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Should I get a 5 string bass?
- Thread starter ics1974
- Start date
Yeah, get one.
I bought my first fiver (a 2001 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5H in Honeyburst with a maple fingerboard) several years ago having always played fours before that. I immediately enjoyed the extra five low notes and the greater ability to play up high in different keys.
It’s fun to incorporate extra-low notes in my basslines.
I bought my first fiver (a 2001 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5H in Honeyburst with a maple fingerboard) several years ago having always played fours before that. I immediately enjoyed the extra five low notes and the greater ability to play up high in different keys.
It’s fun to incorporate extra-low notes in my basslines.
There is more to a 5 string than just playing lower than the low E. There are many advantages to a 5 string beyond what you mentioned. One example is that you can play a 12 bar blues with your hand in the same position. If you were on a 4 string you are forced to move your hand up and down the neck. Another benefit is that you can play the third chord change of a 12 bar blues song one octave lower for a different effect. These are just a couple of examples and there are many more.
I thought the wider neck would be an issue but it really isn't. The biggest challenge is that you'll need to spend some time getting used to the extra string. It took me longer than I thought it would but I'm ok now. When I first started my right hand would often pluck the wrong string. Being out of sync between my left and right hand was really weird but practice and finger exercises eventually resolved that issue. The other adaptation cis muting. You now have another string to mute and it's especially important to mute the E and B string. I found that anchoring my thumb on the B string really helped (when I wasn't playing the B of course) and simply resting my thumb on the B and E strings works well for me.
For a few years I had the bad habit of anchoring my thumb on the pickup. The reason it was bad is that it did nothing to help mute the lower strings and limits you to just one tone since you can't move your plucking hand up and down the fretboard. It took practice to break that habit and now I'm a more versatile player for it. Anchoring your thumb on the B string when not using it is the way to go and laying your thumb on the B and E strings does wonders for muting.
I still play a four but I'm working on mastering a five because I recognize the advantages. Like everything else, it just takes some practice.
I thought the wider neck would be an issue but it really isn't. The biggest challenge is that you'll need to spend some time getting used to the extra string. It took me longer than I thought it would but I'm ok now. When I first started my right hand would often pluck the wrong string. Being out of sync between my left and right hand was really weird but practice and finger exercises eventually resolved that issue. The other adaptation cis muting. You now have another string to mute and it's especially important to mute the E and B string. I found that anchoring my thumb on the B string really helped (when I wasn't playing the B of course) and simply resting my thumb on the B and E strings works well for me.
For a few years I had the bad habit of anchoring my thumb on the pickup. The reason it was bad is that it did nothing to help mute the lower strings and limits you to just one tone since you can't move your plucking hand up and down the fretboard. It took practice to break that habit and now I'm a more versatile player for it. Anchoring your thumb on the B string when not using it is the way to go and laying your thumb on the B and E strings does wonders for muting.
I still play a four but I'm working on mastering a five because I recognize the advantages. Like everything else, it just takes some practice.
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Buy something cheap to play on for a little while before you invest in something expensive. There's a "no name 5 string" bass in the classifieds right now for only $200!
I'm a recent convert to 5 string. A lot of the pros/cons have already been said, but I think the most important thing is to get your hands on a tester a try it out in real life first. You may love it, you may hate it. For me, I knew I loved it right away.
I'm a recent convert to 5 string. A lot of the pros/cons have already been said, but I think the most important thing is to get your hands on a tester a try it out in real life first. You may love it, you may hate it. For me, I knew I loved it right away.
Yup and that's a reasonable solution as long as you just drop it to D or whatever note you want all the time. I used to drop mine to D most of the time but had to drop it to C for one of the songs that was actually in Db. Another advantage that a 5-string adds though is the ability to use the same shape for something in E that you would otherwise need to do with some open strings. Not a big deal, but it is definitely a convenience with a 5-string that you don't have with a 4-string.
I switched to five-strings in the late 80's and never looked back. I'd not owned a four-string bass until I bought one on a whim a few years ago, but, it's NOT the start of a trend . . . . .
For me, I got tired of shifting constantly on a four, starting a little lick or figure HERE and then having to jump or slide up to THERE to finish the thought. With a five, I could play two full octaves across the fingerboard, and it all suddenly made a lot more sense.
I'd begun to run into situations where I could really use a low E-flat or D, but I just wasn't smart enough to de-tune for this song, then tune back up for the next, just too much monkey motion.
I always say to think of a five as a separate and different instrument than a four. It mutes differently, the fingerboard/neck can be a lot wider/bigger, you have similar but expanded fingering directions to go in, it's just a different animal than a four-string, at least to me.
I can absolutely tell you that buying one just to pick up a few extra low notes as the only reason is a total waste. On the other hand, if you can embrace the difference and it works for you, transposing to E-flat, D, whatever is effortless and to me well worth it: It's just easier if you have to spend a lot of time where this could be an advantage.
I would never go back full-time to a four, it's just not me. Each of us has to find that spot that works for us, and going from a four to a five may . . . . . or may not be for you.
For me, I got tired of shifting constantly on a four, starting a little lick or figure HERE and then having to jump or slide up to THERE to finish the thought. With a five, I could play two full octaves across the fingerboard, and it all suddenly made a lot more sense.
