Switch from 4 to 5

[Marty Forrer]

I played 5's for many years and went back to 4's. I felt the low B wasn't the best sounding/feeling string, I only got a few extra notes out of it and the neck added size. It was never unfamiliar from a 4 cause my the B became my thumb rest 9 out of 10 songs or more.

My B string is as good as the others. I seldom use the notes below E, but use the B in every song. For instance, song in G I'll start with the G on the B string, rather than G on the E string. This means less shifting, and the tone is bigger and fatter. String spacing and neck width is not an issue, even at 19mm spacing, and I have short stumpy fingers. I still have a 4 string P, but the 5 is my choice for every gig.

 

[BazzaBass]

Hello mates!

I've been thinking about going for a 5 string bass. But my fear is that after playing for +3 years, I might loose this "notion of freedom and orientation " that I have achieved. Like I'd be re-learning how to play. I grabbed a 5 yesterday because I am interested on it and I could not play a song. I was just lost. People around me must have thought I did not know any of the songs I was trying to play. So I wondered If it really worth to get a 5 , since honestly, I dont needed it, I dont play that much music that requires the low B, I just crave for it to expand my range and because I like low bat notes.
People all over say that " if you practice enough it should not be a problem", but since I am not a professional musician, I can't dedicate a huge amount of ours to practice. So I am afraid that I don't get any good in the 5 and that I loose touch with the 4.

I dont know if you understand what I mean.

Do you need a 5 to play the music you love?

 

[mmon77]

I started on guitar (6 string). Then moved to 7 string guitars. Then 5 string bass. I then got a 4 string bass. Then I got a fretless 5 string bass. Then I got an 8 string guitar. I play them all. The truth is, at the end of the day, they are not that different. If you spend some time, you''ll figure it out. In my case, it did not take very long at all.

To this day, the only stringed instrument that throws me for a loop is the 5 string banjo. That drone string, being the first one you pick, and also the highest pitched....I just have a problem getting past it.

 

[eriky4003]

I played 4 strings exclusively for 25 yrs before getting a 5. My advice is: lock the 4 away and get used to the 5 if you are committed. It took me about 6 months(!) before switching back and forth wasn't a problem. As much as I love my 4s, the 5s get most of the rehearsal/gig time now just due to their flexibility and the songs my acts play. Nice to have the lower notes and nice not to have to switch basses mid-rehearsal/sets.

 

[spector_boogie]

It's pretty simple. I play 5 strings pretty much exclusively and have since, I dunno, mid 2000s? Of course it depends on the gig, but, it's for sure my preference.
The reason for it is mainly, I much prefer the fretted sound of the 1-5 notes on the B string vs. an open E, etc. I even play in an alternate version of 'drop C' of ACGCF vs. GCGCF, as the octave from the B to A strings is much easier this way. I sometimes will go up to the G on the B string, but usually cut it off around F or F#. Higher up than that can sometimes get a little muddy, even on a very nice bass.

So, depends on what you want it for. We also have some tunes in drop B, and for that I use a 4 string, FWIW... I cannot stand the feel of 'tuning up' so I use the right strings (Kalium), get a good setup, and I'm all set and as perfect intonation as you can get.

 

[TTPbass1]

I've been switching between 4 and 5 in the last few years, finally set at 4, and It's a pretty easy task.

 

[micguy]

If you're playing through a bass amp at gigs, a 5 won't add much impact to your playing - bass guitar cabinets don't really do the lowest notes on a 4 justice, the lower notes that a 5 affords you won't really sound all that great (yes, a few people will undoubtedly argue with this). If, however, you play gigs where there's a very capable PA, the subs in a great PA will absolutely do the low notes on a B string justice. All my gigs are now ampless, and I get to pay through PA's that are very capable, so a 5 works very well for me. I made the transition a few years ago, and after a few decades of playing just 4's, it was a bit tough - having gigs every weekend, throwing the uncertainty of going back and forth into the mix added a bunch of work. Eventually, I figured out that having just 1 physical platform was a big help in making my playing consistent, so all of my basses are now 5's with the same scale length, string spacing, neck profile, etc.

