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My first 5 string, any wisdom for me?

G

Gaetano Paul

Nov 25, 2009
640
29
Sarasota, FL
www.guitarlessonssarasota.com
#1
I got my first 5string today. Ibanez SRX705. Wow this is so sweet. I have been a bass player since 12,I am 27 now, but never had a really nice bass. Always crap, because after i advanced in bass I quickly advanced in guitar, and was swept up in never ending guitar gear world! I know many of you wouldn't maybe consider this a "nice bass" since it is not a F bass or anything. But I am totally stoked. Any way, any one have some good advice on this 5th string. I really felt like I implemented it well @ band practice tonight. Definitely dont want to be the guy with a beat up set of strings with a shine low B string, as so many 5's I have seen are. LOL
Any wisdom on the 5 sting you seasoned brothers of the bass would be willing to share I would receive with thankfulness!
:D
 
#2
Gaetano Paul said:
...
Any wisdom on the 5 sting you seasoned brothers of the bass would be willing to share I would receive with thankfulness!
:D
Click to expand...

Yes. You will get more gigs and gain more respect by being a great bass player than you will by being a "good 5 string player". Just keep that in mind.

Those people who truly value and appreciate great bass playing - they don't count how many strings you have, they just listen.

Congrats on the SRX705, I'd love to try one someday and I wish you the best of luck :cool:.
 
#4
Cool, my first 5 string was an Ibanez as well... :) congrats..

No real advice to give you, except that you will notice as you get more proficient with that extra low B you will know when and how to use the lower notes with practice and experimentation in different songs.. Don't be afraid to use those lower notes, but don't be afraid to think that it may be too much for some songs... enjoy :)
 
#5
Knifedge said:
Cool, my first 5 string was an Ibanez as well... :) congrats..

No real advice to give you, except that you will notice as you get more proficient with that extra low B you will know when and how to use the lower notes with practice and experimentation in different songs.. Don't be afraid to use those lower notes, but don't be afraid to think that it may be too much for some songs... enjoy :)
Click to expand...

Agreed. Don't make extra effort to use that B just because it's there. Experiment with it a lot at rehearsal as well as at home. That thunderous low C might sound cool in one place but not another. OTOH, you have to experiment a little at gigs too. My low C sharp sounded like crap in practice for a certain song, but last week I gave it a shot live and it sounded absolutely perfect.

Also, if you have a habit of looking at your neck while playing, stop doing it now. Develop a feel for how that B fits in with your physical playing habits. That string confounded me for months until I finally stopped looking at my neck. Since then it's become second nature.

Have fun and good luck.
 
#6
Don't treat it as a 4 string + 1 extra string by using only the first five notes of the B string.

Get used to using the entire neck from the very beginning so that you can have two octaves right under your fingers no matter where you play. This will mean going back and relearning all of your chords and scales for a 5 string format.

Enjoy.
 
#7
Find a song that really NEEDS a low B string~ for me it was 'Unchained' by Van Halen, which drones along on a low D~ give yourself a reason to need those lower notes and it will help integrate the string into your playing. Also, start practicing your scales starting with those new low notes~ it's addicting.
 
#8
Remember that a 5 string bass is not just a 4 string bass with a couple of extra low notes as so many people think.

hints:

1. Low notes can be very cool, but just like a double bass drum pedal for a drumber, the first lesson you must learn about such things is exercising TASTE!

2. The key to a 5 string is the way you can get a couple of octaves at any point on the neck. That means you'll have to LEARN the scale patterns that go ACROSS the neck. You want to be able to play any scale starting at any note anywhere on the neck. Get busy. (see the book "power tools for the 4,5, and 6 string bass")

3. Start out easy by using the B string as you might a hipshot or detuning. For example horn keys (Eb etc) show where a 5 string shines. ( I refer you back to hint #1)

Good luck!
 
#12
bassbenj said:
The key to a 5 string is the way you can get a couple of octaves at any point on the neck. That means you'll have to LEARN the scale patterns that go ACROSS the neck.
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+1 to this advice

Also, make sure that you get your right hand muting technique sorted out from the beginning. The extra low string can really cause a lot of extra rumbling if you're not holding it quiet.
 
#18
5er in retrospect hampered my development a little...I would never shift positions and missed a ton of fingering patterns this way, I switched back to 4 and it was like a second awakening...although 5 is handy... I like to throw in a low fill here and there, that low D is real fun to have when someone is playing a G chord. It's also great for say coming in with a few ascending chromatic notes when a song is in like F and I you want to keep it in the lower range...The possibilities are endless, just don't over play it cause then all your lines will just sound muddy and undefined, I won't use anything below the D as a root note, I look at notes that low as a good surprise not a main stay.
 
#20
Gord_oh said:
find tabs for songs for a 5 string and jump into them.
once you can see how the notes and lines fit into a song written for a 5 string, IMO makes it easier to play with that extra string.

that worked for me anyway.
Click to expand...
Gord_oh,
any suggestions, my particular genre can be pretty boring for bass, and am willing to step out of it to gain learning and technique with the 5'er.?
thanks all, I really feel the support amongst us.
 

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