The struggle is real..4 strings or 5?

[GroovyBaby]

At first I played only 4, then only 5, then only 4, then only 5. Currently, I'm swamping between 4 and 5 a lot. I've found it is actually making me a better player as I have to think more about notes on the fretboard and not just rely on patterns. I use both during practice and switch back and forth to force my brain to work with it. It's good for me. Embrace the conflict and you will see that both yin and yang have merit.

 

[KJL]

i am truly struggling with this right now. My musical mind loves playing 5’ers, but my hands always ask for an old school 4 banger. Anyone else struggle with this?

John Paul Jones only needed 4 strings...

 

[mesaplayer83]

John Paul Jones only needed 4 strings...

Yeah, playing music 40 years ago, lol...

 

[Copperhead]

BEAD - compromise...

I've never been hired to play more, flashier or higher notes

I have had several really good 5's pass through. I keep one. For most practical purposes if I have a song that begs for the thunder of hose few lower notes, BEAD does the deed. Yes I know 5 string technique is not just about those extra lower notes.

 

[lfmn16]

Nope. I picked up my 4 string Ric after playing my 5 string G&L almost exclusively for the last year and a half and actually never even thought about it.

 

[lfmn16]

Yeah, playing music 40 years ago, lol...

Yea, and when he's as good as John Paul Jones, maybe he'll only need 4 strings.

 

[mobdirt]

sold all my 5's dont need them anymore

 

[CoffeeLove]

You can do it! But I would suggest putting away the 4 string for a while until you have completely acclimated to the 5 string, otherwise it might take longer going back and forth. I am almost exclusively a 5 guy now, but have no trouble playing a 4 when one is handed to me. Good luck

 

[Brent Davenport]

I was in the same boat as you, and had the same people tell be "buy both". I never thought I could (or would) afford 2 basses. Long story short, I now have a Fender Aerodyne 4 string, and recently picked up a 2000 MIJ BTB 1005OL. Best of both worlds.... Now, I have a 4 and a 5.

 

[RexxRokket]

4 strings, period.

 

[cmcbass]

4 strings, period.

What a compelling argument...

 

[RexxRokket]

What a compelling argument...

Yeh.

 

[faulknersj]

i am truly struggling with this right now. My musical mind loves playing 5’ers, but my hands always ask for an old school 4 banger. Anyone else struggle with this?

OP here...just a quick note...I assumed that my post would imply that I DO play both 4’s and 5’s...hence the struggle (context clues). I play both and am comfortable on both...but I’m envious of dudes who only play one or the other and don’t think about it. The gigs I play tend to be 4 hours long...and I feel more fatigued on a 5er. But I love both! At the moment, I just decide on the day of the gig and adjust my playing according to which one I selected. For example...I play modern stuff totally different on a 5 vs. a 4. Fine China (Eb) is a great example, or Finesse (Fm...but you can get that low C# & C) on a 5er). My favorite gigs are the all old school funk gigs...and I’ll usually play a 4 on those. In my ordinal band I’m back on a 5. I’m just kind of jealous of dudes who don’t have this struggle..and just play one or the other. Here are some of my weapons of choice:

 

[faulknersj]

Have you spent much time playing five string? Imo there’s a lot of people who never really give 5 strings an honest shot. I got comfortable with 5s really quickly. But over the years I’ve also owned 4, 6 and 7 string basses and for the main player at least I always keep coming back to 5 strings because that’s what’s most comfortable for me so if you’ve been playing 5s for years and still feel more comfortable with 4 strings then I suggest getting yourself a couple 4 strings and just tune them however you need for whatever music you play. Nothing wrong with bead tuned 4 strings.

I played a 5 exclusively for 10 years in various original and touring projects. There is a big difference between playing hour long original sets...and doing the cover band thing...4 one hour sets 5 nights a week...

 

[Nickweissmusic]

i am truly struggling with this right now. My musical mind loves playing 5’ers, but my hands always ask for an old school 4 banger. Anyone else struggle with this?

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Yup, finally got a couple 4s after using a 5 for over a decade. When I was a hired gun playing covers with guys that would tune down and lots of fusion, the versatility was huge. Not so much with the gigs and studio work I get now. More often than not I’m playing 4s, never would have thought that 10 years ago, and it is easier on the body too, I’m not missing the extra weight and exertion.

 

[Nickweissmusic]

I played a 5 exclusively for 10 years in various original and touring projects. There is a big difference between playing hour long original sets...and doing the cover band thing...4 one hour sets 5 nights a week...

Hilarious, I just said basically the same exact thing, for the exact opposite reason. For originals and studio work the 4s usually do the trick, since I can tune down whenever if needed. For covers and fusion/funk/jazz gigs the 5th string made every tune possible with one bass. Goes to show how many answers there can be to the same question in music...

 

[Nephilymbass]

I played a 5 exclusively for 10 years in various original and touring projects. There is a big difference between playing hour long original sets...and doing the cover band thing...4 one hour sets 5 nights a week...

I done both, and the members of my originals band are very spread out across our state so when we do rehearse it’s an all day deal. The main thing to consider with playing for long periods of time is weight and there are some 4 strings that are heavier than a lot of 5 strings.

 

[faulknersj]

I done both, and the members of my originals band are very spread out across our state so when we do rehearse it’s an all day deal. The main thing to consider with playing for long periods of time is weight and there are some 4 strings that are heavier than a lot of 5 strings.

My G&L JB5 weighs 8lbs (Emptess). I love the neck profile but she doesn’t set up quite as buttery as I like..it’s not a bad see up...but not as perfect as some of my other bssses.

 

[Rocksolid]

I own both, I love both.

I play 4s where I can, and 5s when it calls for it.

 

[Nephilymbass]

OP here...just a quick note...I assumed that my post would imply that I DO play both 4’s and 5’s...hence the struggle (context clues). I play both and am comfortable on both...but I’m envious of dudes who only play one or the other and don’t think about it. The gigs I play tend to be 4 hours long...and I feel more fatigued on a 5er. But I love both! At the moment, I just decide on the day of the gig and adjust my playing according to which one I selected. For example...I play modern stuff totally different on a 5 vs. a 4. Fine China (Eb) is a great example, or Finesse (Fm...but you can get that low C# & C) on a 5er). My favorite gigs are the all old school funk gigs...and I’ll usually play a 4 on those. In my ordinal band I’m back on a 5. I’m just kind of jealous of dudes who don’t have this struggle..and just play one or the other. Here are some of my weapons of choice:

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Maybe The solution is to find light weight 5er you like. Mine is 9 lbs which is lighter than most of the 4 strings I’ve owned and it’s pretty much the perfect balance between being light enough that it doesn’t kill my shoulder playing for long periods of time and heavy enough that it doesn’t flop around when I’m playing. I’ve had heavier basses and totally get not wanting to deal with the weight for 4 hour sets. The Conklin 7 string I had was the heaviest bass I’ve owned and i was miserable after an hour. I remember my Warwick thumb nt6 was 11 pounds 8 ounces. And i was fine with it for short originals sets but it wasn’t much fun for cover gigs and long rehearsals. My Warwick FNA 5 was the lightest bass I had but I was a bit annoyed at how it would flop around when playing double stops or slapping.