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

[Watchootognbout]

Who cares about what's cool?
Cool is transitory and subjective.
Choose your own path!

 

[bigtone23]

I don't buy into what's cool or not. Play the bass that fits the moment.

 

[two fingers]

I'll still play five. I need the lower notes.

But I own some fours. I play them when I can get away with it.

 

[obimark]

Yes.

 

[mbell75]

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 rarely see 5 strings these days if ever, live in person or with any well known band around.The few 5 strings you see around are guys in metal bands and metal hasn't been popular in decades...and I like metal. I do see a TON of down tuned 4s though. That seems to be the preference these days. 5 string bass and 7 string guitar got a bad rep from all the nu metal stuff in the late 90s and early 00s. They are still generally looked down upon. Ive had a 5 in the past but I dont like the "thunk" sound from a huge B string. I much prefer a drop tuned 4 or better yet, a 4 string with a drop pedal and I dont ever have to touch my tuners.

 

[JMacBass65]

but Greta Van Fleet is trying to be like Led Zeppelin so it wouldn't make sense for their bassist to play something with more than four strings.

God I hate that band.

 

[JMacBass65]

Yes, totally.

5 strings is "ok".

Anything more is dork city.

 

[bluesblaster]

I always thought Phil Lesh's bass parts were more interesting when he was still playing 4 strings, now Phil might disagree with me on that but that's my opinion, in some strange way less just might be more

 

[Ric5]

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


NOPE!!!


But it is more anachronistic

 

[dpaul]

"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.

 

[jamro217]

I don't care whether what I do is cool or not. If somebody ahead of me is doing something that is cool, I just hope they have the courtesy to let me by if they're doing their cool thing too slow. Likewise, I broke all of the mirrors off of my basses so I don't have to see what's being done behind my back.

 

[dave64o]

I’m a middle aged dad, the dictionary definition of uncool. Because I play fives exclusively, fours must be inherently cooler.

 

[mbasile]

It’s a hipster thing.

• French press coffee
• Vinyl records
• 4 string basses

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Certain gigs require a 5 string but 99% of the time a four string is all that's needed so just go with that

 

[Altitude]

Every “The 1975” song I’ve heard sounds like it came straight out of the 80s.

So there.

 

[Herrick]

God I hate that band.

I was checking out a live video of theirs and the singer was doing that "ma ma ma" thing during an instrumental jam section and whaling (correct spelling?) along with the guitars just like Plant. Extremely lame. That being said, I wish them a long and successful career

 

[tpaul]

I play four, and I'm cooler than you.

 

[SturmUndDrang]

Nobody was cooler than Domenico Dragonetti and he preffered three strings.

 

[Brash47]

Buy some skinny Jean's with holes in the knees. Get some leather shoes that look worn, but really aren't. Buy a cute little George Jefferson hat to wear and get a wrinkled button up shirt that fit you in 5th grade.

Now buy a 4 string bass, preferably a Fender....because it's a cool brand.

Make sure your extremely unique colored socks are showing in your skinny Jean's.

Now.....you are cool.

Otherwise, because I AM cool....whatever bass I'm playing is cool. Anyone else....well I'd normally say kiss my a**. But for the "cool" folks....I like to say "slurp my bu**".

I hope that has completely answered your question!

brash

 

[twinjet]

I returned to four because it's home. It's where I started and it feels most comfortable. I also enjoy the "classic" aesthetic of four in-line tuners on my headstock. Dumb, I know.