to use since stretching arm and fingers wasn't necessary. It did take me time to figure out the notes though. But once I got a hang of it, more strings the better.

In all honesty, a 7 string fretboard is really wide. You can't do slap so easily or machine gun thump and pluck the octaves that easily. It puts a lot of strain on the wrist, especially if you have to work on the same passage over and over again. This alone is novice unfriendly and will cause tendonitis, so being realistic 4, 5 or really narrow spacing 6 string was/is a good choice.

The string to string spacing on my Yamaha TRB6P is wider than the standard P Bass. Plenty of room for slap, thumb, and double thumb if that is your cup of tea. IMHO, the most challenging aspect of slap on an extended range instrument is muting.

I do find fast patterns that jump random octaves and fifths to be a bit more difficult with my TRB6P. Partly because the spacing is so wide and partly because the extra strings increase the level of uncertainty. This type of pattern is the only area where I have found a 4-string slightly superior.

 

[Wasnex]

I wonder if classical double bass player get stuck on wondering if they should focus on playing traditionnal role or solo ... it is all part of the insrument... it is just music.

I also think that there is a little too much crap passed as gospel. It is just music. The instrument shouldn't matter ... I never saw something like that in the classical world where whatever instrument do play solo or in orchestra and no music is out of the question ... here in our rock and role world you should never dare do something else than low rumble.

Our instruments (guitar bass, drum, keys) can do so much more than ground bass stuff

The answer is yes

 

[Clef_de_fa]

The answer is yes

Of all I knew and me too it was music not a role everything was fair

 

[Wasnex]

Of all I knew and me too it was music not a role everything was fair

From what I have seen string bass soloist are very specialized. Different tuning, different strings, different placement of the sound post and setup, and even techniques that I was never been exposed to as a generalist/section player. Then again, I am somewhat of a hack with a very broad experience (or perhaps a jack of all trades), so take my opinion as you wish.

In the 90s I saw a concert with only string bass players (approximately 20). Many of the players used a technique where they stopped the string with their thumb and then formed harmonics with their fingers to play melodies in a range far higher than I thought was possible for the instrument. They played transcriptions of some well known symphonic pieces and used this technique to cover the higher string parts.

I have tried this technique and was barely able to get it to speak, much less play fast complicated melodies. I have tried this on several very high quality instruments from Lakeberg Baer and Horst Grünert and the results were the same .

My impression is different strings and adjustment of the sound post and setup would probably make a pretty big difference if I wanted to explore this technique. This is a very unique and specialized skill that I find interesting, but have no desire to explore.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

From what I have seen string bass soloist are very specialized. Different tuning, different strings, different placement of the sound post and setup, and even techniques that I was never been exposed to as a generalist/section player. Then again, I am somewhat of a hack with a very broad experience (or perhaps a jack of all trades), so take my opinion as you wish.

In the 90s I saw a concert with only string bass players (approximately 20). Many of the players used a technique where they stopped the string with their thumb and then formed harmonics with their fingers to play melodies in a range far higher than I thought was possible for the instrument. They played transcriptions of some well known symphonic pieces and used this technique to cover the higher string parts.

I have tried this technique and was barely able to get it to speak, much less play fast complicated melodies. I have tried this on several very high quality instruments from Lakeberg Baer and Horst Grünert and the results were the same .

My impression is different strings and adjustment of the sound post and setup would probably make a pretty big difference if I wanted to explore this technique. This is a very unique and specialized skill that I find interesting, but have no desire to explore.

Which is pretty much the same as playing false harmonic on the bass

 

[Wasnex]

Which is pretty much the same as playing false harmonic on the bass

Not really since the bow is in constant contact with the string.

It's more like fretting with the thumb to shorten the string, then playing a regular harmonic based on the new string length.

The technique is called artificial harmonics.
Artificial Harmonics Introduction

Here's a video.


Here's a video with natural harmonics for comparison.

 

[IamGroot]

That’s like blaming donuts for getting fat rather than the lperson shoving them into their mouth. The strings have nothing to do with it. If someone wants to play a more traditional role, a high C string isn’t going to draw them away from that. As I said before, a 6-string only has five higher notes than a 4-string, and they’re at the top of the fretboard where even 6-string players don’t often go. If you give Willie Weeks a 6-string, he isn’t going to suddenly, uncontrollably, go for those top five notes in the middle of a groove.

If someone wants to play a non-traditional role, which is perfectly fine, they’re going to do it on whatever instrument they have. Think about all the well-known solo and fusion and prog and guitaristic players out there. The vast majority of them aren’t using a 6 as their main bass.

