Questions for those who alternate between 4 and 5 stringers

[stringthrough]

Is your “baseline” 5 strings and you think of a 4 stringer as missing the lowest string or is your “bassline” a 4 strings and you think of a 5 stringer as a 4 with an extra string?


From a tehnical perspective, do you change right hand damping technique between the two types of bass? For example, do you float you thumb between the B and E string to dampan as needed when playing the A-G strings on a 5 string but use E string as a thumb rest on a 4 stringer when playing the A-G strings.


Do you go out of you way to play the lowest E-G# notes on the E string as opposed to higher up on the B string so as not to approach the same tune differently when playing it on a 4 versus a 5 string?


Any thoughts along the lines on how you change you mental perspective and playing technique would be appreciated.

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* Update *
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I'm getting a lot of replies (which I appreciate) from players who made the switch from one to the other and more or less never went back. However my questions are directed at players who go back and forth "concurrently" (that's why I used the word ALTERNATE) and not "I played the 4 for 10 years then went to the 5 for a few years and recently returned to the 4".

 

[Spectre1966]

To be honest, I don't really think that much about it. I played my 5 for over a year, picked up the 4, and learned every song for the past year as I played them before realizing I missed the 5 and switched back. Kinda like riding a bicycle....you just get used to it and it comes naturally.

 

[Bassist Jay]

For 30 plus years I played 4 string basses exclusively. I think around 2011 or 2012, I bought a 2007 Ibanez Soundgear 20th 5, 20th Anniversary 5 string bass. Having the low B completely threw off my playing due to not being used to having an extra string. I kept playing everything a sting off, think the B was the E. The E was the A and so on. I loved the tone of the low B though and really wished the switchover wasn't as difficult. I got frustrated and traded the bass straight across about a year later for a brand new Music Man Stingray 4 H.

This past November I went to Guitar Center and traded in about $20k worth of Zane Guitars that I used for demos from the company on a bunch of other basses and guitars that I wanted. 3 of those basses were Stingray 5's. Then this last week, I traded in 3 more for a Guitar Center Exclusive Music Man Bongo 5 HH.

In November, when I decided to give 5 string basses a second try, I made a post on here and EBMM's website asking for advice in transitioning. Most of the advice was the same. Only play my 5 strings until they become natural. I did that and to my surprise, I caught on and transitioned over to the 5 stringers much easier. Now when I pick up my 4 string basses, I can still play them fine but then when I go back to my 5's, I can now do so without having any issues.

Sorry I made kind of a long post but I hope that helps.

 

[xroads]

My approach to the 5 string is just a bass with more options.
The B-string gives me the possibility to find a low A not only
on the E-string, but also higher up on the B-string. That way, some
lines are easier to play, which means that I play a given song
differently on a 4-string compared to a 5-string.

Rg. right hand damping, I move the thumb up and down to dampen
the strings. This is applicable to both 4- and 5-string basses.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

I feel like the 4-string is a bass missing the lowest string. 5-string is the modern standard, so I prefer to be able to hit those notes when I can. I can hear them, the audience can hear them, and my amp can produce them just fine, I see no reason to ignore those notes! There are more advantages but it has been discussed a million times before!

 

[beaglesandbass]

Is your “baseline” 5 strings and you think of a 4 stringer as missing the lowest string or is your “bassline” a 4 strings and you think of a 5 stringer as a 4 with an extra string?

To be honest, neither. Some things I like playing better on 5, and vice versa. Can't explain it.

 

[chris_b]

Any thoughts along the lines on how you change you mental perspective and playing technique would be appreciated.

I changed my mental perspective, once, in the mid 90's. That was when I moved to 5ers and I never looked back.

For me there's no point in switching back and forth. A 5 does everything and more so I stick with it.

I also did the B/E muddle thing, starting on the wrong string, which is why I always advise putting the 4 string bass away until you can play a 5 without making these mistakes. My technique must have changed but not with any concious effort on my part. Apart from muting the extra string, which was just a logical extension of my 4 string muting, the change over came easily and naturally.

I've done fly gigs where a 4 has been provided and while it feels like I'm playing with a straight jacket on I can switch over with no effort.

 

[bholder]

It takes a while and just happens, both feel natural. I find myself wishing for the B occasionally when playing a 4, but not too often. Having the extra high 6 on a sixer is still something I don't have quite down though, just don't practice them enough I guess.

 

[two fingers]

I'm good to go with both.

I had to stick with wide spacing 5s because 19mm spacing on my right hand is what I got used to. (My sound is very right-hand driven.)

The only thing I struggle with is super narrow/thin 4 string necks. A chunky 4 string P bass is right at home. But a Geddy style J or something like that gets my fingers wrapped around it about 4 times.

 

[bassbully]

I takes me a few minutes to get used to the string spacing and neck difference then I'm good. Its the same four strings minus the B so really just the difference in feel is the only issue.

 

[micahwc]

I've played both for 20 years. Honestly, I can play either without worrying about it too much. I will say that when a song is in e flat I miss the 5th string. I hate having to go up an octave because one note in a song is too low without drop tuning.

