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Is it "cooler" to play a 4 string bass?
- Thread starter phillipkregg
- Start date
If you playing to be retro cool.....stop...bass is not for you... get a tambourine
It's not about the cool factor really its about what tone or musical depth the song needs. Most of the bands you listed I believe the bassist is seeking an old school vintage tone reminiscent of an early Joe Osborn or Carol Kaye. If your playing Contemporary Gospel or Alternative Metal in much lower tunings the 5 string might be the best choice. The bass is a tool...you pick which one works best for the given musical situation.
I can see the trend swinging back though. Look at man of the moment, Mono Neon. If someone looks down at you for having 5 strings, ask them how they think the extra string is tuned. If they think it is a high c then you can have the delight of seeing their puzzled face when you say it is a low B.
Oh, and you know that violin basses had a low B as standard in Vienna?
Oh, and you know that violin basses had a low B as standard in Vienna?
I didn't sift through all 16 pages of replies but on what pages I did read no one asked, "What does the music call for?"
The question of "Cool" for me would relate to the question "Am I properly equipped to play this music?"
Most -99%- straight ahead jazz is played on a 4 string upright. One reason is a low B string on an upright starts to slow down the bass and make it less responsive. Orchestra music has notes below the low E but those notes are generally bowed and played in a section of bassists. Ron Carter is the only top bassist that I know of has a C extension on his bass and he uses it sparingly to heighten the surprise of that sound. So for straight ahead jazz if you don't play upright a 4 string is perfectly matched to the music. Anything lower than an open E is not expected by the audience but can be quite entertaining if not over-used.
The other question I see is the type of string. The flats more closely mimic the upright sound so they would be good for music from the era where Fender-bassists used them or for straight ahead swinging jazz. Thinking James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Bob Cranshaw, the Wrecking Crew collection of musicians from the 60s.
Jaco used a 4 string.
Glenn Moore also uses a low C standard length on a 4 string upright but has an odd ball tuning scheme allowing him to play chords. He has a very unique approach to playing his music.
As for adding strings above the G, that would go to your soloing preferences or stylistic demands.
Just because you have a low open B string doesn't mean you should use it unless the style calls for it. There's a lot of later pop music that uses those notes. You have to be the judge of where to use a low B through Eb.
As an upright jazz player I have often wanted to add an "Eb" extension to my bass. A lot of tunes in Eb where it would be nice to use for the final note.
It's a matter of what the music calls for or if you want to innovate then try everything that you can think of.
The question of "Cool" for me would relate to the question "Am I properly equipped to play this music?"
Most -99%- straight ahead jazz is played on a 4 string upright. One reason is a low B string on an upright starts to slow down the bass and make it less responsive. Orchestra music has notes below the low E but those notes are generally bowed and played in a section of bassists. Ron Carter is the only top bassist that I know of has a C extension on his bass and he uses it sparingly to heighten the surprise of that sound. So for straight ahead jazz if you don't play upright a 4 string is perfectly matched to the music. Anything lower than an open E is not expected by the audience but can be quite entertaining if not over-used.
The other question I see is the type of string. The flats more closely mimic the upright sound so they would be good for music from the era where Fender-bassists used them or for straight ahead swinging jazz. Thinking James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, Bob Cranshaw, the Wrecking Crew collection of musicians from the 60s.
Jaco used a 4 string.
Glenn Moore also uses a low C standard length on a 4 string upright but has an odd ball tuning scheme allowing him to play chords. He has a very unique approach to playing his music.
As for adding strings above the G, that would go to your soloing preferences or stylistic demands.
Just because you have a low open B string doesn't mean you should use it unless the style calls for it. There's a lot of later pop music that uses those notes. You have to be the judge of where to use a low B through Eb.
As an upright jazz player I have often wanted to add an "Eb" extension to my bass. A lot of tunes in Eb where it would be nice to use for the final note.
It's a matter of what the music calls for or if you want to innovate then try everything that you can think of.