 

[BMGecko]

You are playing an electric guitar, not a freakish, stupidly done "fake upright". Don't listen to most people on this thread. Go ahead and start with 6 string since that's what you want to do.

Have you ever heard of someone who owns a beautiful D'Angelico archtop who was told to lose their highest and lowest pitched strings to learn to play 4 before moving on to 5 or 6?

Is playing the F# on the 7th fret of the B string somehow musically suspect while playing it on the 2nd fret of the E suddenly makes that same F# legitimate? Yeah, that don't make good sense.

Don't listen to detractors or people who aren't answering the question you asked. This is music, and if your lot in life is to be dull and unimaginative you wouldn't have gotten into music. Always question musicians who are like crabs trying to pull you back into the boiling pot of mediocrity.

I don't know if Jaco knew or cared about his detractors, that the harmonics he played weren't "bass notes", that bassists played root/fifth lines and that he played too many notes. If he did hear his detractors does anyone think he payed attention to them or that his playing was somehow lesser music that he left us? Jaco didn't put limits on his playing, don't let other people make you put limits on yours.

 

[Former Rogues]

I am unsure if OP still follows this thread. I just bought a 6 string bass two days ago.

As a guitarist turned 5 string bassist, now learning 6 string bass, here is my advice so far.

As other posters mentioned, learn to mute strings you aren't playing. This technique requires muting unplaued strings with both the left and right hand. 6 strings means way more work to get a clean and even sound because you can get more resonant frequencies from unmuted strings. Especially if you want to use overdrive or distortion.

Check out youtube, especially Low End University. The guy there uses a lot of 6 string bass for lessons. Scott's Bass Lessons and Adam Nealy are also good bass technique and theory lessons, with 4, 5 and 6 string examples.

Also, consider the bass like a guitar. Learn some chords and alternate tunings. Do not feel like you NEED to learn standard bass lines. Just expect to struggle a bit more than a guitarist, because if you have a long scale 6 string like me, they are HUGE instruments.

Just make time to practice every day. 30 minutes or so. Be careful to not fall into the youtube entertainment trap where you watch videos but never practice.

Last thing, find other musicians and play with them as much as possible, even if it isn't your style. You will learn more, make friends and learn new techniques. It is always better to be sureounded by better players because they will make you motivated to improve.

Good luck man!

 

[Kath5StringBass]

How should a beginner go about practicing a 6 string bass?

I find this really very useful
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Choose your starting position/note and type of scale, away you go - start to master the majors first (maybe).
You asked what the difference between major and minor is, my rough description would be major sounds "happier", minor "sad"... but that's a rough description.

Very best of luck, welcome to the club.

The site, Musicopedia has been down about 3 days. Does anyone know what happened to this site?

 

[Jokei]

The site, Musicopedia has been down about 3 days. Does anyone know what happened to this site?

Also noticed that, when I checked isitdown.com(?) it states "Down for maintenance".

 

[Beach5563]

What’s up guys
I know this is an old post but I have the same question for 5 string beginning bassist. I have tried a lot of approaches and just get confused. My goal is to get a good foundation and then maybe go through a couple of talkingbass.net courses like chord tones and walking bass. A lot of people say just approach it the same way you would a 4 string. That’s what I would like to do since most of the material is for 4 string anyway. Should I just focus on learning the notes on the 5 string first and then go from there or just dive in.

 

[Wasnex]

What’s up guys
I know this is an old post but I have the same question for 5 string beginning bassist. I have tried a lot of approaches and just get confused. My goal is to get a good foundation and then maybe go through a couple of talkingbass.net courses like chord tones and walking bass. A lot of people say just approach it the same way you would a 4 string. That’s what I would like to do since most of the material is for 4 string anyway. Should I just focus on learning the notes on the 5 string first and then go from there or just dive in.

IMHO it sort of depends upon if you are starting from scratch on 5-string or already know how to play 4-string.

Unfortunately if you already know how to play 4-string, IMHO, it's actually probably harder because you have to unlearn some things. If you play 4-string, the easiest and fastest way to transition is to put the 4-string down and play exclusively 5-string until you can think like a 5-string player. I started on 4-string, transitioned to 5-string, and then a few years later transitioned to 6-string. Each transition degraded my playing for a significant time.

My #1 bass since about 1995 has been a 6-string. I own 4- and 5-strings, but now when I play them it seems weird because I think like a 6-string player. It took several years for me to stop thinking like a 4-string player.

Either way, just dive in. Lot's of different ways to proceed. Review everyone's ideas and then find your own path.

