+10. I'm in a metal band and play the low E (flat) root frequently in our songs. Having the B as a thumbrest as well as a backboard for my plucking fingers makes those quick chugging riffs much more consistent-sounding.
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Is having 5+ strings really worth it?
- Thread starter metalhead398
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+10. I'm in a metal band and play the low E (flat) root frequently in our songs. Having the B as a thumbrest as well as a backboard for my plucking fingers makes those quick chugging riffs much more consistent-sounding.
I've owned a few 5s, but NEVER used the low B. I've since gone back to 4s. The one thing I will point out however, is that with a 5, it seems a little easier to scale the neck due to the narrower string spacing. They just seem quicker to me. Slapping and popping on the other hand... 4s are easier to handle IMO. And I don't miss that low B with the exception of using it as a rest. But that's what the pickups are for. 
If I were to get a third bass though, I'd definitely get a 5.
If I were to get a third bass though, I'd definitely get a 5.
Not really that hard to figure out. If you play stuff that requires low E flat and below to maybe a low B or A, while still requiring the G string, than a 5-string would be a pretty good idea.
This comes in handy when you're a gigging muso and don't want to carry multiple basses or having to mess with tuning down and back up to standard during sets. My guitarist carries 2-3 guitars to gigs and rehearsals. I'm happy to carry just 1.
If you don't find the need to mess with your tuning or always play in standard tuning and never below low E, stick with a 4.
This comes in handy when you're a gigging muso and don't want to carry multiple basses or having to mess with tuning down and back up to standard during sets. My guitarist carries 2-3 guitars to gigs and rehearsals. I'm happy to carry just 1.
If you don't find the need to mess with your tuning or always play in standard tuning and never below low E, stick with a 4.
It's easy:
you will have to get some first hand experience do decide.
Some people will adapt to the extra strings and use them constantly in their playing while others keep playing a fourstring with two additional strings that only see use when the lick can't be played on a fourstring. While the former never look back on four strings, the latter do unnecessary extra work (the left hand has to reach over the C string all the time to access EADG) and will eventually go back to 4 or 5 strings.
There are pros and cons that can be weighted against each other.
6 vs 4:
+more strings. You have more notes under your fretting hand at any given time, spanning three octaves without moving the hand
+more tonal options. A low E sounds different if played fretted on the B string.
- less choice. Unless you get your hands on a used Steve Bailey signature, Fender is right out. Several other Brands never built 6 string Basses. In your average music store, there are about a quadrillion fourstrings, half a million fivers and two or three sixers gathering dust in a corner.
-more weight. Needless to explain that a wider neck, additional strings and hardware result in a heavier bass.
-more cost. Changing strings means again that you have to pick from a limited selection of strings. The cheapest set thomann offers for 6 strings is D'addarios for 27,- while the same set for 4 strings is at 16,50,- (and of course there are other sets for 4 strings that are even cheaper)
-depending on your technique and style and the neck of your bass, you may loose speed.
you will have to get some first hand experience do decide.
Some people will adapt to the extra strings and use them constantly in their playing while others keep playing a fourstring with two additional strings that only see use when the lick can't be played on a fourstring. While the former never look back on four strings, the latter do unnecessary extra work (the left hand has to reach over the C string all the time to access EADG) and will eventually go back to 4 or 5 strings.
There are pros and cons that can be weighted against each other.
6 vs 4:
+more strings. You have more notes under your fretting hand at any given time, spanning three octaves without moving the hand
+more tonal options. A low E sounds different if played fretted on the B string.
- less choice. Unless you get your hands on a used Steve Bailey signature, Fender is right out. Several other Brands never built 6 string Basses. In your average music store, there are about a quadrillion fourstrings, half a million fivers and two or three sixers gathering dust in a corner.
-more weight. Needless to explain that a wider neck, additional strings and hardware result in a heavier bass.
-more cost. Changing strings means again that you have to pick from a limited selection of strings. The cheapest set thomann offers for 6 strings is D'addarios for 27,- while the same set for 4 strings is at 16,50,- (and of course there are other sets for 4 strings that are even cheaper)
-depending on your technique and style and the neck of your bass, you may loose speed.
