I'm ready to throw in the towel (5 string).

[Michael Jewels]

I bought my first 5 string in April 2001, and after 3 months, almost gave up on it.

The neck just seemed odd to me after playing a four string for 30 years.

I would fret the E string, and pluck the B; talk about frustration!

Then, I had an idea: Treat it as a four string bass which has 1 extra, lower string.

Sounds dumb, but what I mean by this is: Play the E through G strings as normal, and only think about the B string when I really wanted to play B, C, C#, D or D#. I never play E at the fifth fret on the B string.

It worked for me, and I still look at a 5 string today as a 4 string with a few lower notes.

Play the 5th fret or higher on the B string?

NEVER!

Never give up.

Mike

 

[JW56789]

I think people should play what works for them. There's players that slide effortlessly between fretted, fretless, 4, 5, 6 strings, upright, you name it. There's players that are strictly four-string guys, and both can be accomplished, wonderful bassists, it's just a difference in outlook and interests. There's nothing that makes one better than the other just because of how many different axes or how many strings they use, nor does their choice limit them: It's down to the player, not the axe.

I converted to five-string in the 80's as I came from keyboards, and preferred the two-octave range across the fingerboard: It reminded me of the linear layout of notes on keys. A four-string to me at the time was confusing as I'd have to shift positions to complete this or that lick, it just seemed strange to me. I wasn't facile enough mentally to go back and forth from my four to my five, so I just began playing the five only, and little by little I 'got it', but believe me it took a while, and sure enough I liked it a lot better. For me it was the easier fingering, not picking up five extra lower notes. I could play in E-flat or D or C effortlessly, just shift up and down the neck.

But that's me and what worked for me. I bought a four-string Jazz last year, the first four I've owned since the late 80's, and it's fun, but a completely separate instrument in my mind.

So I'd say there is no right answer, and if a five is a pain in the ass, chalk it up and do what feels right to you.

 

[pappabass]

Hey, stick with the 4! Its OK.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Im the opposite. I play a five all the time, but if I switch to one of my fours, I'm constantly thinking about how to play the same parts.

BnB

 

[Rib 13]

if its not for you, its not for you......the bass police arent going to write you a ticket......

 

[dave64o]

If five-strings aren't your thing, then they're not your thing. Nothing to worry about.

I'm a late bloomer who's still kind of new to playing with other people and every group I've played with has commented on my five-strings. They've all been guys who are 5-15 years older than me (I'm 54) playing British Invasion era and classic rock era songs and they've literally never played with anyone who played a five string bass before. So I don't think you're that unusual, especially for someone who's been playing for as long as you have.

Besides, what you do with the tool is way more important than the tool that you use!

 

[ejaggers]

"Old Dog New Trick", could very well describe me. I don't think a 5 is beyond my ability, but I have never seen a need.
No band has ever said, “I’ll hire you if you have a 5”, They’ve said, “I’ll hire you if you can play…”.

I’ve met songs that were hard to play, but I’ve never met one I couldn’t play with a 4, but I could play on a 5.

I started out playing SS for years, and when I got my Jazz, it felt awkward. But I eventually got comfortable with it,
although my preference is still SS.

99% of the time, I reach for one of my SS’s when I’m practicing or playing with my band. So it could be the scale that’s the issue,
maybe I’d do a SS 5, but I even doubt that.

Someone mentioned that you need to stay mentally challenged as you get old,
but there are still challenges to be had on a 4. Ever heard of Jaco, Stanley, Victor, and Marcus?

057912

 

[Rib 13]

No band has ever said, “I’ll hire you if you have a 5”, They’ve said, “I’ll hire you if you can play…”.

There are a lot of modern country bands that will post an ad looking for a bass player that playing 5-string is a plus or preferred -- implying that it wont make or break the deal; just a preference...(in two bass players with similar skill auditioning for the job, it may be the difference maker)

 

[Nanaki]

A 5 only gives you a few more notes. If you are playing music from the time period before 5s became popular you don't use those anyway.

They only give you a few more notes but being able to play over two octaves without having to shift is the biggest incentive to learn to play a five string.. IMO

 

[FishDub]

Peoples and persons of Talkbass, I hate to say it, but I'm ready to forget about a 5 string as
my 'always' bass.
I bought a nice L2500 in August. I played out with it until the end of October (8 times I'd guess). I've been noodling on it many nights a week since then.
With my 4 string, I could just sit down and play along with any song that popped in my head from my collection or Youtube. I could get 95% of most songs in a short while. I can't just do that with my 5. I mean, I can, but I don't know where I am even though I can cop the bass part and nail it. If I do this on my 4, I know where I am and can easily play outside the box and rejoin the bass part I'm playing along with.
Learning all those songs in my last band with a 5 made me turn into a robot. Yeah, I did my parts correctly and got kudos from the band members, but it was all muscle memory and no feel.
Since I'm 67, I don't have the time to master this strange beast after playing a 4 on and off since 1968.
I'll still keep the 5, but it won't be a full-timer bass. It'll be my 'need it for this song' bass.

