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Switching between 5 string and 4 string basses?

#21
I don't, and never have,owned a 4 string.
I have zero need for one. Not to say I wouldn't like to have a nice one...

Which leads me to the OP. Why don't you just play what you have.. get used to the 5 and save up so you can trade your ho-hum 5 and some money for a BETTER 5? Then you'll have a nice 4 AND a nice 5.
 
#23
For originals, I switch between a 6-string and an 8-string. The 8-string is tuned in pairs of octaves, so it's just like playing a 4-string.

I also "suffer" from a musical split personality. As a bandleader and writer, I tend towards the radical and unconventional, and ERBs suit me to a T. But when I'm backing a singer-songwriter or playing covers, I get very conservative, and tend towards an old-school 4-string.
 
#24
I used to switch back and forth all the time. Then, many moons ago, I got robbed and they stole the 4 & the 5 I had at the time. I couldn't afford to replace both basses, so I opted to just replace the 5. Pretty much have played 5's exclusively since then. I bought a really nice Spector Euro 4lx a few years ago(I think it's in my avatar)with the intention to play more 4 string, it just never happened. That bass spent months in its case. I had put a set of DR Black Beauties on it and they sounded as clear & bright 2 years later as they did the day I put 'em on because I hardly ever touched it...I think I sold it with the same strings on it. :ninja:

I will have another go at a 4, I'm just happier on a 5.
 
#27
I find myself into different music projects that come along. I thought at one time that having a 5 string solved all, but I found that I enjoy the comfort of the 4 string way better, especially for technical material. At one time, I used 5 string basses, and 4 string basses strung BEAD and tuned to B standard as my personal standard.

But as time went on, I found the need to play 4 strings in standard tuning also, so today, I have 5 string basses, 4 string BEAD, and 4 string EADG; depending on the band I was playing in and what suited the music best. I always keep a standard scale (no-drop tuning of individual strings). That way my feel is always there.

If I practice a song with a certain bass set up, I just use that same set up always, and it always feels natural.
 
#29
When I switched to 5 string (and then 6 and then 7) it was like coming home! Hey, I always felt limited by a 4 string way back then that was all there was! I haven't really played 4 string in a long time...except my 8 string (doubled) which is like playing a 4.

So when it comes to GAS I don't even look at 4 string basses anymore. But I still keep a couple around, because as sure as I'd sell them the phone would ring and someong would want to start a band with classic covers and old-time basslines and an ERB just wouldn't do.

I've had to do the sell and then next thing you know you have to replace it thing and I don't know why but it seems the replacement (you are always in a hurry) ends up costing twice what you paid for the one you just sold for half what you paid! Life has taught me that so long as there is space in the closet, keep that old bass because well, you just never know...
 
#31
I do switch between 4 and 5 strings, but the 4-string is an electric upright so it's very different. I feel really lost on a regular 4-string, haven't played those in too many years and make endless mistakes when trying to. I don't see any need for me to play anything but 5-string basses though, so this is not a problem.
 
#32
One thing that really helps is to know the notes - not just the patterns. Patterns are useful, but really knowing the fingerboard inside and out for any given tuning that you use is pretty critical to being able to switch back and forth on the fly without batting an eye.
 
#34
I bring a 4 and a 5 to nearly every gig, and switch between them throughout the night - depending on the song... I play the 4's for more of the vintage tunes and I play the 5er when I need a more modern sound and/or low D's, C's, or B's. I also try and mix up scales - 32", 34" for the 4's and 34"-35" for the 5's... Oh, and there's a 12 string in the stable, too.

I guess I do it mainly so I can be prepared for whatever a gig may require...
 
#35
FretNoMore said:
For me I think it's more a difficulty with different string spacing, where strings are with reference to where I rest my thumb etc. I keep plucking the wrong string, or sort of miss it altogether.
Click to expand...

I understand that. Most of my 5s and my 6 are all 19mm, so they are the same as a standard 4. The exceptions are 2 of my fretless 5s - EBMM SR5 and G&L L2500; they've taken some getting used to. However, I play them all enough that it just doesn't bother me anymore. It used to.

I also play about 60-70% of my gigs on upright, so I'm intimately familiar with E-A-D-G tuning and knowing where I am without much reference.
 
#37
lowfreqgeek said:
One thing that really helps is to know the notes - not just the patterns. Patterns are useful, but really knowing the fingerboard inside and out for any given tuning that you use is pretty critical to being able to switch back and forth on the fly without batting an eye.
Click to expand...

I essentially agree with this- and a five string has a different fingerboard than a 4.
I know my 5 string fingerboard- I practice finding all the octaves of C starting from the first fret on the 5th string etc...
So when I grab a 4 string there are a whole slew of jumps to or jumps from that are missing, 6 notes of which cannot be located at all on a 4 string in standard tuning (im including closed low E!).
 

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