So, the first question is: do you have a compelling reason to switch? In my case, I end up playing in every key, so the flexibility of a 5 made perfect sense. If I was still playing in a cover band, where we never did different keys, I'd still probably be playing 4's.

Anyway, if you do have a compelling reason, you need to realize that, although some of your skill will transfer, a lot of it will need serious updating. I have heard of folks that bought a 5 and gigged it immediately, but most of us won't be able to do that - there is an investment in time to be able to play a 5 as well as a 4. Some of it is the map in your mind (that knows where notes are) that needs updating, some of it is getting used to a wider neck, some of it is figuring out how to damp one more string (for some folks this is tough, for me it took a little while, but it was mostly an unconscious thing). A 5 is a different musical instrument than a 4. Not Thet different, but it is different.

 

[gmarcus]

Get the same scale length as your 4 string bass. I went from a 34" 4 string P Bass to a 35" super modern 5 and was pretty lost....returned the bass and bought a 34" 5 string P bass which just felt better. It limited the number of things that changed. I just had to get used to the extra string. There is a lot to be said for muscle memory and if you change the geometry of the bass you can get lost pretty quickly. I only play 5 string basses now....much to the chagrin of the Blues purists around here.

 

[spector_boogie]

Get the same scale length as your 4 string bass. I went from a 34" 4 string P Bass to a 35" super modern 5 and was pretty lost....returned the bass and bought a 34" 5 string P bass which just felt better. It limited the number of things that changed. I just had to get used to the extra string. There is a lot to be said for muscle memory and if you change the geometry of the bass you can get lost pretty quickly. I only play 5 string basses now....much to the chagrin of the Blues purists around here.

That's another reason I have a hard time with 4s... finding ones in 35" scale, as I always try and get that for my main 5ers. Thankfully Lull makes them, in my preferred 24-fret setup, so I should be g2g in the future when I need another one.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

After playing 4s for 58 years, I decided to try 5s. I started on 5s 2 years ago. It does take some time to get used to it, but in time, you will adjust. You will also find some fingering patterns that are easier on a 5. My problem now is that it is difficult to go back to a 4. I've got some really nice 4s I miss gigging with because I'll get lost on the 4.

 

[evanrunyon]

A couple hours of practice will be enough for you to not be thrown off by the low B. To get fluent in using it as much as the other four could take a while longer, but it won't hinder you at all.

I prefer the feel and simplicity of a four string, but the nature of being a commercial session player means I almost exclusively use the five these days. Bouncing back and forth never throws me, though.

 

[spector_boogie]

After playing 4s for 58 years, I decided to try 5s. I started on 5s 2 years ago. It does take some time to get used to it, but in time, you will adjust. You will also find some fingering patterns that are easier on a 5. My problem now is that it is difficult to go back to a 4. I've got some really nice 4s I miss gigging with because I'll get lost on the 4.

^^^

I'll go to play a song I have memorized on a 5er and trying to reproduce it on a 4 can be challenging, when that low B is missing lol...

 

[eddododo]

Hello mates!

I've been thinking about going for a 5 string bass. But my fear is that after playing for +3 years, I might loose this "notion of freedom and orientation " that I have achieved. Like I'd be re-learning how to play. I grabbed a 5 yesterday because I am interested on it and I could not play a song. I was just lost. People around me must have thought I did not know any of the songs I was trying to play. So I wondered If it really worth to get a 5 , since honestly, I dont needed it, I dont play that much music that requires the low B, I just crave for it to expand my range and because I like low bat notes.
People all over say that " if you practice enough it should not be a problem", but since I am not a professional musician, I can't dedicate a huge amount of ours to practice. So I am afraid that I don't get any good in the 5 and that I loose touch with the 4.

I dont know if you understand what I mean.

The earlier the better. It's easier to disrupt your relatively short progress than it would be to learn it after 10 years.

There simply WILL BE some setbacks, but it's also just not that bad. Figure out your current right hand technique and muting strategy, do a little research and then BE INTENTIONAL about the muting strategy you want to employ on the 5'er. Make choices, rather than bestowing consequences upon yourself.



3 years isn't exactly a noob, but certainly there's still plenty of work to do and things to learn, so I'll offer this analogy..

