Poll: How many strings?

[Marko 1]

Five, not for those "lower notes" (although I do often need and use them), but positioning; I live on that dang B string farther up the neck, and playing an open-string note is an actual challenge for me. Plucking with one hand and LIFTING my finger on the other hand just doesn't compute, lol...

I have realized lately that I rarely use the G string, so I'm thinking about a BEAD, but I'm afraid that if I like it too much, what am I gonna do with my 5 fivers that I love so much?

 

[AlexanderB]

Picked 4 strings, if I had to stick to that. I would however have one in EADG, one in BEAD, and one in ADGC (low tuning) for modern pop and EDM.
Pragmatically, as I play better on a 4 than on a 5 string.

 

[joel406]

5 string for me.

 

[ryan pate]

Four strings, usually one at a time.

 

[funkinbottom]

These days it's 31" & 32" scale 5 strings. Switched a few years back after surgery on my left hand. Still have and play a couple long scale 4's, but if I had to narrow it to one, it would be a 5 string.

 

[Britsie]

Carrots because even my 4-strings are tuned BEAD.

 

[marchone]

I like narrow necks. Four it is.

 

[burgerdj]

I’m going with 5. Part of me wishes that I still primarily played 4s for some reason. But my brain has rewired and I’m much more comfortable on 5s now. I love navigating around the 5th fret in addition to having a fretted low E.

 

[HardNHeavy]

Jaco only needed ffff.......ohhh nevermind

 

[Julian G]

I'm still trying to master 4 strings!

 

[lfmn16]

As many as it takes!

 

[BobDeRosa]

Any more than 4 is too much for my little brain to handle.

 

[groooooove]

6 for me. got hooked on it a long time ago and though i own and use some 4 strings, 6 is it for me.

biggest reason is i play a lot of transcriptions that just need that range.



Very often pieces like this can "just make it" on a 6 string. I even have one with 26 frets which makes certain pieces possible that would not be otherwise.

Theres a candenza at the end of BWV 926 that runs all the way from the D on the B string to the very top of the C string. I'm in the minority but I love playing this stuff, and 6 strings makes it possible.

 

[packhowitzer]

Depends on the scale - I prefer a 35" for a B string.

 

[bassdude51]

i voted "4-string" because that's what i know. my experience with other options is little-to-none.

Ditto. Agree.

Example, all my life, I've driven manual shift cars and pickup trucks. They are now pretty much not made anymore. I had to get a new car a couple of years ago. It's an automatic. YUCK! I had no choice. I had to go auto.

Old school.

Basses. The original stand up bass is 4 strings. Thus, IMO for me, an electric bass should also be 4 strings. Old school.

My son has a five string bass and I have to admit that I enjoy playing it but I struggle with it. The 5th string opens up avenues of different bass line possibilities that I have memorized for songs. YIKES! The 5 string taxes my simple brain.

I read an article one time about 5 sting basses. For all the extra weight, additional tuner, bigger bridge, extra string, wider neck, larger headstock...........all we get are 5 extra notes. And they are ultra low notes that we don't use all that often. And then also to consider is that many bass cabs can not produce a decent low B. (Many cabs struggle to produce the open E. Let alone the B, C, Db, D, Eb.)

Anyway, "to each his own." Bass is like religion, attend the bass of your choice.

This is why I like 4 bangers the best.

 

[G On Bass]

5 as that is what works for me.

 

[lordradish]

Ok, ok, I know this topic has been beaten to death, but I'm hoping to put a slightly different spin on it. Yes, the poll is asking how many strings you'd prefer. I'm curious as to what you would choose if you were forced to choose only one, not because you need it for a certain project/band/etc., but what would be your personal preference, solely for your own enjoyment? Why? What is it about the other options that isn't doing it for you? Not listed in the poll, but fretted or fretless is also in play. Thanks!

After 30 years of playing fives, a four just doesn't cut it for me anymore, and sixes are fun, too.

 

[Marc valero]

I have been playing only fivers since the early 90s.
Easier key changes is one reason.
We are bringing back Something to Talk About, which is in A flat, but we used to do it in G.
Now we are going to do it in F, which wouldn't work so well in trying to keep all the same fingering. So I am going to play it out of the F on the B string. The key change goes to Ab so I just reviewed the first part of the original recording and then practiced it in F.

 

[sleddogn]

Anything over 4 just seems and looks greasy

 

[Geri O]