 

[Passinwind]

My 5 is fretted and still very much an experiment at ~6 months in. My 4s are fretless and my approach is necessarily quite a bit different regardless of number of strings. I'm still mostly in "only play 5 string mode", which mirrors how I approached playing an EUB back when I bought mine quite a few years ago.

 

[stringthrough]

For 30 plus years I played 4 string basses exclusively. I think around 2011 or 2012, I bought a 2007 Ibanez Soundgear 20th 5, 20th Anniversary 5 string bass. Having the low B completely threw off my playing due to not being used to having an extra string. I kept playing everything a sting off, think the B was the E. The E was the A and so on. I loved the tone of the low B though and really wished the switchover wasn't as difficult. I got frustrated and traded the bass straight across about a year later for a brand new Music Man Stingray 4 H.

This past November I went to Guitar Center and traded in about $20k worth of Zane Guitars that I used for demos from the company on a bunch of other basses and guitars that I wanted. 3 of those basses were Stingray 5's. Then this last week, I traded in 3 more for a Guitar Center Exclusive Music Man Bongo 5 HH.

In November, when I decided to give 5 string basses a second try, I made a post on here and EBMM's website asking for advice in transitioning. Most of the advice was the same. Only play my 5 strings until they become natural. I did that and to my surprise, I caught on and transitioned over to the 5 stringers much easier. Now when I pick up my 4 string basses, I can still play them fine but then when I go back to my 5's, I can now do so without having any issues.

Sorry I made kind of a long post but I hope that helps.

Thanks for the useful advice: "only play the 5 string until it becomes natural"

 

[stringthrough]

I feel like the 4-string is a bass missing the lowest string. 5-string is the modern standard, so I prefer to be able to hit those notes when I can. I can hear them, the audience can hear them, and my amp can produce them just fine, I see no reason to ignore those notes! There are more advantages but it has been discussed a million times before!

Thanks for your input... There's no denying that the extended range and option to stay in one "area" longer are benefits, but my question was more directed at players who back and forth "concurrently" and not "I played the 4 for 10 years then went to the 5 for a few years and recently returned to the 4".

 

[Passinwind]

Thanks for the useful advice: "only play the 5 string until it becomes natural"

IME that works pretty well. The toughest part for me has been adjusting to reading music with it, and pretty much none of the music I read even has anything written in for the lowest B string notes anyway. So I'm thinking that I'll just keep using 4string BG or the EUB on my jazz gigs, at least for the moment. I gave that a try a few weeks ago and it was no problem at all going back to the 4, FWIW.

 

[stringthrough]

IME that works pretty well. The toughest part for me has been adjusting to reading music with it, and pretty much none of the music I read even has anything written in for the lowest B string notes anyway. So I'm thinking that I'll just keep using 4string BG or the EUB on my jazz gigs, at least for the moment. I gave that a try a few weeks ago and it was no problem at all going back to the 4, FWIW.

Whaaaaa? Read music, what's that?

Just kidding. I was a rudimentary, but good enough to get by reader back in high school when I played upright for my school's jazz orchestra.

 

[QweziRider]

Is your “baseline” 5 strings and you think of a 4 stringer as missing the lowest string or is your “bassline” a 4 strings and you think of a 5 stringer as a 4 with an extra string?

I started on 5 in '91. My baseline is the B string. After this many years, I can get away with a 4 stringer under duress, but I really really REALLY prefer that B string to be there. Therefore......all my four stringers are now tuned BEAD. I can live with a four stringer that's missing the G.

 

[Bass V]

I'll be getting my first 5er shortly and don't envision needing the B v much yet am willing to go full 5 if it's so good that I must invest in the mental and physical changes, but if not, are there cheap tricks such as muting the B with a bit of foam to dampen any perceptible vibration and still get the full sound when needed while keeping a 4 str. state of mind? I think I've seen it done, should have asked the guy, and friend's answers tend to be vague.

 

[SteveC]

I've been playing more than 4 for a long time. I am shipping my 6 string off today. I am a 5 string guy. That said, I do have a 4 string with flats I use for "jazz" gigs. I like to "limit" myself to a more "upright" range and tone. I find I play more "within the genre" when I use the 4 string. Especially for solos. I do't go crazy high.

I don't switch during gigs. Especially now that I'm down to one bass. The 4 wouldn't really work for my other gigs and while my 5 could do everything, it's nice to have a couple basses around for a little change of pace. Besides, the 4 was a gift from my wife, it works great for the jazz gigs and everyone loves how it sounds on those gigs so if it ain't broke...

 

[202dy]

Framing, finish, engineers, ball peen, three pound maul, five pound maul, tack, brass, replaceable heads, wood mallet, sledge, railroad, leather head mallet, and a few more hammers to boot. Each selected for the job at hand.

So it is with bass guitars. The music dictates the tool. Choose the right instrument for the job.

Floating thumb works for four and five strings. More than five strings usually means palm muting the low strings with the right hand while using floating thumb in the high register.

N.B. If you started on a four, it is important to remember that when E is the downbeat if you pull on the biggest, fattest string everyone will look at you funny. Unless, of course, your five is strung E to C.