Playing 5 string songs with 4 string.

[Plain Old Barry]

As others have stated...

String up BEAD. It works for Ian Hill. If you' re playing metal, you might want to Google him, even if he's an old guy,

 

[micguy]

That's a great idea. You could also / instead add the 5th below the B.

Playing the B on the A string and the fifth above it (which is 1.5 times it's frequency) gives you a difference frequency that is one octave below the B. It's nowhere near as solid as having a 5 string, but it's something. Playing the B on the A string with a fifth below (the open E string) gives you a difference frequency that's an octave below the open E. That's not giving you a lower B, it's another note entirely, and it's low enough for a fifth interval that....it'll sound like poo.

Google "Low interval limits" for more education on why this is a bad idea - Low interval limits is a "rule" that's observationally based (call it a "strong suggestion"), but there is a lot of history behind it - it's a really good guideline about where to stop playing certain intervals as you go down in frequency.

 

[chris_b]

I play everything on a 5 string. All the 5 string songs work, as do all the 4 string songs. One bass to do it all. And one backup bass that can do it all.

 

[mambo4]

Playing the B on the A string with a fifth below (the open E string) gives you a difference frequency that's an octave below the open E.

I was suggesting using the F# on the E string - the 5th of B, not the E -the 4th of B - which is indeed not the same

 

[micguy]

I was suggesting using the F# on the E string - the 5th of B, not the E -the 4th of B - which is indeed not the same

A fourth interval down that low is even muddier than a fifth - you can do that, but the result won't be pleasing.