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What's so great about 6 strings?

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#182
it takes a lot of talent to use a 6 string effectively. ur technique has to be more defined ans your string to string accuracy must be developed.

you have more chordal options, newer octaves. its a whole new palatte for originality and creativity. and it takes an open mind not only to accept the extra strings, but to effectively utilize them.

that being said, i am a 4 string player. i just have not developed enough yet to be able to use one of these instruments to its full potential. nor to i have the opportunities in my ensembles/bands to do so at the present time.

my love for simplicity also alters this.

one day, i may have the cash to own a nice 4 string, and nice 5 or or 7 string. at this point, some even become new instruments in a sense.

in the end, you make your music however you want to make your music. if it sounds good, respect it.
 
#185
I got a weird question for all you 6-string owners. Have any of you ever tuned to EADGBe? Like a guitar only with bigger, more spaced out strings? I know you're thinking "why not just get a guitar?" but if you're soloing you could do a pretty mean battle w/ your guitar player. And there are some other advantages too.

Really I'm just wondering if anyone has ever done it and trying to make excuses for me asking. :p
 
#186
duo8675309 said:
I got a weird question for all you 6-string owners. Have any of you ever tuned to EADGBe? Like a guitar only with bigger, more spaced out strings? I know you're thinking "why not just get a guitar?" but if you're soloing you could do a pretty mean battle w/ your guitar player. And there are some other advantages too.

Really I'm just wondering if anyone has ever done it and trying to make excuses for me asking. :p
Click to expand...

The early six-string basses were tuned that way. The Fender Bass VI, and Danelectro. They were nicknamed "tick-tack" basses for how they were used a lot on Country music to double guitar lines. Also memorable was the theme to the original Wild, Wild, West TV show used one.

But I think if you listen to guys like Stanley Clarke and others on tenor bass and piccalo bass they can scare a guitar player.
 
#187
If I had an extra 6 lying about I'd string it piccolo & tune it EADGBe, but as my only 6 is tied w/my 5 for main bass status, I likely won't try it anytime soon. As for this tuning in more-or-less generally accepted 'bass' register, I've heard of it being done.
 
#188
Invalid Link Removed for a wave file (audio) pronounciation of piezo from the American Heritage dictionary. Sorry, Brits, you'll have to go to the Oxford dictionary to see how you pronounce it over there. :D

Apparently the word is of Greek orgin, meaning to press tight, squeeze.
 
#190
I currently play DB in drop D tuning, though I have a 5 string BG on the way. I'm thinking of tuning my 5 string ADADG, in other words, drop D plus an extra 4th down to the low A. I've also played with CGDA (cello down an octave) on my DB as mentioned before, as well as DADA - simple, but I need the G too much to have to reach for it on the D string all the time, so I finally settled on DADG.

Anyway, Can you see my thinking behind ADADG for my 5 string, or am I just being my strange self?
 
#193
Bassmanbob said:
What it really boils down to, is that the original question should not be, "Why are 5s or 6s better?" The question should be, "Why are 5's and 6's better for those of you who play them?"

I just started playing again two years ago after a 14 year hiatus (mid 80's). That was about when the 5's started to become more popular.

When I started playing again, I couldn't understand why bass players needed 6 or 7 strings. I thought it was some kind of cheap manhood statement. I also thought that the guys playing them were frustrated guitarists.

Now that I have been playing for about two years again, I've had the opportunity to play some 5's and 6's. I like them, they don't feel too bulky to me, and I like the idea of not having to run up and down the fingerboard so frequently. It actually feels more comfortable for me than a 4. I have small hands (make any joke you want but I'm not going there), but I don't have to stretch my fingers on a 5 or a 6 like I do on a 4.

I'm no great player. I'm not Patucci, Claypool or any of those other great multistringed bassists, but I feel that I can handle a 5 or a 6 comfortably. I'm not trying to make a statement or trying to look better than I am. I just want an instrument that I feel comfortable with.

So go and get yourself a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or even a 12 if it feels good to you. Don't let anyone tell you what you SHOULD be playing. That's down right close minded and stupid.
Click to expand...

