new to the bass world

[Dawgofwar71]

not sure this is the place to have this thread , if it is not then please relocate to the proper location.

new to the whole bass world and I was wondering what are the pros and cons of the 4, 5 and 6 string basses . I am going to mainly be learning and playing as a hobby. I honestly don't see anything coming from this. I might be into some gig work if I get good enough at it . lol

 

[Snarf]

4 String: Is good, recommend.

5 String: Is good, recommend. Has 1 more string than 4 string.

6 String: Is good, recommend. Has 1 more string than 5 string, and 2 more string than 4 string.

Actual advice: 4 string is traditional, and gets you all the notes you need for 80% of music. 5 strings get you all the notes you need for the extra 20% of music. 6 strings get you a scholarship at a music school, a galaxy brain meme permanently floating above your head, and a highly successful Youtube channel of mostly clickbait nonsense.

 

[yomichi]

my dad said that he could do everything he needed to do on bass with just 2 strings. i've seen him gig a 2 string cigar box bass, and sure enough, he made it work.
he looked crazy, constantly running up and down the neck to get the notes he wanted, but he's weird anyway.

and that's the thing about having more strings. economy of movement. the more strings you have, the more notes you have access to, without having to shift up and down the neck.

 

[HelpImaRock]

This question is most easily answered with another question:

What music do you want to make?

I've personally never found the need for a low B. The 4 string does everything I need. That doesn't mean 5 and 6 string basses are bad, it just means I don't use them in my music. Your music might have different requirements. So it's worth thinking about, and maybe posting some videos of what you're going for, so you can get advice to send you in the direction you want.

 

[Malcolm35]

Most of the instruction material will be written for the 4 string. Start there.
I also never say the need for the five in what I play. Which is Pop, Country and Praise.

The big advantage for the five string is that you have a full two octave range at one place on the neck.

 

[Snarf]

and that's the thing about having more strings. economy of movement. the more strings you have, the more notes you have access to, without having to shift up and down the neck.

That's a double edged sword. The B and C strings on a sixer have this problem with timbre. The B string only sounds good in the lowest positions, and the C string only sounds good in higher positions. This is due to the relatively extreme string diameters of those two. YMMV.

 

[MrLenny1]

IMHO a 4 string.
Most modern music was recorded with a 4 string.
Also good choice for a new to bass.

 

[Killing Floor]

If you’re starting out you have no habits and no preferences. So you could start anywhere. I don’t think there’s a “best” but a 5 usually has one lower string than a standard 4 and the 6 adds one in the higher range. What are your objectives? Pick some up. Don’t be timid in the shop. They won’t pick on you. Just be honest and ask for help if you’re not sure. My personal preference is find a neck shape that feels good to your hand. The rest is details.

And welcome.

 

[TomB]

If you think you’ll want the added positions mid-neck and /or the notes below low E then start on a 5 so you don’t need to make the transition later. Otherwise, as noted, a 4 gets you most of what you’ll need. Good luck!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

In general, most music was recorded on 4 strings and will cover just about anything. String changes will be cheaper (and quicker). There are only four strings so it's a little easier to play starting out with fewer strings to mute, less things to wrap your brain around.

If you play keyboard dominant or wind instrument dominant music, they love flat keys and since Eb is the second flat you'll probably want a 5 string instrument.

If you are playing chordal type stuff, a 6 string gives you more options for chords.

I guess I would say that your best bet is to make a list of bands that you like, Google them to see what the bassist plays. You'll probably see mostly four, some fives and maybe one or two six strings.

 

[mrcbass]

I'm a 5 string guy, but I'd recommend you start with 4. As previously mentioned, there is a huge amount of instructional videos for 4 string application. More strings could serve to confuse you while you learn the basics. Once you understand the basics, you'll be able to determine if you need 5 or 6 strings. And it shouldn't be hard to transition from 4 to 5 or 6 once you get the relationships of the strings. It is confusing at first, but with t a little devoted time, it is just second nature.

You'll be able to find a ton of relatively cheap 4 strings to learn on; 5 strings are a bit more expensive and less available. 6 strings are somewhat hard to come by and also hard to unload if you find it doesn't fit you (Don't ask me how I know). Buy used for your first several purchases. After you get to know yourself, you'll know what you like in a bass and can then consider a new instrument that has the specs you like. New instruments lose a lot of value after the return window closes; used instruments will typically get you your money back if you sell privately (no guitar center or pawn shop deals).

You can get just about anything done with 4 unless you expect to delve into genres that rely on really low notes - and even then, you can use an octave pedal to delver those on a 4 string.

