Movin' on up! (from 4- to 5- string)

[J Wilson]

First off, forget tab. NO reading gig will ever have it. So I'd learn to read standard notation even if you think you'll never need it. As far as chord charts or other shorter forms of notation, research the Nashville Number System. This breaks you of thinking of playing only in your favorite keys, and since transposing music to different keys is MUCH easier on a five (or six), it can come in real handy. It makes you think in intervals, and can really open up the fingerboard in the process.

While you do pick up the extra five low notes down to B, that's a bad reason to make that the only reason to buy a five, and sounds like you've realized the real reason is the more options for playing across the fingerboard instead of the more vertical shapes required on a four.

In the process, you are now on a bigger, wider neck, possibly a bigger and heavier instrument. Muting and some fingerings are very different. You may require more amp.

Fours and fives (and sixes) are similar but completely different animals.

I'd echo the advice to get a five and play it exclusively until you begin to get it under control, which can take a while, but like most motor and muscle memory, after a while it will come to you.

Good Luck,!

 

[2thAche]

Get one that isn't crazy expensive and see if you take to it.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Floating thumb and muting is the #1 thing to focus on first. Then learn all the notes on the B so you can zap down to any of them and know what they are.

I personally am not a fan of the B string sounds above the E. I’d rather play a first fret F and slide up and down to and from the higher frets than play down the strings.

But just don’t ignore the B. There is no such thing as a thumb rest unless your muting technique involves all the fingers on the right hand. Float that thumb.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

My path to the 5 string was in the 80s, when off the shelf 5 strings were practically non-existent. So, eventually I ordered a custom bass. It took a long time for it to be done so by the time I had it in my hands, I had been thinking through it and visualizing playing it so much that it wasn't a huge leap. Of course, when I got it, I was practicing a lot in those days.

In the long run, it was a problematic instrument (the homemade bridge was especially janky). So may great options these days!

 

[edwinhurwitz]

When I pick up a new instrument that's tuned differently, I go back to Mick Goodrick's "The Advancing Guitarist" and go through the first section - "The Approach" - on it.

I studied bass with a guitar player in the 80s who had studied with Goodrick and Charlie Banacos and synthesized their approaches. I learned more in 8 weeks from him than I did in 8 semesters at Berklee. When that book came out, it was great to have everything in one place and I still use his techniques in my own teaching. Boston in the 80s had some great musical things happening.

 

[Aussie Player]

Playing 55 years with around a dozen on 5's but my skills were developed on 4's. Made a conscious decision to drop the 5's a couple of years back as they dropped my improvisation skills.

But that's me and I would still recomme d a newish player to stay with a 5, but listen to 4 string players in terms of the interesting lines they add to a song. The point being, don't be a root note strummer, the worst of the worst bass players. Keep pushing yourself to develop basslines that compliment the melodies and stay with the drummer.

 

[Gopherbassist]

this and additionally never ever look at "tabs". You will never improve as a musician with "tabs". Instead, use your ears. Practice along to songs that clearly have a five string bass.

What utter nonsense. Learning new music will help you improve your musicianship, it doesn't matter how it gets from the page to your hands.

That's like saying "never ever read Spanish, you'll never improve as a scholar reading Spanish." It's a different language, that's all.

 

[burgerdj]

I have been playing bass for about 30 years and within that 30 years I played four string for about 20 and have moved exclusively to five for the last decade. One of the most advantageous things about playing a five string is being able to play in the approximate middle of the neck. My advice to you is to start relearning songs anchored at the fifth fret with a fretted E on the B string. This will help your mind and fingers to adjust to the new patterns available to you. Overtime you’ll appreciate being able to get into the lower registers without much adjustment.

 

[Ggaa]

My first 5 I had built in '85. Took a couple weeks of not looking down(B looks a lot like E for a bit). Got rid of my last 4 not long after.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

The more strings the better you are! LOL! Like everyone (most) I started on a 4, then exclusively 5, bounced back and forth, right now I play 4’s at a low-key restaurant gig. I wanted an excuse to buy a couple (several) 4 stringers. Thinking about playing at my church so the 5 stringer is out of hibernation! After learning the 5,
Get to where you can swap back & forth. My issue is when I play my 5er, I live in the 5th string a little too much. I have a “low” personality. I tend to work notes down. I have worked on my technique for 30 years but still love low!

