If you play 5 or 6 (or more) stringers, do you ever play 4 string? If so, why?

[vindibona1]

First a disclaimer: In my collection I have yet to own a P bass. An oversight, I'm sure, and something I think I regret. But having said that, I currently have 5 basses, one 4 string jazz, a 5 string jazz (both with Aguilar Noiseless pickups) an Ibanez BTB, a Yamaha TRBX605 and a Gio 6 string.

I think I got my first 5er 2 years ago (?), and two more 5ers in short order. And while it took me a bit of time to be fully comfortable with it I have found myself playing my 4 banger less and less. In fact, I'd pretty much left it at school for when I need it when coaching jazz band when needed without notice. During the lockdown I've been making an effort to play the Jazz 4 more, but then I'll feel like I'm missing the convenience of that extra string low B. I could sell my Jazz4 and not miss it for a second.

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

 

[Kro]

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

After ~15 years of playing nothing but 5ers, I've been playing a 4-string exclusively for the last year and a half or so.

Why? For fun! Guess which bass finally wore me down and won me over...

 

[Viggo51]

I feel basses are like tools for a tradesman. I have 4,5, and six string basses, an upright, electric upright, and a frettless. My latest band is an Americana/ Alt country band, for this band I use 4 string basses, Fenders: PJ, p, and Jazz. For my more experimental music I use 5 and 6 (MTD’s and Elrick). I think if I would have shown up to the audition for the Americana band with a 6’er I would not have been considered. Also it’s a great excuse to collect basses!

 

[A9X]

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

Mainly the 5s and 6s, but the main 4 is my XL2 which I've had since new and feels like family.

 

[QweziRider]

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

Yes, but I tune them B-E-A-D. I mentally need the B string more than the G.

 

[Viggo51]

Fender P bass?

After ~15 years of playing nothing but 5ers, I've been playing a 4-string exclusively for the last year and a half or so.

Why? For fun! Guess which bass finally wore me down and won me over...

 

[lz4005]

I have basses with 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 strings. I play each of them when appropriate.
Today that was recording part of a film score with the 2.

 

[Solarmist]

I was going nuts wanting a 5er back in the early 90s and have had one ever since, but over time I've found I like playing 4-bangers better so I'm good with having one of them setup in BEAD. I still have the 5er, but rarely play it.

 

[Flaked Beans]

What kind of question is this? I am a double bass player and sometimes i play my 6 string electric basses as much as my first (el. bass) '78 jazz bass (and my other 4 string basses as well).

 

[JW56789]

I completely walked away from fours in the late 80's and played five-strings only until last year, when I bought a Squire James Johnston Signature Jazz Bass; I was always a sucker for those car-colored Fenders with a matching headstock, and had never owned a Fender in my entire time playing bass.

Frankly, I had such a time converting from four to five back then, I thought I couldn't own both, it was too easy to go back to a four, so that was that, I sold my fours, and it did help me in the changeover.

So I get the Squier, and first, after years of playing five-string 24-fret instruments, this little Jazz felt like jumping in a Miata after having driven F250's all these years, the fingerboard just felt so small. I found I COULD go back and forth without confusion (what the hell, it only took 30-odd years !) from four to five. The fingering is a bit easier, but I have to play more up and down the neck, than across as I would on the five, which I prefer. And if something comes up in E-Flat, D, etc., I miss having the extra maneuvering room without the B string.

I wouldn't go back to playing fours full time, and really it's not much more than a hobby bass, but I really do love this little Squier and am dumbstruck what a value it is for the money. So for now, its big brother, my Squier VM PBass Five is the go-to.

 

[JimmyM]

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

Darn right I do! Frankly, I try to avoid playing a 5 when possible. I've had a 5 for close to 30 years now, I'm quite comfy with it, and I'll often bust it out at home. But on gigs, I do my best to avoid them. I just don't enjoy playing them as much as I do 4's.

But that's me, and I don't pretend to be the last word in bass. I only know what I like, and that's all that matters to me. If you enjoy using a 5, use it.

 

[thabassmon]

My main bass is a six.
I play my four when I want fretless

If my four had frets I probably wouldn't play it.

I plan to get a six string fretless this year, once that has happened, I think my four will go in to a frame for the wall as it is my first bass.