I went through the same.. ditch the 5 and stick with four..and buy another 4

 

[BassGH]

I play in a band with lots of three part harmonies being sung. Early in the dialing-in process, that means playing around with keys to find sweet spots in vocal ranges. That part of the process works much better on a 5 string. Also, we’ve ended up playing a lot of music in B flat and e flat, which are prime 5 string keys. But I’m failing in my quest to find 5 I like, so I mostly play 4s anyway.

 

[bearfoot]

I have never bonded with 5 strings either. I love the 4 string bass and have many of them. I recently staring playing with guys that play 6's and had a few occasions where I used their bass to play....anxiety at first and then I realized I like it!

I bought two 6's last week. Something about an even number of strings and the symmetry of a 6 makes it feel more familiar. I do need to practice more on the 6, and I hope to remain a die hard 4 string player, but the 6 gets me what I never had with a 5.

I've gone to the dark side, the power is good.

I had a similar thing happen. Every time I tried a 5-string, I was lost. I know it makes no sense, but I couldn't even find notes on one.
But when I tried a 6-string, it was far smoother and easier to understand for me.

No idea why.

 

[BurtMacklinFBI]

I don’t want to discourage you from playing a 5, but if you really feel like you just can’t or really don’t want to then don’t let it faze you. Lots of great players stick to 4s, and with a great octave pedal and some imagination you can work around that lack of a 5th string.

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

When I got my first 5 I had to play it exclusively for 3 months to even be able to adjust enough to function.
When I added the 4 back into my regular playing, I was sometimes confused.
As I kept at it, I slowly realized I could go back and forth effortlessly and the 5 five gave me more playing options.
Now, I play mostly 5s.

It takes time to adapt.
Not everyone can.
One is not better than the other.
They both have advantages.
Even if it takes a long time for it to become natural, keep trying,
at least some.
There may come a time when you have a breakthrough you never saw coming.
There are situations where a 5 is the right tool for the job,
so it's good to have one in the toolbox.

 

[LBS-bass]

I bought a five after realizing that the one I'd borrowed from a friend would never get enough attention unless I actually owned it. It's a cheap MIM Jazz but now that it's mine I feel like I can beat the crap of it if that's what it takes to get comfortable. Unfortunately, there seems to always be something else I need to prepare for that I have to play my 4s, so it still sits. Given that the reason I wanted those lower notes doesn't really translate well to a 5 to begin with (songs in the key of Eb with droning low notes) I'm thinking the juice isn't worth the squeeze. I'd rather just bring a second tuned a half step down and play 'Superstition' with the open Eb instead of fretted.

 

[Toptube]

Peoples and persons of Talkbass, I hate to say it, but I'm ready to forget about a 5 string as
my 'always' bass.
I bought a nice L2500 in August. I played out with it until the end of October (8 times I'd guess). I've been noodling on it many nights a week since then.
With my 4 string, I could just sit down and play along with any song that popped in my head from my collection or Youtube. I could get 95% of most songs in a short while. I can't just do that with my 5. I mean, I can, but I don't know where I am even though I can cop the bass part and nail it. If I do this on my 4, I know where I am and can easily play outside the box and rejoin the bass part I'm playing along with.
Learning all those songs in my last band with a 5 made me turn into a robot. Yeah, I did my parts correctly and got kudos from the band members, but it was all muscle memory and no feel.
Since I'm 67, I don't have the time to master this strange beast after playing a 4 on and off since 1968.
I'll still keep the 5, but it won't be a full-timer bass. It'll be my 'need it for this song' bass.

Is this actually a 20 fret Vs. 24 fret issue?

 

[Scottgun]

if its not for you, its not for you......the bass police arent going to write you a ticket......

I can't believe no one has made a Bass Police meme.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Just remove the B string and rock on

 

[darwin-bass]

Peoples and persons of Talkbass, I hate to say it, but I'm ready to forget about a 5 string as
my 'always' bass.
I bought a nice L2500 in August. I played out with it until the end of October (8 times I'd guess). I've been noodling on it many nights a week since then.
With my 4 string, I could just sit down and play along with any song that popped in my head from my collection or Youtube. I could get 95% of most songs in a short while. I can't just do that with my 5. I mean, I can, but I don't know where I am even though I can cop the bass part and nail it. If I do this on my 4, I know where I am and can easily play outside the box and rejoin the bass part I'm playing along with.
Learning all those songs in my last band with a 5 made me turn into a robot. Yeah, I did my parts correctly and got kudos from the band members, but it was all muscle memory and no feel.
Since I'm 67, I don't have the time to master this strange beast after playing a 4 on and off since 1968.
I'll still keep the 5, but it won't be a full-timer bass. It'll be my 'need it for this song' bass.

I get it. I struggled to adjust to the 5 after decades with a 4. I eventually got there but only after I went exclusively 5-string for about a year. If you have been mixing it up between 4 and 5 since August that is not nearly enough time imho.

I initially gave up on 5 when I found my muting technique was not good enough. I always had a string droning away. Once I got that sorted, I returned to 5 but finally gave it up for good when I realized it made my L hand hurt.

Returning to a 4 after a year of owning and playing only 5 stringers was like coming back home.

 

[Paulabass]

I ONLY keep a fiver for the few bands that call me that do a few songs in drop tunings. If they are in standard tuning all night, I'm a four string girl.