Is it "cooler" to play a 4 string bass?

[Gaolee]

I play four strings. I don't own a five. I'm not cool at all. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[krovx]

I'm not certain that you made it past the title of my post before typing out a response.

It's not that I'm looking around and wondering if I'm cool in comparison to other players. It's that I'm seeing a trend for a certain instrument configuration to be considered cool, and if you don't have that type of instrument, you're not welcomed in certain musical scenes.

I've had opportunities for gigs where I've been asked specifically to bring a 4 string Fender bass. And this seems to be a new phenomenon because I've been playing 5 string basses for over a decade now and that has never happened.

Noticed the same thing the past few years in listings and requests from BLs. Wanting a vintage tone and look to compliment the rest of the band. See fewer active 5+ strings live in the cover non jazz/prog/fusion world.

When I play 4s theyre usually BEAD or DGCF. Been playing standard or Drop D...

Still like the transposing ease of 5s

 

[4001]

For 99.99% of audience it’s cooler to play guitar than bass.

Thankfully, .01 think it's cooler to be the frontman/singer/d-bag.

 

[Hundred proof]

In the more traditional old school music I play, the 4 for me has more "drive" I used a 5 back in the 90s when it was considered the in thing, but it never really did it for me. Besides I prefer old school low watt amps, and traditional cabs that are really not 5 string friendly.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I so don't get that "I can play all these notes and never move my hand" argument. Is it really that much effort to move your hand? Come on! Personally, I think it's way more fatiguing not to move your hand now and then.

Plus I like adding a little slide and hitting certain notes high on the E.

 

[mmon77]

I don't like playing 4 strings, and I don't care what anyone thinks is cool or not cool to play. 5 strings work for me. I didn't start playing bass to be cool anyway.

I will use my money to buy what I want to play. I think everyone should be entitled to do the same.

 

[Tony In Philly]

Whenever I take my '51 P-Bass Relic out on a gig, a lot of folks much younger than myself go "ooh and aah" over it. Just sayin'.

 

[Nev375]

You might be cool with your 4 strings, but you'll never be as cool as Tony Levin with his 3 string MM Stingray.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

You saw them everywhere in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays you seem to only see extended range basses in the Jazz/Fusion world, Gospel, and in Metal bands.

There's your answer, I suspect. The pendulum swung: some people want to be different. Same idea (maybe more so) with fashion trends - what was out 20 years ago becomes the latest trend. Basses are less subjective, so 4 String Ps never completely went away: I doubt 5 strings will vanish, too.

Nothing wrong with getting a 4 P (as I tell myself I don't need another bass...). I hope chops trump #strings, but if you're getting static at your gigs (I can see a recording engineer wanting a specific sound), maybe bring the P as your backup.

 

[Treebeard]

I play 4 string basses only so of course it's more cool.

 

[Staccato]

The OP asked if (four string) is cooler.

If a fiver was cooler, the majority would practice on them and/or gig with them. The four is definitely cooler, the majority rules!!!

 

[nilorius]

Everybody can play what ever he wants, there is no cool version. I prefer 5.

 

[MD]

It's cooler to not give a rats *** what others think about how many strings are on your bass.

 

[Belka]

I think the OP has a point. There are fashions/trends in gear. Remember the grunge era? I remember StingRay 5s and Warwicks being very trendy in the late '90s. Boutiques were all the rage in the early noughties. There days the cool cats are playing 4 string Fenders. Of course there are exceptions and in certain genres (gospel, fusion, metal) different types of basses are the norm, but most of the players under the age of 30 (I believe Talkbass to be a 'different' demographic) I personally know only seem to want a Fender.

It's not like this hasn't happened before. Fenders didn't seem particularly trendy in the '80s, but when grunge/indie/britpop hit, lots of players were picking them up again.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I think the OP has a point. There are fashions/trends in gear. Remember the grunge era? I remember StingRay 5s and Warwicks being very trendy in the late '90s. Boutiques were all the rage in the early noughties. There days the cool cats are playing 4 string Fenders. Of course there are exceptions and in certain genres (gospel, fusion, metal) different types of basses are the norm, but most of the players under the age of 30 (I believe Talkbass to be a 'different' demographic) I personally know only seem to want a Fender.

It's not like this hasn't happened before. Fenders didn't seem particularly trendy in the '80s, but when grunge/indie/britpop hit, lots of players were picking them up again.

They do the right thing, good youngsters... Fenders are the bass !

 

[Wulfensteiner]

I just dont see the point of a 5 string... way fatter neck and tighter spacing for a few lower notes... ill pass.

Different strokes, brother. The reasons you listed are exactly why I play 5 string almost exclusively. A few loner notes?! Really dude

 

[beaglesandbass]

So I've played 5 strings for years and have about 6 of those basses sitting in my living room right now. But I just bought a nice Fender P bass with flats from the classifieds last night because of what I'm starting to notice.

Over the past few years I've seen a lot of "cool" young bands seem to only have bassists with 4 stringers. I know that "cool" is totally subjective, but they're usually bands that stir up a good bit of publicity in the pop and indie rock worlds.

Bands like...

Vulfpeck with Joe Dart. He always has a variety of basses, but they are only 4 strings:



Michael League of Snarky Puppy is almost always seen with one of his classic P basses:



The band Pomplamoose:



The 1975:



Greta Van Fleet:



Even the brilliant music educator Adam Neely has switched over to a 4 string P bass with flats:



Of course, these are just a handful of modern bands and players. We could make a list miles long of all the bands that have 4 string bassists.

I primarily play 5 strings and my jazz ensembles band leader constantly rags on me for having a 5 string bass. There are of course, lots of cats in Nashville who play 5 and 6 string basses, but the trend seems to be toward playing a 4 string P bass with flats.

A few months ago I even went out and got a Fender American Pro 5 string and put Chromes on it. I love the bass, but I still get strange looks from people. It's hard to believe that in the year 2018 there seems to be a bias against bassists with multiple strings. You saw them everywhere in the 80s and 90s, but nowadays you seem to only see extended range basses in the Jazz/Fusion world, Gospel, and in Metal bands. Hardly ever do you see them on a stage with a band that's considered "modern" and "cool".

So is it just me, or is anyone else noticing a trending bias against extended range basses in favor of the 4 string? Even more interestingly, do you feel that bringing more than 4 strings to an audition might cost you the gig?

The "standard" bass is 4 strings, so it makes sense that most basses are 4 strings as well.

I thought those indie kids aren't supposed to care about what's cool anyway?

 

[Wulfensteiner]

The "standard" bass is 4 strings, so it makes sense that most basses are 4 strings as well.

I thought those indie kids aren't supposed to care about what's cool anyway?

Indie = glorified hipster. I hope this explains it better

 

[Korladis]

It’s only cool if it’s the right tool for the job. I’ve experienced no bias one way or another. There is still a lot of music written today that requires a 5th string.

There really isn't. The chances of needing the top few notes on the G in the same song that you need the lowest on the B are slim.

Hence why I own EADG and BEAD tuned 4s.

 

[Korladis]

Indie = glorified hipster. I hope this explains it better

"Indie" originally just meant "on an independent label." It's today's "alternative." It doesn't really mean anything anymore.