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

[Christcr]

dunno if its 'cool' or not...i own nothing but 4 strings (i roll my own)...i'm gonna 'offend' some out there but to my simple way of thinking, 5-strings are also acceptable, but any more strings than that, it's a guitar.

No, no, now wait a minute. You don't seem to understand. You see, a six-string "guitar" is simply an EADGCF six-string bass tuned an octave higher with a wonky detune on the top two strings a half step to be "cool." It is really just a six-string piccolo bass...

 

[mmon77]

I think it just fits that styles of music that people may consider “cool”, but there are plenty of “cool” bassists that play more than 4. I would argue that Thundercat is pretty damn “cool” and he plays a 6 string.

Maybe a little OT, but I just wanted to thank you for posting this. I'm not familiar with him or his work, but that song was awesome. I will have to check out more of his stuff. And he's killing it on that 6 too!

 

[Christcr]

Maybe a little OT, but I just wanted to thank you for posting this. I'm not familiar with him or his work, but that song was awesome. I will have to check out more of his stuff. And he's killing it on that 6 too!

Definitely awesome stuff, and quite unique, yet somehow comfortable at the same time. As a big fan of 70s soul, I hear a bit of that in his music, with a completely new take, of course.

 

[Dave Neal]

I play a variety of basses 4 /5 strings vintage and new, short scales to long.. not because its cool but because I am a bass player. Playing the bass and laying down the low end is cool, being a poseur is not.

 

[Jhoof]

Maybe a little OT, but I just wanted to thank you for posting this. I'm not familiar with him or his work, but that song was awesome. I will have to check out more of his stuff. And he's killing it on that 6 too!

No problem. He’s a bit hit or miss in my opinion, but he’s got some good tracks. He’s also definitely quirky, cool, and ridiculously talented.

 

[Korladis]

Agree....in the past I even had a bandmate(guitarist)say...I don't like any bass that uses a battery. Mind you, he had a dozen pedals.

I have many pedals, and no basses that use batteries.

None of my pedals use batteries, either.

IMO it would be uncool to play a 4 string if you need low B through a fretted low E. Agreed "COOL" is 100% subjective. Some guys wear their bass very low because they think it looks cool. After experiencing low to high and every hole in the strap in between I found it easier to play bass wearing my instrument higher. To each their own.

I play only 4 strings, and three of my basses have a low B.

There was a time that it wasn't cool to play electric bass, regardless of whether it had 4 strings or not. An upright bassist believed anything with frets on it wasn't a bass. Over the years, music changes, technology changes, times change. Now it's, is it 4, 5, 6, etc....passive/active electronics, etc.? Leo's Precision bass took a while to catch on and gain acceptance. It was launched in 1951 but it wasn't until well into the 60s that it became commonplace, and even then some bands used both(tic tac bass). A bass purist would argue none of the above is cool unless you play upright. It's all perception. I think music is cool and if you can make music...that's cool. So, if you think just because you play a vintage P bass that you are cool...just remember that any electric bass at one time wasn't.

Ironic, considering that the upright bass is descended from the viol family of instruments, which all originally had frets.

View attachment 3049110
View attachment 3049111

I really don't like how the 4+1 tuner arrangement looks.

No, no, now wait a minute. You don't seem to understand. You see, a six-string "guitar" is simply an EADGCF six-string bass tuned an octave higher with a wonky detune on the top two strings a half step to be "cool." It is really just a six-string piccolo bass...

A piccolo bass is just a long scale guitar.

 

[77stingray5]

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?

I

 

[Michael ONeill]

Thanks a lot folks ! I had plans to get some poopie done this afternoon ! Got side tracked listening to stuff on u tube . Its all your fault ! Bass is cool !

 

[cbdriver]

True...except when they aren't.


And so many people think that all you get are a few lower notes it made me wonder... are they not allowed to play the rest of the notes on that low string?

Well said

 

[cbdriver]

Saw this thread and it reminded me of this video.

This video also covers reasons why you should

 

[77stingray5]

I have been playing bass for a long time, long enough to have seen fads come and go. This same trend to 5+ string basses happened in the late 90’s. One HAD to have a 5-stringed bass or one was a totally loser. Then, the pendulum swung totally in the other direction, and if you showed up to a gig with a 5-string bass, you were pretentious. Play the kind of bass lines you want, the way you want. If you can do that with 2 strings, fine. If you need 6, fine. There is no need to follow the herd if you have confidence in yourself

 

[cbdriver]

"Cool" is simply conforming to current fashion so to seek validation and acceptance from your peers. I stopped worrying about being "cool" years ago. I've played 5's since the '90's, and will continue to do so, whether it's "cool" or not.

If you’re like me, a 4 feels strange after living with a B string for a long time. I’ve sold all my 4’s.

 

[cbdriver]

I have an AAAA 4-string. No need for anything but A strings.

 

[cbdriver]

All of those "youngsters" just don't know any better. If you want to be cool, play a 6 string.

I’ve enjoyed those too!!!

 

[Christcr]

And so many people think that all you get are a few lower notes it made me wonder... are they not allowed to play the rest of the notes on that low string?

A valid point, but personally, the reason I tend to not use the notes on the B string in the higher positions is that I simply do not like the sound of that heavy gauge string above the 5th fret, even on a 35 inch scale bass. That's why I tend to only use 5-string basses if I need the lower notes. Sure, I can hang in the fifth position and be comfortable with being able to pretty much stay in that position on a five string (or even better, 6-string), but again, I just dislike the timbre/response of that B-string except way down in the lower register.

 

[kkaarrll]

Is anyone else amazed this thread has gone so long?


I may not be surprised

but really?


this topic?

I might be naive

cooler?

wgafs?

 

[Korladis]

A valid point, but personally, the reason I tend to not use the notes on the B string in the higher positions is that I simply do not like the sound of that heavy gauge string above the 5th fret, even on a 35 inch scale bass. That's why I tend to only use 5-string basses if I need the lower notes. Sure, I can hang in the fifth position and be comfortable with being able to pretty much stay in that position on a five string (or even better, 6-string), but again, I just dislike the timbre/response of that B-string except way down in the lower register.

On my BEAD tuned 4s, I use the low B up to the 8th fret sometimes, but not usually beyond that. I tend to be the same with the low E on my EADG tuned basses. Just don't really like how it sounds on notes much past that.

 

[cbdriver]

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.

Last year, I joined a band who were coming together for some reunion gigs. They had played in the late 70’s-early 80’s. I showed up for the 1st rehearsal w/ one of my 5’s. The first thing I asked was, “Is it cool with you guys if I’m playing a period-incorrect bass?” They all laughed & told me to rock out on what ever I wanted!

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

View attachment 3048884

Ouch, that looks like it would kill my arthritis.

 

[Brad Johnson]

A valid point, but personally, the reason I tend to not use the notes on the B string in the higher positions is that I simply do not like the sound of that heavy gauge string above the 5th fret, even on a 35 inch scale bass. That's why I tend to only use 5-string basses if I need the lower notes. Sure, I can hang in the fifth position and be comfortable with being able to pretty much stay in that position on a five string (or even better, 6-string), but again, I just dislike the timbre/response of that B-string except way down in the lower register.

Really? On my basses the notes on my B strings sound fatter than the same note, same octave on other strings. I play a lot around the middle of my neck... fatter and easier once you learn how to control the B string.