I also made the switch to 5 back in 06. I don't play in the B often but prefer to use it for accents and turn arounds. As someone posted before when I play my G&L SB1 the 4 string feels a little small in my hand.
It all comes down to personal preferences. No right or wrong answer.
It all comes down to personal preferences. No right or wrong answer.
In my opinion the 5 is worth it. The 6 less so but the 5 for me anyway is a standard and it adds to the low end where the bass lives anyway.
I prefer to just go up and down the neck on a 4.
theres a clear difference in tones along the neck which is fun to play with.
sitting in one position is very boring to me.
theres a clear difference in tones along the neck which is fun to play with.
sitting in one position is very boring to me.
That depends on what you want. Personally i don't need an extra B string for what i am playing now, but that doesn't mean that i can't change my mind. So based on what you want/need now a 5 string bass is worth or it isn't.
I don't think I could ever go back to playing a 4 string. In fact, having picked up a four string recently in a shop, I have to really think about what I'm doing to make it work. I also have trouble with the very skinny neck. The low B means that I can play without ever going to first position and open strings (unless I want to drop a bomb.) My high C gets used all the time in instrumental sections, but I could still make a fiver work, and, if I were to ever want a Fender, I would have to go with a 5, wouldn't I...
Yup!
Bought my first 5 in 1991 now all my basses are 5er's.
Don't use the B too much but sure do like it when I do use it.
Bought my first 5 in 1991 now all my basses are 5er's.
Don't use the B too much but sure do like it when I do use it.
Obviously this answer will vary from person to person, but you're asking everyone. So, here's my answer.
I played 4 string for 20 years. At that point I had Hipshot D-Tuners (Bass Xtenders) on all of my fours because I often needed notes below low E. In Y2K I finally decided to try a fiver, and quickly realized that I could adapt to it, so I bought one. It took a couple months before I was completely comfortable, but I knew this was the right bass for me. I wound up selling all my fours and now I play five string exclusively.
I mostly use the low notes for modern rock, but since Y2K I have played MANY covers that require notes below low E. That includes bass guitar lines in modern country and blues, as well as synth bass lines in pop. Last but not least, the extra wiggle room is great to have when playing in "jazz keys": Eb, Bb, Ab.
I was originally interested in five because of the low notes, but learned that the bigger advantage was having greater range in each fingering position. That applies above the fifth fret, where all notes are in four-string land.
I've considered a six string, but I rarely solo, and have realized that I do not want a bass that has either a wider fingerboard or narrower string spacing. Five string is perfect for me.
I always recommend five string to beginner musicians because the additional range will make them more marketable... that is, it's easy to hit those lower notes without the inconvenience of downtuning. But there's nothing wrong with starting on four or six or whatever either.
I go up and down the neck on five string as much as I did on four, for the same reasons. Plus, I have the B string which gives more tonal possibilities: sometimes I play open E, but sometimes I play low E on 5th fret B string.
If I'm playing tricky run that covers a lot of range, then sure, it's nice to reduce position shifting.
I'd never say 5 is better than 4 for everyone, but it's better for me.
No two ways about it. If you are a player that uses the whole neck, 5'ers are perfect. If your current bass has strings, then 5'ers are worth it.
I've posted on this same subject before. I think people just get frustrated when moving from 4 string to 5, or 4 to 6, 5 to 7 or whatever. IMO the more strings the better until you reach the point where reaching with your fretting hand becomes a burden. Pick players tend to prefer less strings because they are holding a pick and have less options to mute with the right hand.
for anyone who's considering moving up to a 5,6, or 7 string my suggestion is use color coordinated strings for the first month or so. So if your going from 4 string to 5 string go to one of the several online companies that sell individual strings, and buy a 4 string set of DR neon strings and a regular single b string. The most common mistake when switching to a bass with more strings is not playing the string you intended to play. you go to hit that F# on the second fret of the E string but instead you hit a C# on the B string, or with 6 string you go to hit the same F# but accidentally play the B on the A string. having the color coordinated strings on the bass until you get used to it really helps.