 

[Beach5563]

IMHO it sort of depends upon if you are starting from scratch on 5-string or already know how to play 4-string.

Unfortunately if you already know how to play 4-string, IMHO, it's actually probably harder because you have to unlearn some things. If you play 4-string, the easiest and fastest way to transition is to put the 4-string down and play exclusively 5-string until you can think like a 5-string player. I started on 4-string, transitioned to 5-string, and then a few years later transitioned to 6-string. Each transition degraded my playing for a significant time.

My #1 bass since about 1995 has been a 6-string. I own 4- and 5-strings, but now when I play them it seems weird because I think like a 6-string player. It took several years for me to stop thinking like a 4-string player.

Either way, just dive in. Lot's of different ways to proceed. Review everyone's ideas and then find your own path.

Thanks so much, yea I’m pretty much starting from scratch. I really want to just dive in with an approach that will help me learn the basics and something that will allow me to learn the board real good. I’m thinking of Chord tones and walking related lessons. I have heard a few bass players recommend that. I think Mark Smith site is good for that maybe.

 

[Wasnex]

Thanks so much, yea I’m pretty much starting from scratch. I really want to just dive in with an approach that will help me learn the basics and something that will allow me to learn the board real good. I’m thinking of Chord tones and walking related lessons. I have heard a few bass players recommend that. I think Mark Smith site is good for that maybe.

Starting from scratch on 5-string is great IMHO. A lot of 4-string players will tell you it's better to start on a 4-string and then transition to 5-string, but I strongly disagree. A lot of people who start on 4-string and then later pick up a 5-string, never really become comfortable. The extra string is always thought of as an add on rather than a natural part of the instrument.

There are also closed-minded individuals who think extended range basses don't pass some sort of purity test. I have done gigs on my old Ric 4001 where people came up and told me how happy they were that I was playing a 4-string. I just smiled and let them enjoy their fantasy, rather than telling them about my #1 gigging bass, a Yamaha TRB6P.

You can still use training material developed for the 4-string. You just need to make sure and spend plenty of time with material that teaches you to use the extra string. This could mean taking a page out of a 4-string text and writing out your own exercises to cover the extra range of your 5-string. Basically you use a 4-string teaching method and add your own revisions for comprehensive coverage.

To be honest, since I had already learned to play before I transitioned to 5- and 6-string, I don't think I have ever used any teaching material specifically for these instruments. I have played plenty of music that had notes written on the B-string though. I have also transposed plenty of old tunes down a few steps so the singer could hit the high notes. The low-B makes it possible to play the original bass line in it's original form and range, which IMHO is really nice especially when the bass line is iconic.

 

[Beach5563]

Starting from scratch on 5-string is great IMHO. A lot of 4-string players will tell you it's better to start on a 4-string and then transition to 5-string, but I strongly disagree. A lot of people who start on 4-string and then later pick up a 5-string, never really become comfortable. The extra string is always thought of as an add on rather than a natural part of the instrument.

There are also closed-minded individuals who think extended range basses don't pass some sort of purity test. I have done gigs on my old Ric 4001 where people came up and told me how happy they were that I was playing a 4-string. I just smiled and let them enjoy their fantasy, rather than telling them about my #1 gigging bass, a Yamaha TRB6P.

You can still use training material developed for the 4-string. You just need to make sure and spend plenty of time with material that teaches you to use the extra string. This could mean taking a page out of a 4-string text and writing out your own exercises to cover the extra range of your 5-string. Basically you use a 4-string teaching method and add your own revisions for comprehensive coverage.

To be honest, since I had already learned to play before I transitioned to 5- and 6-string, I don't think I have ever used any teaching material specifically for these instruments. I have played plenty of music that had notes written on the B-string though. I have also transposed plenty of old tunes down a few steps so the singer could hit the high notes. The low-B makes it possible to play the original bass line in it's original form and range, which IMHO is really nice especially when the bass line is iconic.

 

[Beach5563]

Oh ok I see. Yea you make good points. I may check out studybass.com. I think you can actually set it up so that as you go through material on the site you can do it for 4,5, or 6 string. It also has a section with some jam tracks on it to I think. I will dig deeper and see.

 

[vinniepooh]

Hello!
I am specialized exactly in the extend range bass, I cover everything that you need!
Even I created my concept for 5th chords and how to play from the bottom to the top!
If you wish do connection! I’ll be happy to help!!!
Vinnie

 

[Wannabebass]

Read This:

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Thats a great resource. I'd also recommend The Pattern System for the bass player by Ariane Cap