 

[MrLenny1]

I've been playing 5 string Low B for 30 years. I Treat the Low B like other strings as needed.
If I need just a 4 string I play my 5 string and the Low B is a great thumb rest.

 

[BassicJazzy]

What utter nonsense. Learning new music will help you improve your musicianship, it doesn't matter how it gets from the page to your hands.

That's like saying "never ever read Spanish, you'll never improve as a scholar reading Spanish." It's a different language, that's all.

I agree with you, totally. Any means of communicating language is useful. I learned a lot of jazz language from tab. When tab isn't available, I use my ears, and eyes to understand what is being played. Since most upright players only post standard musical notation this is the only way I can follow their lessons, and they have much to teach me that the electric guys don't cover.

And though off topic, relating some previous posts on this thread, there are also other means of muting that do not involve "floating thumb." I use my pinky, so I can stay anchored. Some really excellent pros also do this, do not do thumb. Different strokes for different folks. Just saying....

 

[Smooth_bass88]

What utter nonsense. Learning new music will help you improve your musicianship, it doesn't matter how it gets from the page to your hands.

That's like saying "never ever read Spanish, you'll never improve as a scholar reading Spanish." It's a different language, that's all.

give me a list of the world's top ten bass players who learned by using tabs. point is, you don't LEARN anything from this method it's pointless. the bass is in your hands already. use your ears. The leaning Spanish analogy is a poor one. With this logic then, you should LEARN to READ music, not tabs

 

[Lo-E]

When that book came out, it was great to have everything in one place and I still use his techniques in my own teaching.

Which book are you talking about here, specifically? Both Mick Goodrick and Charlie Banacos published noteworthy books.

Sorry for the slight thread derail.

Back on topic: When I added 5-string to my arsenal I continued to play 4 as well but I did stick to 5 exclusively for a few weeks just to get comfortable on it. I go back and forth depending upon what’s needed for any given situation. For me the transition never seemed very difficult; I never read tabs* and I learned the fingerboard as a series of patterns. Since the low B follows the tuning pattern of 4ths it was easy enough to just continue the patterns I already knew to extend below the E string. None of the familiar shapes changed.

*I’m not passing judgement on tabs, I’ve just never used them.

 

[Stevorebob]

When I migrated to 5-string, I began to see fretboard orientation as A-string out rather than E-string down. Once that happened, everything was easy.

 

[Greenman72]

When I migrated to 5-string, I began to see fretboard orientation as A-string out rather than E-string down. Once that happened, everything was easy.

You're gonna have to explain that one to me.

 

[Greenman72]

So my question (reading music vs. reading tabs): It's hard to find music that I like for the bass.
Sure, I can grab old songbooks from church and play "How Great Thou Art", and I would learn to "read music", especially as it relates to the bass. But I don' think that translates very well to the stuff I enjoy playing.

The only good music worth playing is stuff that deals with death, depression, drugs, and devil worship. And it's hard to find sheet music for that. Tell me if you know where to find it.

 

[BassicJazzy]

give me a list of the world's top ten bass players who learned by using tabs. point is, you don't LEARN anything from this method it's pointless. the bass is in your hands already. use your ears. The leaning Spanish analogy is a poor one. With this logic then, you should LEARN to READ music, not tabs

Guess I'm going to have to limit myself to only being able to get into the list of "top twenty bass players?" No disrespect intended, but you should stay away from absolute statements, like "you don't learn anything." All I'm going to say.

 

[Stevorebob]

You're gonna have to explain that one to me.

Rather than relearn orienting the notes from the B-string — BCDEF… — and down to the other strings, orient from the A-string — ABCDE… — out, up to the E and B strings and down to the D and G-strings where there is a full octave easily accessible in either direction. Worked for me. YMMV.

 

[TomB]

Lots of TB threads on this topic, they usually promote the same range of approaches. No one approach works for all, it appears.

I added the 5-string (brief flirtation with 6) 30 or so years ago. I also have so many 4-string gigs (upright, fretless, tribute-type where “4-string” looks matter) that I intentionally “added” a 5-string while keeping my 4-string skills current. This runs counter to those who counsel to put the 4 away for a while, or forever.

I’m not sure if that transition was harder or easier than “cold turkey”, but after a long learning curve I’m easily able to move back and forth 4 to 5 without a problem. It’s a bit like singing and playing bass, you need to create a new mental space - and it’s doable with practice. It was definitely worth it to me, but you need to decide on your goal to assess if it’s worth it to you.