Should I begin playing five string?

[Ric5]

Should I begin playing five string?

YES!!!

 

[mambo4]

Learning the fret board and number of strings are separate issues
heck, a 5 will likely expose the underlying pattern better

but Like 4, the constraint forces my creativity.

 

[Sixgunn]

Yes.

 

[Wfrance3]

My bad. Please accept this as my correction.... posting at work is sometimes a recipe for disaster!!

I went back and edited...

 

[bobdabilder]

Irony.

This Scott guy is a such a "shock value" moron. Don't listen to him. He's a great player, but his opinions are completely foolish and should be avoided.

 

[MoeTown1986]

I started on 4, moved to 5, went back to 4, and now I own a plethora of both. I love the simplicity of a 4 string, but a 5 still feels like home.

 

[LowRick]

Played a 4 for a year, then switched to a 5. The 4 was an Affinity JB and the 5 the Sterling by MM I still play. Maybe the quality difference made me stick to the 5, but later I bought a squier 4string telecaster and I don't miss the b on it, though I use it all the time on the SBMM.

What I'm saying is, it's not like you cross a line going for a 5 and you can't go back. It's just trying out new stuff... Aka, making music.

A 5 string isn't required for that as a rule of course, but like said earlier, if you got that itch...

 

[Neon Scribe]

Even without the extended range, a five string gives you more movable pattern options using notes at or above the fifth fret on the B string, so you don't need to shift positions vertically (up and down the neck) as often. The tradeoff is a slightly heavier instrument, more strings to mute, and a little extra horizontal (across the neck) navigation. I still play the four string sometimes, but I'm generally more comfortable with the five string. If you're feeling enthusiasm for the five string, why not dive in?

 

[pappabass]

Sure! I started on a 4, switched to a 5. The 5 is beneficial when people play songs in keys of D, E, F. You have that extra low notes. I now play at a tiny mainly acoustic joint. So I am back to a 4.

 

[mattj1stc]

To the original post, why do you want a 5 (or more) string bass? If I could only play a 4 string, I would because back when I started playing, there were only 4 strings. However, there are many songs that require Eb, D, Db, even sometimes C and B below E. This is especially true when you deal with aging singers. You can either down/drop tune a 4 string or embrace a 5er. I chose the 5er, and I'm very happy with it, but I would still be happy to go back to a 4 string if I could.

 

[zon6c-f]

Hey TB,

I'm a novice 4-string player whose been playing a little over three years. I started Nov. 2015 after a GAS attack on a Ebay five string. After a year of playing using Youtube etc. I assessed my skill and it felt like I had not made as much progress as I desired. So, I started taking lessons and my instructor recommended I sell the fiver for a four until I learned the fret board. I followed his advice. I stopped taking lessons after a year or so and have been using Youtube, Mark Smith, DK Marlowe, Scott's Lessons and others ever since. I work full time, go to school part time, family and kids over fifty etc. Some of my favorite bass players play five strings and the bug to get another fiver has hit. I want to start learning their songs. However, I still don't have the fret board down cold. Should I keep on with the 4-string until I know the fret board before I get a five or should I just go for it? I don't see myself switching to five strings exclusively because my four-string playing is better than ever. Thanks for any and all advice.

I'd say 85% of all recorded electric bass was/ done on 4 string; however; better to have both a good 4 and a 5 Er

When a tune requires a 5 or singer / guitarist needs to transpose whole step down , a 5 er eliminates need to de-tune and makes handy thumb rest until Low B is needed!
In general a 5 er makes you more versatile imho

I depend on muscle memory; makes playing bass more like riding a bicycle ;if you don't play for a while, it comes right back

May I suggest practicing redundant exercises until you almost resent it; then put bass down for a short while , then come back to it and see how much easier it will be to play same exercises.

Best of luck and keep us posted !

 

[31HZ]

The path that you choose will determine what you'll be the most comfortable on in a year or so.

