What do you in particularly like about playing 5 string basses?

[Ritter667]

I think what I love most about playing a 5 string bass is that, at least to me, navigating on the fretboard seems much more logical, like in particular how 3 octaves exactly mirrors 3 frets apart, 3 strings down, across the fretboard, and how triad harmonies mirrors in octaves 3 frets apart, 3 strings down, across the board.

There's just a very logical mathematical symmetry to navigating on the fretboard of a 5 string bass, that isn't present on a 4 string, or 6 string bass for that matters, to the same degree, like as if a 4 string bass has one too few strings and a 6 string one too many.

Apparently I am not the only one who have made this observation about 5 string instruments in particular, though this is a guitar, and not tuned in all fourths standard tuning, like I, and most others would tune their 5 string basses*), I have heard Jacob Collier mention something similar about his custom 5 string guitars, concerning the logical mathematical symmetry of having exactly 5 strings, and in particular when utilizing triads a lot.

Chords and scales just seems to make more sense on a 5 string bass, at least for me.


*) For what it is worth, while I do tune in standard all fourth tuning, my main 5 string bass is tuned in G# standard tuning (that is as in one half step bellow the upper 4 strings of 6 string bass in regular B standard tuning, plus a high E), so I do utilize chords a lot more than the average bass player, and a playing style that is more of a crossover between traditional bass and traditional guitar playing style.

 

[TOGNA]

I like the low B.

 

[Scott Lynch]

Those extra low notes are there when I need them. Sometimes I’m transposing down for a singer with a lower voice, or I’m dropping the occasional bomb that makes the rafters shake. I’m a minimalist with the B string but when it’s time for one of those notes, it’s time.

 

[timmus]

I play on a praise team and it sure makes it easier to transpose keys. Many times I never know what key the song/s will be played in until Sunday morning so having that B string helps when changing keys. I don't like playing open strings if I can help it so not having to play in the 1st position all the time is a bonus....jump up to the 5th fret and you're good to go. Plus, I play a lot of Black Gospel and having that low B sounds righteous! It jellifies your liver

That said, I rarely ever play a four string anymore, no matter the style/venue. I own several 4 bangers but they usually sit in the rack collecting dust. I pull them out occasionally and play them just to knock the cobwebs off.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

In particular - and in general - I find 5 strings more "useful" (for lack of a better term) on fretless, which, to me, tends to be more of an expressive instrument.

My next fretless will likely be (another) 5-string - something outside of the "Fender / P / J" universe. I just don't know what that is yet.

I played 5s more in the 90s-early 2000s than I do now.
I'd play them more if the type of gigs/material I'm doing called for it.

 

[HardNHeavy]

just bought one, i'll let you know in a few yrs. once im comfortable with that extra string being there..lol

 

[BGroovy]

I agree on having the symmetry of the octaves, I like being able to drop down to the B string for a low note. I prefer fretted to open notes so I like having that full range of fretted Low E and down.

My first nice bass was a 5 string so that’s what I really learned on. I switched to 4 strings for weight and then went to short and medium scale. I’ve since gotten a few lightweight regular scale 5 string basses and they just feel like home.

I’ve accepted I’m most comfortable navigating a 5 string.

 

[Ric Vice]

The 5string bass came into wide use as a reaction to 90’s synth bass lines that were pitched below the reach of the open E string.
It was IMHO a way to level the field with the increasing influx of digital synthesizers.Fortunately for all of us the move to fives worked.

 

[Aric Bjorn]

I think what I love most about playing a 5 string bass is that, at least to me, navigating on the fretboard seems much more logical, like in particular how 3 octaves exactly mirrors 3 frets apart, 3 strings down, across the fretboard, and how triad harmonies mirrors in octaves 3 frets apart, 3 strings down, across the board.

There's just a very logical mathematical symmetry to navigating on the fretboard of a 5 string bass, that isn't present on a 4 string, or 6 string bass for that matters, to the same degree, like as if a 4 string bass has one too few strings and a 6 string one too many.

Apparently I am not the only one who have made this observation about 5 string instruments in particular, though this is a guitar, and not tuned in all fourths standard tuning, like I, and most others would tune their 5 string basses*), I have heard Jacob Collier mention something similar about his custom 5 string guitars, concerning the logical mathematical symmetry of having exactly 5 strings, and in particular when utilizing triads a lot.

Chords and scales just seems to make more sense on a 5 string bass, at least for me.

