switching to 5 string

[ics1974]

So I bought my first 5 string maybe a week ago. EBMM Stingray 5 HH and I am in love with this bass and really loving the B string. I found the transition actually very easy.
It makes me now want to only own 5 string basses. Maybe I am crazy but I feel like I missed out all these years. Anyone else have this type of experience?

 

[Koldunya]

Anyone else have this type of experience?

I recently-ish bought a Sire Marcus Miller M2 4-string. It was a GREAT instrument but I ended up returning it because I am a 5-string player through and through. I have one standard 6-string bass that I like, too, but 5s are where my heart is and I have four of them. The neck is basically the perfect size for me, the extra range is just enough, etc. Atm they're all even tuned up half a step to C|F|A#|D#|G# - A great change for my 34" GWB35

 

[Jefenator]

Congrats, and welcome!
I went through a lot of 5-strings before I finally found a good low B. Normally after spending that much time and money on something without success, I’d give up and move on. But for some reason, with 5-string basses I was motivated.
I still like using 4 strings for certain things; YMMV.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I’m glad the switch was easy for you.

Switching to a 5-string was extremely hard for me. Then, I bought a 6-string, and my band mates encouraged me to play it on our gigs. I made a gazillion mistakes but I eventually got used to it. Later, I bought a 5-string, and I could play it without problems.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I got lucky with a virtually effortless transition as well. I’ve routinely switched between 4- and 5-strings nearly the whole time I’ve played. I do occasionally reach for the wrong tuning key even after all these years, but that happens about equally with either configuration.

6-strings have always felt alien to me, though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[kesslari]

I switched to 5 back in 1989, and haven't really bonded with a 4 since then.
Some folks do fine going back and forth, though.

 

[el jeffe bass]

The transition was pretty easy for me with just a few bumps. I decided to keep my 4 strings because I hate selling instruments but am definitely in the 5 string camp.

 

[RattleSnack]

I switched to 5 back in 1989, and haven't really bonded with a 4 since then.
Some folks do fine going back and forth, though.

Yeah, I'm one of those. Played 5 strings exclusively for about 7 years, then switched back to 4 and have been there for last 6-7 years. Last week I borrowed 5-stringer for rehearsal, just to see if it may work better for the material. Had no problem adopting immediately and using all of the range.
OP, glad you found something that works for you. My grain of wisdom is this: there is ideal tool for every job. Don't get hang-up on number of strings. It's just means to an end

 

[MLC_BassPlayer]

I started with 4's. Moved to 5's due to peer pressure from my country band. Stayed there for a few years. Moved back to 4's strung BEAD. Country band hasn't noticed any difference.

 

[Killing Floor]

It took me weeks, maybe a month before I fully stopped plucking the wrong string. My brain is not malleable. But once it stuck I have no issue playing both 4 and 5. I remember it seemed weird that my left/fret hand didn’t seem to have a problem with it. I ended up watching my right fingers while I practiced and eventually it “happened”. Now it all seems the same. Never played a 6 string bass for any length of time.

 

[Jamvan]

I played nothing but passive 4 strings forever, dabbling once with a 5 string (Ibanez SDGR) and NOT liking it at all. Then, I bought a Lakland 55-02 in March of 2018, figured out that it's about hand position and not just 4 lower notes, and have become an exclusive 5-string active player ever since.

I now have too many of them and my 4 strings sit cased up and unused.

 

[ElectricBass72]

Switching from 4 to 5 is easy.... if you can imagine that the 5-string is a 4-string with an extra Low B.

That's how I approached it long ago... back in 1996.

 

[Jogobass]

I can't really go back to 4 strings. I would miss out on those low notes and the neck geometry. I have played a 4 string in a cover band though, because those tunes were made with a 4 string. I can't go 6 either, because I just don't like the sound of that high C string. I just settled on 5 strings. I like it.

 

[pepj]

5 for me. It was a painful switch but now after 30yrs, I see no reason to go back.
I heard a 5st and I'm still hearing it.

 

[Bringindafunk]

I can totally relate. I resisted 5 strings for years, but started playing one in a cover band because there were a few songs that were going to require such extreme detuning it just made sense to try and make it work on a fiver. Took about a month to acclimate and now the two 4's that I didn't sell just sit in their cases unused.

 

[QweziRider]

Anyone else have this type of experience?

I did! In '91 when I made the switch. instantly felt right.

 

[Selios]

I recently-ish bought a Sire Marcus Miller M2 4-string. It was a GREAT instrument but I ended up returning it because I am a 5-string player through and through. I have one standard 6-string bass that I like, too, but 5s are where my heart is and I have four of them. The neck is basically the perfect size for me, the extra range is just enough, etc. Atm they're all even tuned up half a step to C|F|A#|D#|G# - A great change for my 34" GWB35

I also tune my 5s up a half step! It started from playing heavy music with guitarists tuned to C, but I actually like how having a low C string sort of visually relates to the piano keyboard, if you orient yourself around C major. Works for me!

To answer the OP, I also found the transition to 5s relatively easy, and since then I feel like 5s are the minimum requirement for most of the music I do. I still play my 4s for fun, or when they offer the specific sound/vibe I'm going for.

 

[funkinbottom]

Anyone else have this type of experience?

Yes. About 4-5 years ago. I had surgery on my left hand and tried a short scale. Then tried a short scale 5 string and even better ergonomics for me. No reach for a low F or G as I can play those notes on the B string higher up the neck. Never looked back, 5's for me all the way now. I now have 4 short/medium scale 5s and loving every one of them.

 

[Koldunya]

but I actually like how having a low C string sort of visually relates to the piano keyboard, if you orient yourself around C major

I noticed this, too, when I started playing some electronica songs XD Plus my 8-string guitar is tuned to G1, so its 7th string is C2. It's a very handy tuning for me.

but I digress >_>

 

[the general]

I've been playing a 5 string since 2010 and it took awhile for me to adapt. The biggest hurdle I had was muting until I tried the floating thumb technique and that helped a lot.

I switch between my 4s and 5 with little issue now, but still graze the wrong string occasionally. Like Bob Ross used to say; "We don't mistakes. We just have happy little accidents."