I'm glad I started playing 5 at a point in my playing career where I was gigging steadily; mistakes were made, but the integration quickly became complete.

And I see no reason to wait until a certain level of proficiency is reached. If you want in, get in there.

 

[And I]

Like I said.... He's a shock value moron. He drags folks in with aggressive statements and then back pedals. I've watched it. Whatever. I think the guy is a douchebag.

glad to know your opinion.

to the OP, the video offers some good things to consider as for getting the most out of playing a 5 string, and for avoiding some common pitfalls of having a 5 string and not getting the most out of it. i wasn't presenting it as gospel, just some things you might want to consider as you weigh this decision.

 

[phillipkregg]

Even without the extended range, a five string gives you more movable pattern options using notes at or above the fifth fret on the B string, so you don't need to shift positions vertically (up and down the neck) as often. The tradeoff is a slightly heavier instrument, more strings to mute, and a little extra horizontal (across the neck) navigation. I still play the four string sometimes, but I'm generally more comfortable with the five string. If you're feeling enthusiasm for the five string, why not dive in?

This is the greatest benefit to me, and exactly why I'm exclusively a 5 string player now.

I've personally never liked playing open strings because they usually sound a bit different, and if a singer needs to change the key of a song (which is usually 90% of the time) then you have to relearn patterns that you had previously been playing closer to the nut with your open strings.

With a 5 string, I can simply move everything up the neck and keep the exact same pattern regardless of the key we are in.

 

[thewildest]

So, I started taking lessons and my instructor recommended I sell the fiver for a four until I learned the fret board. I followed his advice.

Above all, you should get the instruments that best suits your ability to express yourself. If a 5 string bass does it, go ahead and get it. More strings, while the require some skill, open the spectrum of possibilities if you ever want to explore chords, solo work, quicker scales, arpeggios, and so on.

The part I am still surprised about is about your instructor's advice, which I perceive as short-sighted and lacking of the most basic flexibility a teacher should bring into his/her relationship with the student.
What would have happened if you wanted to play electric guitar... take out strings 1 to 3 so you can learn the fretboard? What about playing a bass with 1 string for a while?

 

[JRA]

Should I keep on with the 4-string until I know the fret board

i honestly don't think it makes a difference one way or the other. if you don't know the fretboard on a 4 = you don't know the fretboard on a 5.

get what you like, but consider liking what you have. good luck with your decision(s).

 

[p12bassnut]

You won't really know until you try and give it at least a few months to get comfortable with it, then decide.
I learned on a 4 then went to a 5 and now I'm back to a 4. I am just more comfortable and inspired while playing a 4 and I also play in Church and we do play some pretty technical stuff at times. I know its strange to some but each of us have our own preference. This is why you just have to try it.

 

[JRA]

I think the guy is a douchebag.

he's a fine player. at least he has that going for him. and he teaches others, so he has that. and he seems to purposely avoid offending others --- a nice quality. and my guess is that he resists making impulsive/harsh judgments about other players. another good/cool quality. i personally like that he encourages others to play.

what's not to like?

 

[One_Dude]

I have played 4 string for 35 years; jazz, rock, country, bluegrass, pop, and praise & worship. In the last year I have picked up a couple of 5 ers and am still getting up to speed with them. Playing a 5 doesn't mean you have to give up the 4. I see no reason to be exclusive to either one, and personnally I will soon be confident enough to play out with the 5.

Learning the fretboard is never going to hurt you. The P&W group I play with is constantly changing the key by using their guitar capo. When they do that I have to transpose what I play to the key they are using, and knowing the fretboard helps in doing that.

At this point I still have to think about where my notes are on the 5 string, but I find the adjustment to string spacing and muting the B string when not in use to be the bigger task. So in my book there's no good reason to give up one for the other; but rather become proficient with both.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[BwanaDust]

Not sure why you need to solicit advice on this. If you want one, get one. The only advice I would give is make sure you find one that is reasonably balanced between the B string and the rest.