is it worth buying a 5 strings ?

[bass12]

This question is a frequent one on TB but the answer really depends on what you are going to "need" to have in order to play the part.

There are some gigs that need a fiver, many that do not is the short answer.

I have posted this before in other threads but here was my experience freelancing on the East coast and doing upright and electric bass. I was a gun for hire and here is what I saw:

• All pro level theater work that involved electric was written for five string. If you want those gigs, there isn't an option.
• If you plan to freelance and will be playing in many different musical styles, having a five will definitely help you at some point.
• Corporate type gigs where you were basically a juke box for dance sets, weddings, retirement parties, etc. a five seemed pretty optional. Much of that material was from a time before five strings and sounded fine on four.
• Pro level Gospel I would say a five is very useful and possibly necessary in many circles.
• Orchestral pops work where you could be hired to double on electric and acoustic (Think artists like Bernadette Peters, or variety showcases where several different artists perform) a five is nearly a requirement anymore. The parts for this type of gig are written out and usually for five string.
• Modern Jazz that uses electric usually needs a five string. It seems to be getting pretty standard for the bassist to use some type of Jazz style five string bass with an active pre-amp (lots of Ken Smith, Sadowsky etc here also). I have seen and done these gigs on a Precision five but the low notes are needed for many tunes (think Grover Washington Jr and similar).
• I did not do this type of gig but I hear fives are increasingly needed for more modern country music.

There are plenty other types of situations. These are just the types I did in addition to classical work in orchestras. I will leave it to other players to speak to other types of situations.

Great information. Regarding corporate gigs and weddings (which a large percentage of my gigs are), it definitely depends on the repertoire. I can think of several '80s songs that I regularly play which contain synth bass lines that go below E (lines that I have to play on bass). There are also several songs from the past fifteen years or so which contain some lower-than-E bass notes. Pretty much all of the guys I know who play weddings/corporate parties bring a five to those gigs.

 

[thmsjordan]

Great information. Regarding corporate gigs and weddings (which a large percentage of my gigs are), it definitely depends on the repertoire. I can think of several '80s songs that I regularly play which contain synth bass lines that go below E (lines that I have to play on bass). There are also several songs from the past fifteen years or so which contain some lower-than-E bass notes. Pretty much all of the guys I know who play weddings/corporate parties bring a five to those gigs.

Yes, quite true. Good catch !!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I used two 4-strings for years, but then started writing lines for a 5-string. So I traded my fretless 4 (plus cash) for my first 5. I’ve been playing 5’s exclusively for 12 years, but recently bought a 4.

I say buy a 4, buy a 5…play what you like, when you like.

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

Yeah, you absolutely need a fiver if you don't want to look like a missing-teeth-hillbilly who keeps his kids chained in the basement.

Just kidding, I got rid of mine recently because the music I play did not require one.

 

[BarfanyShart]

No, you don't need a 5, although it is arguably essential to get certain types of gigs. As a guy who has always struggled to get on with 5-strings - despite almost always having one and playing it as a second instrument - I suggest that IF YOU DO get a 5er, devote at least a year to playing it as your primary instrument so that it feels natural to you for the rest of your life. I've never really committed to doing that, and I'm sort of trying to do it now, but ~30 years on, it might be a little late.

 

[micguy]

I was all 4’s until I built one 5’er - figured having one was enough. A couple years later, somehow all the 4’s are gone, having been replaced by 5’s. Going back and forth was a bit confusing - once I was reasonably comfortable on a 5, standardizing on that made sense.

 

[Pings Bass]

My standard $.02 worth on fivers: if you need extended range (i.e. parts with notes below low E), a 5 is the most convenient way to get there without messing with tunings that change the intervals between strings. While I do use some of those five extra low notes now and then, extended range is not the main reason I like a five.

For me the main benefits of a 5-string are:

• zero-effort transposing (critical when playing standards with singers).
• having more notes available without shifting. I find myself playing a lot around the fifth fret, playing low E on the B string. It's a very comfortable position to play in, and you can play any key without open strings.
• pattern visualization; somehow scale and arpeggio patterns just seem clearer to me on a 5- or 6-string.

Talk of extra weight and unwieldy necks is pure FUD; my lightest, smoothest playing basses are 5- and 6-strings.