I have 3 Lakland 5 strings...I play them through Ampeg SVT amps...I get tons of compliments on my tone and playing prowess. No one ever mentioned how many strings my bass had. I play in a band that has 12 members with 4 of them being horns. We cover multiple genres. The band loves what I bring to the mix and the audiences love our sound. I don't think anyone gives a crap what type of bass I play...all they care about is how we sound collectively. I never even think "am I cool"? Of course, being 57 and playing for years with many different types of bands means I don't really care what anyone thinks. If you are judged on how many strings your bass has...that's not cool. I have had many wonderful 4 string basses through the years and loved them...my last being a 68 Fender telecaster bass(great tone). I have been using 5 string basses for 20 years and the last 12 exclusively and they feel natural to me. Music is about sound...not sight. If it sounds good, who cares what you use? Youngsters are hypersensitive to "fitting in" and feeling accepted. When you find the right tool to accomplish what you want, it doesn't matter how many strings it has. I use the B string a lot...not just for those "lower than E" notes. Furthur up the neck the B gives me tonal choices not available on a 4. Also, I prefer fingered notes over open string notes in certain circumstances. Most people think it's generally "cool" that you can play any instrument.
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I paid an extra $100.00 for this B damn it and I'm going to get my money's worth! Lol
The question is not what is intrinsically "cooler," but, has a 4 string (especially the Precision) become a fashion statement? Yes, absolutely it has IMO. The thing about fashion is that it changes. That's the nature of it. Ten years from now there will be a different fashion. Guaranteed. My musical happy place is playing 5 and 6 string multiscale basses, so that's what I do. To hell with fashion. Also, for me the "coolest" bass player on the planet right now is Thundercat. He plays a 6 string. Maybe he will make the 6 string the next fashion statement. Who knows?
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Did you actually read the post? Because there are valid questions there. or are you just messing with people?
This only applies for these indie/millennial/hipster bands of nowadays. For everything else, no one really cares.
What ever happened to, play the bass that fits your style... Do you use the B string a lot.... On the other hand do you use the c string a lot?...Maybe a standard original 4 string is best. Whatever bass that you can express your style on is the bass for you. But to play a bass and hardly use the additional strings will not benefit your playing.
If public perception of cool worries you you're in the wrong forum/playing the wrong instrument 
Speaking as a new player (20 months or so - after drumming for about 18 years), I am going through the debate of continuing on a 4-string or 5-string. Since starting to play, I have been exclusively using a 4-string Sire V7. But someone loaned me a 5-string Fender American J.
So for the past few months I've been using both in the hopes of making a decision.
Never once has looking cool come into play.
I never bought a drum set, or made decisions on how many toms I would bring, or which snare to play, based on what anyone else thought.
Why would I do that? First, if they aren't a bass player, how valuable is their opinion? Second, I need an instrument that serves my needs - and when my needs are served, I feel I am in the best position to serve the music and the audience.
Unless my instrument doesn't suit the music for some reason (having the necessary range, producing a specific type of tone, or maybe volume) what justification is there for complaining?
Now, I can see where there could be some valid reasons for someone rejecting a certain instrument as not fitting, but, is the number of strings on a bass really high up on that list?
I'm nowhere near a pro or even skilled, but I used to play 5s just because that seemed to be what was available. Bought a Schecter Apocalypse C4EX recently, because in the band I started playing bass in, I tune to C standard and don't need extended range. C is as low as we go, and I tend to stay in the lower neighborhoods, with only a few lines going up into the clouds. I simply don't need a high range, so a 5th high string or a low B (in this case, low C) is just not necessary. I also play in a church outside of my other projects, and I've started bringing the Schecter over the church's 5 string Ibanez low-roller. The 4 is easier for me to play because I'm a noob, and tonally I think it's much nicer, although maybe a bit more suited for metal.
Yeah, I don't care much about the number of strings or anything, it just comes down to "what I need at the time" as I'm a minimalist and tend to scale down when able... and what I don't currently need is extended range.
Yeah, I don't care much about the number of strings or anything, it just comes down to "what I need at the time" as I'm a minimalist and tend to scale down when able... and what I don't currently need is extended range.
Cooler Shmooler! It really doesn't matter. Play whatever you like. But keep in mind, anything that can be played on a four string can also be played on a five string. Vice-versa? Not so much without extra equipment.
Bottom line: Whatever works for you and your current situation is the coolest!
Bottom line: Whatever works for you and your current situation is the coolest!
I met Russell Jackson, BB Kings bass player, down in Memphis... At a clinic, he said the studio bass sound secret is to only use two strings... Learn how to play on only the E and A strings. ...it makes the tone FAT!
Just food for thought...
As for me, I've been doing a lot of weddings$$$ and pretty much have to use a 5-string, with octave pedals and Envelope Filters to mimic synth sounds...
4-strings, 5-strings, 6-strings, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, whatever, They're another tool in your toolbox. Whatever you need to express yourself and/or get your job done, get it!