You said that really well. I've been thinking quite a bit on this lately, actually, having joined the five string club recently, myself. I think it's about how the shapes give you more possibilities now, yet not too many as to be overwhelming. I like how the strings are tuned the same intervals from each other, without any "shift" nonsense like regular guitar tuning. The symmetry, indeed, yes. It feels more natural for getting the sonic ideas from my head through my fingers and to my ears with less headaches, once I got used to having the extra string to mute too, which actually isn't that big a deal but with even more strings I can see why that would start to be another frustration. Five seems like a really happy medium. Good thread

 

[Ritter667]

You said that really well. I've been thinking quite a bit on this lately, actually, having joined the five string club recently, myself. I think it's about how the shapes give you more possibilities now, yet not too many as to be overwhelming. I like how the strings are tuned the same intervals from each other, without any "shift" nonsense like regular guitar tuning. The symmetry, indeed, yes. It feels more natural for getting the sonic ideas from my head through my fingers and to my ears with less headaches, once I got used to having the extra string to mute too, which actually isn't that big a deal but with even more strings I can see why that would start to be another frustration. Five seems like a really happy medium. Good thread

Well, with floating thumb technique I found that muting comes very natural and easy, regardless of numbers of strings.

 

[BismarckHerring]

That you can play them just like four string basses, but you have some extra notes. Other than that, nothing.

 

[InhumanResource]

I think what I love most about playing a 5 string bass is that, at least to me, navigating on the fretboard seems much more logical, like in particular how 3 octaves exactly mirrors 3 frets apart, 3 strings down, across the fretboard, and how triad harmonies mirrors in octaves 3 frets apart, 3 strings down, across the board.

There's just a very logical mathematical symmetry to navigating on the fretboard of a 5 string bass, that isn't present on a 4 string, or 6 string bass for that matters, to the same degree, like as if a 4 string bass has one too few strings and a 6 string one too many.

Apparently I am not the only one who have made this observation about 5 string instruments in particular, though this is a guitar, and not tuned in all fourths standard tuning, like I, and most others would tune their 5 string basses*), I have heard Jacob Collier mention something similar about his custom 5 string guitars, concerning the logical mathematical symmetry of having exactly 5 strings, and in particular when utilizing triads a lot.

Chords and scales just seems to make more sense on a 5 string bass, at least for me.


*) For what it is worth, while I do tune in standard all fourth tuning, my main 5 string bass is tuned in G# standard tuning (that is as in one half step bellow the upper 4 strings of 6 string bass in regular B standard tuning, plus a high E), so I do utilize chords a lot more than the average bass player, and a playing style that is more of a crossover between traditional bass and traditional guitar playing style.

The 5 lowest notes, otherwise I find them cumbersome.

 

[ragetoca]

The ability to play the low notes that a 4 string will not give you - Also, it just feels better on the left hand, 4 string neck feel small (I guess i have been playing 5s for a long time)

 

[mapleglo]

Yeah, that low B string is pretty useful. I don't use it in every song, but I really miss it when I play a 4 string.

 

[Green Knight]

The low D.

 

[BassBrass]

For the glorious sound of low C, D, Eb, and fretted E. I've played with guitarists who either tuned to D or used drop D a lot and I got tired of using an octave effect on the D string. I found a Lakland Skyline with a scale that made sense and had a 35" scale pianolike B string. Like you I play a lot of chords (being influenced by Cocteau Twins and Hugo Largo) developed a repertoire of chordal bass music I'm still working on, but that's double stops on the A, D & G, and a low B is a hinderance unless it's a rare octave and a 3rd like Walk On The Wild Side, but again that's usually E to G strings.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

While I still like playing 4 string basses (but for some reason I only like Ricks' and Precisions as 4 stringers...must be a neck "feel" thing), I've been playing 5 string basses for decades.

But now I prefer 6 string basses for the same reason I played 5 string basses...more versatile with more options having an extended range. I don't have to downtune and I can play more in the middle of the neck instead of reaching far out to the nut, meaning a 5 string (or 6) is actually a shorter reach than a short scale bass.

There is far more to a 5 string than simply having 5 extra lower notes than a 4 string.

 

[ElectricBass72]

Extra low notes. Extended range on fretboard. I like my 4's... but I believe the 5-string with 22-24 frets is the perfect bass configuration.

 

[litom]

nothing,big,heavy,pita

 

[Jefenator]

I mostly just like looking like a bada$$ with a fancier, more complicated-looking instrument.
I didn't realize until recently that they also make 4-strings with active electronics & figured maple tops.
I'm joking... but there is a bit of vanity involved if I'm being brutally honest.