The cure for those "4 string moments"?

[stigbeve]

I turn around and act like I’m changing something on my amp. It’s not a wrong note, it’s malfunctioning gear.

When I hit a wrong note I'm just "jazzin' it up". If my rhythm is off then I am "showcasing my independent timing".

 

[jimmydean]

I'm one of those people that can only play a 5 string if I put the 4 away and play it exclusively . At one point I was going to force myself to play only a 5 by buying a Sadowsky or some other high end bass and call it a day .

 

[40Hz]

Weave the unintended note back into what you’re playing and soldier on.

Remember: It’s not a bad note - it’s jazz. You were just stretching out a bit.

 

[superheavyfunk]

So what do to prevent those "4 string moments"? You know, when you have a 5 string in your hands, but you lose track of where you are and subsequently play the "right" note but on the wrong string.

Practice

 

[rickwrench]

String it E-C instead of B-G. Then you can ignore the extra string down there on the bottom, out of the way.
"Do you play five string?"
"Why yes. Yes I do."

Rick

 

[InhumanResource]

So what do to prevent those "4 string moments"? You know, when you have a 5 string in your hands, but you lose track of where you are and subsequently play the "right" note but on the wrong string.

Practice!

 

[Discount Bassy]

Practice

Practice!

You both beat me to it, but three's the charm. Practice.

 

[Pings Bass]

I was thinking of those moments when playing a four-string and a low C or D appears on the page. Do you play the single note up an octave, or do you move the entire phrase up an octave? (The answer is situational, of course.)

 

[JW56789]

I transitioned to fives in the late 80's.

I get my first one (Peavey Dyna Five, don't ask), I take it to the gig with my 4-string BB Yamaha. I'd attempt to play the set I'd been playing every night for the last six months, and I'd be all over the place. Sheesh !

My mind said 'no biggie, the E-G all just moved down one space', to which my hands said 'oh yeah, then YOU come play this damn thing'. I'd drop it fast, pick up the four, and all was once again Right With the World.

After three or four nights of this, I'm getting nowhere fast. So I tell the band they're just going to have to bear with me on this, I only brought the five after that, things straightened out, my mind and my hands kissed and made up, and I was on my way.

I sold that BB and only played fives until I bought a 4-string Squier Jazz on a whim a few years ago. After all this time, I can go back and forth on them, which I honestly never thought would happen. Of course, I think of them as entirely different instruments, and that makes it a lot easier.

But after all these years, for a while I was back to having '4-string moments' instead of 'five-string moments'.

What a world.

 

[skycruiser]

I turn around and act like I’m changing something on my amp. It’s not a wrong note, it’s malfunctioning gear.

Genius!

 

[Agent0]

I finally got into 5 string 3 years ago and play it 95 percent of the time. I feel that I am very comfortable on my 5 and can switch to 4 when needed. But these moments do happen once in awhile and it’s annoying. Typically it is when sight reading and the note is low down on the E string.

 

[walking Bass]

I never get confused, but I almost never play 5-string. I bought a very nice Ken Smith 5 string in the early '90s because I thought it might be useful. Never has been. I don't have an issue with going back and forth, but I never get it out unless I really need that low "B". Then it goes back in its' case. It only takes a second to adapt from an old Gibson EB-2 or SG, Fender Mustang, my favorite Sadowsky NYC, Rob Allen MB-2 or Taylor Mini or guitars of various varieties. I relish the differences.

I'm almost tempted to try a Sadowsky 5 string, but would likely get a Sadowsky with a rosewood board (mine has maple) and have another 4 string if I were to spend any more on instruments.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

So what do to prevent those "4 string moments"? You know, when you have a 5 string in your hands, but you lose track of where you are and subsequently play the "right" note but on the wrong string.

Yup. You switch on the next note, and look around with a poop eating grin on your face, holding back hysterical laughter.

 

[Ric5]

So what do to prevent those "4 string moments"? You know, when you have a 5 string in your hands, but you lose track of where you are and subsequently play the "right" note but on the wrong string.

When I first switched it happened a lot ... so I only played 5 strings for a while ... Now I can play a 4 but I really miss the low notes.

So I sold all of my 4 string basses.

I even got a 7 string guitar so I can have a low B on a classical acoustic guitar

 

[fdeck]

I've been practicing both cello and bass. The cello is of course tuned in fifths. Funny thing is that when I was a teenager, I could go back and forth between cello and bass without skipping a beat, including sight-reading on both instruments. Today, not so easy.

I had my cello at a jam, was playing this wonderful solo (yeah right), coming down on the A string, and forgot that there's no G on the A string... Crash!

Back to the shed.

 

[Real Soon]

Do it twice in a row and ppl might think it's a snazzy lick. I've literally played off string-concurrency errors a hundred or more times in jams & gigs by just reinforcing the "wrong" passage with a lil repetition. Cool part is, missing a string puts you a 4th off, and there are a lot of ways to make that actually work in settings with any freedom to them.

Also yes: being able to switch instruments is its own skill in addition to skill on a 4 and skill on a 5. I had a similar issue in college as a bass trombonist who occasionally doubled on regular tenor trombone. I had to get GOOD at switching to the smaller mouthpiece, bore, airflow, and thus embouchure, and the only way was to systematize the differences by practicing making the switch.

Our hands are our "embouchure" on string instruments. Gotta get where each one has its own muscle memory bank!!

 

[coy garcia]

I was a 5st player for over 10-15yrs. I always rested my thumb on the B string and played it like a 4st unless I wanted a lower than E note. This is probably why I went back to a 4.

 

[ga_edwards]

I have a similar issue when I use pitch shifting on a couple of songs to retune from EADG to BEAD on the fly. (I prefer 4 string basses to 5, been there, done that, not getting into it). Or worse still, pitch shifting and hipshot extender to get G# C# G# C# for Linkin Park - In The End.

My brain sees 4 strings and thinks EADG, I'm generally fine with drop D as well down the low end. Practice is the only real solution to embed it into muscle memory. If I overthink it I get thrown. The only thing is, it means dragging my helix out for practice at home which isn't always practical. I really wish my Nux Mighty Plug had a pitch shift effect!

 

[Geogio]

I had a compound issue. 5 string and a Spirit 5. The build had the 5th fret where the 7th used to be. Later a bolt on horn was offered but that bass was long gone by that time... anyway the fret issue was my biggest. But the off balance of feel with a 5 string was only cured with a 6 string, putting the 4 strings in the middle of the low B and high C.

 

[bassdude51]

So what do to prevent those "4 string moments"? You know, when you have a 5 string in your hands, but you lose track of where you are and subsequently play the "right" note but on the wrong string.

LOL! Ain't it the truth. At least it is for me. Five strings with 19mm string spacing help a lot in solving this issue. Also, making a 5 string your main player solves the issue also.

But yeah, I hardly ever play a 5 string but when I do, I get screwed up and occasionally get unto the wrong string.

As much as I like 5 strings, all in all, they only have 5 extra notes compared to a 4 banger and they are very low notes that don't get played all that much. One has to ask themselves is a 5er worth it? Obviously it is to many because 5ers are very popular.

I like 4s.