All that said there's a lot of genres (e.g. many kinds of rock/folk/country) that don't need five strings; if you're going to stick with a genre like that, why bother with an extra string. It'll just get in your way. A 4-string bass is a 12-key instrument, and just like you can adapt cello music to double bass, you can adapt 5-string bass music to a 4-string bass with some passages played 8va.

 

[lfmn16]

Only you can answer that question. I’ve had a handful, don’t own one now. Try one; you can’t learn what it’s like any other way.

 

[bigthemat]

yes. 5 or die! jk but seriously, I love having the low b

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

This question is a frequent one on TB but the answer really depends on what you are going to "need" to have in order to play the part.

There are some gigs that need a fiver, many that do not is the short answer.

I have posted this before in other threads but here was my experience freelancing on the East coast and doing upright and electric bass. I was a gun for hire and here is what I saw:

• All pro level theater work that involved electric was written for five string. If you want those gigs, there isn't an option.
• If you plan to freelance and will be playing in many different musical styles, having a five will definitely help you at some point.
• Corporate type gigs where you were basically a juke box for dance sets, weddings, retirement parties, etc. a five seemed pretty optional. Much of that material was from a time before five strings and sounded fine on four.
• Pro level Gospel I would say a five is very useful and possibly necessary in many circles.
• Orchestral pops work where you could be hired to double on electric and acoustic (Think artists like Bernadette Peters, or variety showcases where several different artists perform) a five is nearly a requirement anymore. The parts for this type of gig are written out and usually for five string.
• Modern Jazz that uses electric usually needs a five string. It seems to be getting pretty standard for the bassist to use some type of Jazz style five string bass with an active pre-amp (lots of Ken Smith, Sadowsky etc here also). I have seen and done these gigs on a Precision five but the low notes are needed for many tunes (think Grover Washington Jr and similar).
• I did not do this type of gig but I hear fives are increasingly needed for more modern country music.

There are plenty other types of situations. These are just the types I did in addition to classical work in orchestras. I will leave it to other players to speak to other types of situations.

I returned to this thread to say exactly this.

 

[conttador]

It’s a math question for me.

The extra string gives you 5 lower notes (B,C,C#,D & D#.

The other thing to consider is that on a four string at any given time you have 16 notes under your palm at any given time assuming you employ the one finger per fret technique (4 notes per string X 4 strings) so if you add another string that gives you 20 notes at your disposal. That means less shifting for me. I like 6 strings so for me that’s 24 notes under my palm & 10 additional notes.

I like that convenience…

 

[DrBnz]

If you're in intermediate player than the 5 is a natural progression. Plus the fretboard will finally make sense. But its just like riding a bike or swimming. Its very intimidating until you do it. Then you wonder what the big deal was all about... Its easier... you tend to play across the board vice up and down it, so less movement... plus you get a couple extra low (rumbly) notes.

 

[gidbass]

Hello mates! One does really need a 5 ? I am interested about it but since I am intermediate player I dont want to slow down my learning or even complicate my already gained progress, but maybe the 5th also teaches me new things , like expand the scales and stuff...

Its easy to say " go get one" , just keep in mind that I dont have a big budget to own 2 basses so I would have to sell mine 4 string to get a 5.


What do you guys say?

Thanks!

I didn't think so, until i bought one and actually devoted time to learn how to play it. Took about a month to retrain myself and fix some bad habits.

Once I did, there was no turning back. I sold all my 4's, and now have settled with 4 5's.

Good Luck!

 

[willddd]

You can do any gig on a 4, but in a lot of ways it's easier on a 5 once you're accustomed to them. You can play any note fretted. Even rock gigs that never go below E, you can choose to play the low E fretted for extra punch and articulation, or play it open.
The low B also makes a very nice thumb rest when you're not playing it lol.
I sold most of my 4s (kept a jazz for slapping, which I rarely do) and only play 5s now.