+1 nice message i guess this sums it up! you rock dude... :bassist:
 
#194
I know this thread is a bit dated but I figured I would give my two cents. I've played 4 string basses most of my playing life. I had at one time a custom made Roscoe 6 string which was left handed since I'm a lefty, unfortunately it was stolen many years ago but that's another story :crying: . Anyway, when I ordered it I had Keith Roscoe string it up like a guitar (E, A, D, G, B, e) but tuned an octave lower. After playing it for a while I decided to change the tuning to the more typical 6 string bass tuning (B, E, A, D, G, C), and I was hooked on the low B sound :bassist: ....

So I guess my point is that there is no better or worse! It's whatever you're comfortable with and whatever you're happy with :D . Whether it's an old school one string washtub bass from the old bluegrass :eyebrow: days or a 36 fret 11 string modern monstrosity :eek: , it's all bass and it's all good, they all have their place :cool: .....
 
#196
Tom7 said:
Invalid Link Removed for a wave file (audio) pronounciation of piezo from the American Heritage dictionary. Sorry, Brits, you'll have to go to the Oxford dictionary to see how you pronounce it over there. :D

Apparently the word is of Greek orgin, meaning to press tight, squeeze.
Click to expand...

I'm an electronic engineer, and that pronunciation from American heritage dictionary is the only way that I have not heard it pronounced in 25 years!
 
#197
Yeah, I know this is an old thread but since I just recently got myself a sixer, i figured i'd give my thoughts on it. Primarily, I'm a four string player (as is how most bassist start out), but as the music i played started changing, I actually start to feel the need for getting an ERB. So here's me going out and trying out a five stringer and having the low B was absolutely great, but i found myself lacking when I'd have to go head to head with my guitarist and violinist on solo exchanges. Most of my band members have a solid musical background so our arrangements usually call for insane versatility on our instruments. Hence i decided to get myself a six string. Truth be told, i don't see how it is "better" per se. It just allows me to do more things. So it boils down to whether you NEED the extended range or not, i suppose.

And as for the WAY earlier discussion on how to pronounce piezo, from my knowledge, it's pronounced "pee-et-zo". :) Italian sounding me thinks :)

(off topic... now i want a seven string...just coz it looks COOL!! hahah)
 
#198
Didn't read the whole thread, but when I went from 4 to 5----no problem, seemed natural to have the lower string BUT

When I got a 6 it was downright weird not having the instinctive G to grab blindly---darn C string getting in the way. Now, of course, I'm used to it (a bit) and am now thinking of ditching my mainstay 5's......

....and just going with a 4 as a main bass, and a 6 when I need extended ranges.

Anyone else just use a 4 and 6 ?
 
#199
waffle puzzle said:
Didn't read the whole thread, but when I went from 4 to 5----no problem, seemed natural to have the lower string BUT

When I got a 6 it was downright weird not having the instinctive G to grab blindly---darn C string getting in the way. Now, of course, I'm used to it (a bit) and am now thinking of ditching my mainstay 5's......

....and just going with a 4 as a main bass, and a 6 when I need extended ranges.

Anyone else just use a 4 and 6 ?
Click to expand...
The bass we have in jazz band in school is a 4 banger and there's also an upright that I play (4 as well, obviously) but then my own bass is a 6er that I use for everything but school jazz. I don't find switching too difficult, except that sight reading tough charts with the 6 is pretty rough since I'm used to 4s.
 
#200
waffle puzzle said:
Didn't read the whole thread, but when I went from 4 to 5----no problem, seemed natural to have the lower string BUT

When I got a 6 it was downright weird not having the instinctive G to grab blindly---darn C string getting in the way. Now, of course, I'm used to it (a bit) and am now thinking of ditching my mainstay 5's......

....and just going with a 4 as a main bass, and a 6 when I need extended ranges.

Anyone else just use a 4 and 6 ?
Click to expand...

Yeah... I found that even when I still had a 5 in the arsenal it was collecting dust. I need the 6 for versatility that the 4 doesn't allow, but there isn't anything you can do on a 5 that you can't do on a 6. The only reason I could think to keep it was for alternate tuning, and I loved it too much to do that. I found it a good home where it would be loved and used regularly.
 
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