I got a 5 string about 2 months into my bassucation and immediately loved it. I like that I can play 2 octaves in one position and that I can move first position (first four frets) up 5 frets where it can be easier to play - it's easier on my eyes if nothing else.

I was doing some jazz fusion stuff a few years ago an thought a 6 string would help - but found it to be too much for me.

Welcome to the low end and good luck. It can be very rewarding once you get the initial stuff figured out.

 

[MustangWally]

Real men play 4 string basses.

 

[micguy]

If you're playing through a bass amp, a 4 is fine - bass cabinets can't really do justice to a low E, the lower notes on the B string just don't cut it well. If you play gigs with nice PA's, you can make good use of a B string. A 6'er - I just don't see those in the wild often enough to even comment on their usefulness.

 

[funkinbottom]

that's the thing about having more strings. economy of movement. the more strings you have, the more notes you have access to, without having to shift up and down the neck.

The big advantage for the five string is that you have a full two octave range at one place on the neck.

and that I can move first position (first four frets) up 5 frets where it can be easier to play

I switched to playing 5's after having surgery on my left hand, for the reasons above.

If you’re starting out you have no habits and no preferences. So you could start anywhere. I don’t think there’s a “best” but a 5 usually has one lower string than a standard 4 and the 6 adds one in the higher range. What are your objectives? Pick some up. Don’t be timid in the shop. They won’t pick on you. Just be honest and ask for help if you’re not sure. My personal preference is find a neck shape that feels good to your hand. The rest is details.

And welcome.

^^ This is great advice right here. With no preconceptions/expectations, go play some basses at a music store. See what feels good and comfortable in your hands. Once you have something you that you think is feelin' good for you, you're on the right path regardless of how many strings. And don't listen to all the hooey about styles of music, instructional info etc. all traditionally written/done for 4 string bass. Doesn't really matter. It can all be applied to a 5 or 6 string. I'm an old school soul and funk guy, and I play 5's exclusively now. And not once has anyone asked or implied that I should be using a 4 string. There is a gentleman here on TB that played in a country band using his 6 string. And as @Snarf posted, 4, 5 and 6 strings, "recommend". Bottom line, it boils down to what's comfy to you. Enjoy the journey, have fun.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

not sure this is the place to have this thread , if it is not then please relocate to the proper location.

new to the whole bass world and I was wondering what are the pros and cons of the 4, 5 and 6 string basses . I am going to mainly be learning and playing as a hobby. I honestly don't see anything coming from this. I might be into some gig work if I get good enough at it . lol

It's probably best to start learning on a four string bass. Once you acquire more skills, you may wish to consider a five string, but most beginners start on a four, and the vast majority of electric bass method books are written out for four string bass.

 

[mike buzzetti]

#1 learn to play IN TIME 1st !!!! then do whatever

 

[tpaul]

You should start with one string, and work your way up.

Actual advice: Four strings unless your intended musical genre calls for five.

 

[InhumanResource]

not sure this is the place to have this thread , if it is not then please relocate to the proper location.

new to the whole bass world and I was wondering what are the pros and cons of the 4, 5 and 6 string basses . I am going to mainly be learning and playing as a hobby. I honestly don't see anything coming from this. I might be into some gig work if I get good enough at it . lol

Another take on strings besides the type of music you plan to play: Reading is a LOT easier on extended range (5 and 6 strings) because you can get away with less shifting of your left hand. Not sure if you have prior musical training/experience or not.

 

[SunByrne]

I'm also a hobbyist, not a gigging bassist. (Yet; we'll see—I'm still relatively new compared to many of the experts here on TB.) Anyway, there are very few things I find where I need or want a 5, but they do exist, and so I have one five-string in my arsenal. It'll depend a lot on your genre(s). Most pop/rock kind of stuff doesn't really call for more than a 4 (drop D goes a long way), but there's definitely material in prog and metal and other genres where you'll want a 5 more often. Look at the kind of music you want to play, and look into what kind of basses those folks play.

Good luck!

 

[logdrum]

BassCliff is the TB member who plays in a popular Southern California country band and uses a 6-string. If I remember he did say that he played in a jazz fusion band before.

It does not matter. There is no pedagogy that says you need to start on a 4 . Because of the physicality involved and fewer learning resources, going to a 6 immediately may deter you from being a bassist more so than a 4 string but it may not apply in your case. We would like you to stick with it and make and support music with it. One more bass player in the world is a good thing.

Killing Floor's advice is good.