 

[Geri O]

First a disclaimer: In my collection I have yet to own a P bass. An oversight, I'm sure, and something I think I regret. But having said that, I currently have 5 basses, one 4 string jazz, a 5 string jazz (both with Aguilar Noiseless pickups) an Ibanez BTB, a Yamaha TRBX605 and a Gio 6 string.

I think I got my first 5er 2 years ago (?), and two more 5ers in short order. And while it took me a bit of time to be fully comfortable with it I have found myself playing my 4 banger less and less. In fact, I'd pretty much left it at school for when I need it when coaching jazz band when needed without notice. During the lockdown I've been making an effort to play the Jazz 4 more, but then I'll feel like I'm missing the convenience of that extra string low B. I could sell my Jazz4 and not miss it for a second.

So tell me, once you got comfortable with a 5 string, did you play 4 string very much?

No, I’ve stayed with my 5s. Personally, I haven’t felt the need nor the desire to play a 4. For better or worse.

I did recently offer to play the in-house P bass at the studio where I do sessions. I offered to play it simply as a different sound from what I usually do. The producer guy said no, thanx, and that was that. Well, I did ask him if it gets played and he said yes, it gets played a pretty good bit. Fair enough, then.

 

[Wasnex]

My main axe since about 1995 has been a Yamaha TRB6P. It stays out on the couch to tempt me into playing. It's the only 6-string I own. I also have nice 4-strings and 5-strings, but I usually keep all of them cooped up in their cases. My Tacoma Thunderchief stays here with my computer in case something comes up on Talkbass that requires a bass in hand. I rarely play it more than a few minutes. Sometimes I just open the case and fret a few notes without lifting the bass out.

I am getting the bug to buy an upright. That's pretty much the only reason I can imagine playing 4-string, unless I am looking for specific sound that I can only get with one particular model of bass. I stopped chasing tone a long time ago.

Some background
I started on 4-string and it was a fairly long and arduous process when I transitioned to extended range instruments. I played a Yamaha BB5000 for a couple of years before I picked up the TRB6P, so I went through the transition twice. About the same time I also started transitioning from Simandl fingering 1,2,4 to one finger per fret. So I made some pretty major changes to my technique along the way. I also continued to play upright bass using Simandl for the duration.

It took me about 10 years, but now I feel more at home on 6-string than 4-string. Playing a 5-string or 4-string is not easier for me, because I have gotten comfortable using unique fingering and shift patterns that are unique to the 6-string. So when I play with less strings I have to think more about what I am doing, rather than just relaxing and playing.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Nope! 5s only. Just can't see a logical reason to play with less. I don't use my B string on every tune, but I certainly use it a lot in the course of every gig. I don't have a need for a high C string (6 string) at this point.

I have a couple 4s; hell, my favorite bass, for mostly sentimental reasons, is a 4, but I haven't played it in a couple years.

 

[murph7489]

nope...even when I'm in a music shop I give the 4s almost no attention. I look at them mainly for the color or woodgrain, and think too bad that's not a 5ver if I like the looks of it..Honestly the only 4 string I would buy at this point is a steiny L2 and I'd even rather that be a 5 string too...

I have nothing against 4 string basses and they are what I played for years, but I have gotten so used to the convenience of having that B to play across the fretboard higher up that I just don't want to switch back..The sixers I feel are just too big for my hands..so I feel like the five string is right in my zone..plus I love using that Low B on a couple of songs maybe at the end to hit that last D note or C on the low for accent..the key is to use that sparingly as possible..make it a surprise..

 

[lowphatbass]

It really depends on your gig. There’s an alluring simplicity to playing 4 strings but it all depends on the situation.

 

[Nashrakh]

My main is a six, but the Rockabilly band gets the Fender P treatment for reasons of aesthetic authenticity. Well, I still recorded our demo with the six...

 

[Mili]

Warning, Not a helpful comment!
I don't have much experience with my 5 stringer, I bought it for those low notes and avoiding of shifting but there is something with playing with lots of shifting and horizontal visualization which i love so i think i will stay on my 4 string basses.

 

[Element Zero]

I’ve been playing 5s for the last 21 years but every now and then I’ll grab the 4 banger simply because it sounds different than my other 5s.