In powerlifting and strength training generally, there's this phenomenon where people constantly want to test or show off their maximum strength, as well as resisting any form of short term sacrifice to set up long term gain and health. What I tell them universally is "Hey, you're not actually strong yet, so you don't need to worry about your current top end." It's really easy to confuse having achieved a 400lb squat with actually being strong, as it's the strongest they've been and they're stronger than 95% of average Joes.. which is fine, but if you want to be *actually strong* in terms of your desired peers and goals, then if you aren't putting yourself through setbacks constantly, then you aren't going to get there.

Similarly is the issue of parents doting on their talented 13 year old baseball player, and going ALL IN on specializing in the sport- much better to continue to foster a diverse and comprehensive, athletic profile, and potentiate them for ACTUAL success whenever it may come, instead of hoping and praying that they just happen to grow into the perfect body for the sport they chose pre-facial hair.

 

[Altitude]

The muscle memory issues the OP fears were a real thing for me. On my first 5 string I did reach for the B where I wanted the E for a minute.

Luckily that creates a note at the V interval from what you want, which is not a major harmonic transgression - it just sounds unresolved.

The answer is to put the 4 string in the case and play only the 5 for a while. Maybe a couple months depending on how much you play. Once you realize the issue isn't happening anymore, start deliberately moving back and forth between the 4 and the 5.

Eventually it will be normal.

 

[perfektspace6]

You'll get used to it in a week, maybe less.

This. It's not a hard shift. Go for it.

 

[el murdoque]

Here's a simple recipe:
1. Get a decent 5 string bass.
2. Lock up all your 4 string basses.
3. Play the 5 string exclusively for as long as it takes you to navigate the fretboard by muscle memory and without second guessing (So when someone yells "C" your finger slides onto the third fret of the A string without ever wondering if the A string is the second or third from the top). This will take between a couple of weeks and a couple of months.

Now your system is tuned to a five string neck. Open the lock and take out a 4 string bass, go ahead and play it.
Does it feel like finally coming home after a long and disturbing journey or does it feel like playing a bass that misses a string?

 

[TheSeagoats]

Every five string has a four string built in, you won't lose progress with the four. You just need to spend a day or two practicing the five and you'll be fine, switching back and forth shouldn't be an issue.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

It's one more string. It's not hard. You already (should) know 4 of the 5 strings, and those don't change. It's really not a big deal to add one more, unless you don't actually know the other 4 strings and you're just going by feel. That could be more difficult to overcome as you'll need to actually learn the neck rather than feel the neck.

IMO, of course.

 

[Appogee]

It's disconcerting at first. IIRC it took me about 4 weeks (in which time I not nearly enough practice) for my right hand to be reliably plucking the correct string, and my left hand to stop confusing the A and E strings.

Now I love the low B on my 5-string.

However, if you don't have a reason to play a 5-string, then you should probably not put yourself through the (tolerable, but maybe unnecessary) stress of learning to do so.

 

[jTrolt]

Great responses. Seems likely you'd be reaching for an entry level instrument. This could be helpful in 2 ways;
1> already mentioned: sticking with same scale, I'd bet you're using a 34" now, so entry level is good in this way
2> STRING SPACING. I just switched from a 34" scale, mid-priced 5'er with roughly 16mm (5/8") string spacing as measured at the bridge. 20 years+ since I converted to it from playing 4 for 20 years prior to that.

New instrument: 35" scale with 18mm (3/4") string spacing. That's an increase of span at the bridge of about 8mm, or close to .375". So, changing from a mid grade to a higher end instrument has required a little more getting used to than I thought, and I'm at 40 years of playing. Super minor deal, but it's a thing to deal with, especially if you're still learning, it could increase the frustration factor.

Bottom line: make it easier on yourself by sticking with an entry level instrument. It won't feel quite as awkward, (other than tighter spacing for pop/slap technique), and your frustration will be less if you decide to bail if you've not invested too much anyway.

No one is requiring you to play a 5, but along with many others here, I would encourage you to do so, as it is very liberating and gratifying. I almost never pick up my 4's anymore. I even went with a 5 when picking up an electric upright. Just couldn't live without that B.

It's worth the little bit of effort to expand your range, IMHO.