I'd begun to run into situations where I could really use a low E-flat or D, but I just wasn't smart enough to de-tune for this song, then tune back up for the next, just too much monkey motion.
I always say to think of a five as a separate and different instrument than a four. It mutes differently, the fingerboard/neck can be a lot wider/bigger, you have similar but expanded fingering directions to go in, it's just a different animal than a four-string, at least to me.
I can absolutely tell you that buying one just to pick up a few extra low notes as the only reason is a total waste. On the other hand, if you can embrace the difference and it works for you, transposing to E-flat, D, whatever is effortless and to me well worth it: It's just easier if you have to spend a lot of time where this could be an advantage.
I would never go back full-time to a four, it's just not me. Each of us has to find that spot that works for us, and going from a four to a five may . . . . . or may not be for you.
I'd say it depends on the songs you're gonna play on the bass. If the lowest notes are mostly pedal notes (like how Metallica songs are played) I think it'd be more comfortable to tune down.
I played 4 strings for 15 years. Tried and hated a cheap 6 string a couple of days somewhere and that got me scared of extra strings. Last year I got quarantinecrazy and bought a nice 5 string online without testing/seeing in person. Within 15 minutes of playing it for the first time, I got a strange feeling that this was actually how bass playing was supposed to feel like. I have sold my every other bass ever since.
I play guitar as well; therefore, a 4-string bass makes it easier for me to carry shapes over from instrument to instrument (YMMV). Depending on the song, I'm known to use an octave pedal if I need to go below E.
Depends on your budget and how often you need those extra notes. IMO, given the ease of playing a 4-string sized neck vs a 5-string, I use two strategies that cost ALOT less than purchasing a 5er:
1. Drop the E string, possibly with the installation of a drop tuner
2. String one of your 4’s as BEAD. This is an excellent option that will cost you a set of strings and some work on your nut. Cheap!
Admittedly, I have little need to go below drop D which makes the acquisition of a 5er a bad investment.
1. Drop the E string, possibly with the installation of a drop tuner
2. String one of your 4’s as BEAD. This is an excellent option that will cost you a set of strings and some work on your nut. Cheap!
Admittedly, I have little need to go below drop D which makes the acquisition of a 5er a bad investment.
I think a five string is just another tool in the toolbox. My Yamaha BB735A doesn't get much use right now as I'm playing a double bass with my rootsy/folksy trio.
The "catastrophe" back up is a very comfortable four string Fender Aerodyne Jazz.
Still, there's nothing preventing me from hauling the BB off the rack for other duties.
It certainly works well in some instances.
The "catastrophe" back up is a very comfortable four string Fender Aerodyne Jazz.
Still, there's nothing preventing me from hauling the BB off the rack for other duties.
It certainly works well in some instances.
I strongly believe that if you have been thinking about it and want one you should just go ahead and buy one.
A good used one. Then in a few weeks/months you can let us all know what YOU believe the pro's and con's are.
Hands on experience is the best teacher and if it turns out that you don't like it you can probably sell it for close to what you paid and the whole experiment won't have cost you all that much.
A good used one. Then in a few weeks/months you can let us all know what YOU believe the pro's and con's are.
Hands on experience is the best teacher and if it turns out that you don't like it you can probably sell it for close to what you paid and the whole experiment won't have cost you all that much.
For me, a five string isn’t about playing in those keys. It’s more about having those deeper tones and different type of control over articulation that you get when playing up the neck around frets 5-9.
The bass tone is fatter than an open string or playing down the neck, so a 6th fret F on the B string sounds very different from first fret on the E string. And I have more control over muting and attack than when playing in first position.
I gig four strings because there’s just a lot going on at a gig and I feel more comfortable with a “smaller drum kit”
But sitting home, playing along with something or messing with a looper… the five opens up a lot of possibilities.
The only problem with learning 5 is going back to a four. I can’t seem to do it, feel nude without my low string. I keep one or 2 around to remind me that they aren’t for me. That might be you treat the 5?
If the band is playing a tune in drop D you can bet your biscuits that I am dropping my E to D. There is a big tone difference between a D on the B and a dropped D from an E. Once you have a 5 in your hands it is easy to test.
I used to play some four strings with the group and would slap a hipshot bass extenders on them. I would kick myself in the butt every time at rehearsal when I flip a switch and am in perfect tune meanwhile the guitarists would take their usual sweet time. It was convenient but what was I supposed to do while waiting? Learned lesson and saved money on hipshot extenders forever.
If the band is playing a tune in drop D you can bet your biscuits that I am dropping my E to D. There is a big tone difference between a D on the B and a dropped D from an E. Once you have a 5 in your hands it is easy to test.
I used to play some four strings with the group and would slap a hipshot bass extenders on them. I would kick myself in the butt every time at rehearsal when I flip a switch and am in perfect tune meanwhile the guitarists would take their usual sweet time. It was convenient but what was I supposed to do while waiting? Learned lesson and saved money on hipshot extenders forever.
i don't know what the key of a tune has to do with it but on your behalf: i voted "yes, you should get a 5 string bass."that said: i don't have any use for one. i'm too indoctrinated/habituated --- 4 strings are enough for me...i've yet to find a key in which i cannot play with four strings, tuned EADG.