As far as reach with a 5 string. I can't imagine how small your hands would have to be to think a 5 string is a wide neck. you must have your strap adjusted so your bass is hanging at your knees. I have average size hands. if any of you work at a hospital Im a surgical tech and where 7 1/2 sterile cloves. a lot of the guys I work with wear 8s and 9s, most females where 5 1/2, 6, or 6 1/2. So its not like I have big ol Sasquatch hands or anything
for anyone who's considering moving up to a 5,6, or 7 string my suggestion is use color coordinated strings for the first month or so. So if your going from 4 string to 5 string go to one of the several online companies that sell individual strings, and buy a 4 string set of DR neon strings and a regular single b string. The most common mistake when switching to a bass with more strings is not playing the string you intended to play. you go to hit that F# on the second fret of the E string but instead you hit a C# on the B string, or with 6 string you go to hit the same F# but accidentally play the B on the A string. having the color coordinated strings on the bass until you get used to it really helps.
As far as reach with a 5 string. I can't imagine how small your hands would have to be to think a 5 string is a wide neck. you must have your strap adjusted so your bass is hanging at your knees. I have average size hands. if any of you work at a hospital Im a surgical tech and where 7 1/2 sterile cloves. a lot of the guys I work with wear 8s and 9s, most females where 5 1/2, 6, or 6 1/2. So its not like I have big ol Sasquatch hands or anything
In theory I like the idea of a 5. Can play my blues stuff in E flat without retuning, got some lower notes, especially the D, that I'd use. In practice - I've bought 2 and resold them both. Just didn't like the wider neck. Heck a P bass neck is wider than I care for. Could I eventually get used to it? Probably. A 4 just feels like an extension of me though. It certainly isn't necessary for what I do, most of my heroes play 4's. That said, I'm very much a "to each their own" type person. Some people NEED a 7 string for what they want to do on bass, I'm just not one of those guys.
I use my lower D all the time and I like the fact that I don't have to switch hand positions too often. This helps me to better concentrate on stage performance as well. I love 4's but, 5's are just what I need.
I play 5 strings exclusively these days. I have a 4 and a 6, but almost never play them.
Most of the bands I am in don't call for notes lower than E, but I still more comfortable on a good 5. When I play classic rock, I play it like a 4-string, moving up and down the neck a lot. I feel that gives a consistency to the tone that sounds good in rock music. But I also love sometimes using the over-the-top fatness of a B string on the higher frets. I'm really not tempted to use the low D/C/B when the music doesn't call for it. But it's there when I want it.
P5 pron:
Most of the bands I am in don't call for notes lower than E, but I still more comfortable on a good 5. When I play classic rock, I play it like a 4-string, moving up and down the neck a lot. I feel that gives a consistency to the tone that sounds good in rock music. But I also love sometimes using the over-the-top fatness of a B string on the higher frets. I'm really not tempted to use the low D/C/B when the music doesn't call for it. But it's there when I want it.
Maybe you've never played a *good* P5 through a *good* speaker cabinet. My main bass these days is my Nordy P5, and it kills as a classic P. It also happens to have a great B string and excels in more modern contexts as well. Of course, you do need to have a speaker that can reproduce those low fundamentals, since you don't have a bridge pickup. I also owned an AmStd Fender P5 and that was very nice also.
P5 pron:
Great post. I realy like the coler coated string idea! As for my own story, I played four strings for thirty years only playing a fiver on the occasional guitar center runs. A couple weeks ago i decided to pick up a cheap fiver here in the TB classifieds. So far I'm realy liking it. I feel like I'm starting to get over the hump. Like most.everybody else I see the advantages of extended range with less hand movement if you want. And i love the tighter string spacing on this bass (G@L L2500 tribby) i can just see a time here in the near future where playing four strings is going to be weird. I figure if you can get used to it then why not play one. You might not use the B string but it's there if you want/need it. The only real problem i can see with it is now GAS is gonna get the better of me cause I'm gonna want to try a five.string stingray....jazz....spector......