 

[lokikallas]

I don’t need a 5 but I bring it when the set has some tunes that call for a low note. It just sounds cool to hit the lower octave instead of the next octave up. A D-tuner works for a bunch of songs, but a few songs are way easier to play and sound better on a 5 in standard. If the set doesn’t include those few songs, I’ll use the 4 and drop tune for the low D instead as I prefer to play a 4 string whenever possible.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Aside from all the obvious pros and cons mentioned, to me, the most important thing is do you like playing a five string? It's a different feel from a four-string electric bass guitar, which I've played for many years. About six years ago I bought a nice Fender jazz 5-string and gigged it for 2-3 years. Subsequently I moved back exclusively to 4-string. The fiver was very nice and flexible. But I prefer playing the four string. No right or wrong judgement here -- it's how you feel it when you play it. See if you can borrow one for a few weeks and check it out. You might discover a great new path for playing (or learn you're worrying about the wrong thing!).

 

[J Wilson]

Hello mates! One does really need a 5 ? I am interested about it but since I am intermediate player I dont want to slow down my learning or even complicate my already gained progress, but maybe the 5th also teaches me new things , like expand the scales and stuff...

Its easy to say " go get one" , just keep in mind that I dont have a big budget to own 2 basses so I would have to sell mine 4 string to get a 5.


What do you guys say?

Thanks!

I've been playing fives exclusively since the late 80's. I only recently bought a 4-string Jazz Bass on a whim, the only four since then, and well, it's NOT the start of a trend for me.

I started playing fours in the mid 70's and always was put off at the 'jumps' I'd have to make. Namely, I'd start a lick here, and then to finish the thought I'd have to slide or jump up to there.

When fives began to be made by the major manufacturers and you could buy one for not much more that a four, it was on. Now I could play two octaves across the fingerboard, and it fit me like a glove.

I'd say it's silly to moan about needing 'extra' notes. Pianos have 88 keys, and I can promise you nobody ever says you need pianos with less notes, 'who needs them?', that sort of thing. Conversely, if all you need is those extra low notes down to B, buying a five is more bother than it's worth.

And I can utterly guarantee you that a four-string bass and five-string bass are two different instruments. Do not fall into the 'it's just a four with an extra string' BS. It's just isn't. It's more strings on a bigger neck/fingerboard, different techniques for your hands, and really takes better amps and cabinets to legitimately push those low C's and D's. When I bought that four-string Jazz, that skinny neck and 21 frets felt like a mandolin in my hands after years of 24-fret, neckthrough fives !

For me, I play one as it's too easy to transpose keys (really handy for singers who love 'different' keys, or if you play with a lot of horns), having the occasional low C or D or E-flat is handy in that I don't have to invert to play those roots from above out of necessity, and a lot of us fold 1st position (down at the nut) and 2nd position (around E on the A string) into one 'mother position' that leaves you most any direction to play from or into.

The 'floppy B string' is what it is. To me, it's just not that 'floppy', and I think it affects more new-to-five-guys than those of us who've long since forgot about it. It's never something that kept me up nights, I just play it and don't think about it, but I know it does drive some guys a little nuts, and lots of TB ink is spilled wondering how to rectify it. Good Luck with that . . . .

So, you really play a four, or a five, or a six, or whatever you think suits you the best. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and really there's no right answer, except what will help you make your best music.

I was not a lot further along than you are now when I switched to a five. To me, there were obvious benefits (which have proved for me as true as I thought they would) to the way I saw my method of playing and seeing the fingerboard.

THAT's how I would approach it if I were offering you advice, and only you can answer that question.

 

[Element Zero]

…unless you are trying to play music that 100% requires it (which is really just metal and gospel)

Sigh. Please. Stop touting this nonsense.

 

[TyBo]

I like my fiver, like the resonance of the low B, it's fun to play, not too hard to get used to.

I did find that there's further muting technique needed, with the extra string. And I generally like narrow fretboards, a fiver is wider. And fives do tend to be heavier than fours - it's de facto a bigger neck, plus another tuning machine, which all other things being equal would mean a bit heavier. Mine's a bit over 9 pounds, so do-able but bumpiing up at the limit of what I'll find acceptable. They can be found lighter, but it is something to watch for. But they are fun ...

 

[Willie5String]

Hello mates! One does really need a 5 ? I am interested about it but since I am intermediate player I dont want to slow down my learning or even complicate my already gained progress, but maybe the 5th also teaches me new things , like expand the scales and stuff...

Its easy to say " go get one" , just keep in mind that I dont have a big budget to own 2 basses so I would have to sell mine 4 string to get a 5.


What do you guys say?

Thanks!

I only play a 5 now. It allows a lot more flexibility, as an example if you want to play in E, you have the low B you can play below the E.