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What's so great about 6 strings?

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#121
l0calh05t said:
I was thinking of cellos as well (although an octave lower and in the form of a bass guitar) I just thought of Mandolins as you said "ABG" and I would never call a cello a "G" (Guitar in this case :p ) and Mandolins are far more guitar-like imo and they are tuned CGDA as well iirc.

btw, there are a few (very few) players who tune their upright this way.

EDIT: About the shortscale part: i said that for playability reasons although a 34" should work almost as well and have a better C
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Ah I see...

Other than the Red Mitchell that Richard Lindsey referenced, who else plays an upright tuned in 5th? That would mess with me too much.
 
#123
l0calh05t said:
Mandolins are far more guitar-like imo and they are tuned CGDA as well iirc.
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Actually, mandolins are tuned GDAE, just like a violin. There's a whole mandolin family that mirrors the violin family. A mandola is tuned like a viola (CGDA), a mandocello is tuned like a cello (CGDA an octave lower), and a mandobass is tuned like a bass (EADG). Mandolin orchestras used to be popular decades ago.

There's also an octave mandolin, tuned one octave below a regular mandolin.
 
#125
Richard Lindsey said:
Actually, mandolins are tuned GDAE, just like a violin. There's a whole mandolin family that mirrors the violin family. A mandola is tuned like a viola (CGDA), a mandocello is tuned like a cello (CGDA an octave lower), and a mandobass is tuned like a bass (EADG). Mandolin orchestras used to be popular decades ago.

There's also an octave mandolin, tuned one octave below a regular mandolin.
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Sorry 'bout that, mixed that stuff up, I was thinking of mandolas
 
#129
I think I have figured out l0calho5t's signature line ("raw data for raw nerves").

If you take the square root of that number, you have the bass line from "Teen Town." :cool:

Even more interesting, if you take the cube root of that number, you get the chord changes, in Nashville style, to every Kenny G song on his first three albums, in order. Or maybe it's Garth Brooks' songbook. Since I haven't heard either, I can't say. :D

Of course, your results may vary. :ninja:
 
#130
Elliott said:
I think I have figured out l0calho5t's signature line ("raw data for raw nerves").

If you take the square root of that number, you have the bass line from "Teen Town." :cool:

Even more interesting, if you take the cube root of that number, you get the chord changes, in Nashville style, to every Kenny G song on his first three albums, in order. Or maybe it's Garth Brooks' songbook. Since I haven't heard either, I can't say. :D

Of course, your results may vary. :ninja:
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nope, not quite, try again please. ;)
 
#131
I bought my first and only 6 banger about 10 years ago. The bass it replaced was a custom made BC Rich SIII four string with a Hip Shot drop D tuner. I had owned the Rich for about 10 years, and had longed for a 5 string most of that time. I am a working stiff, week-end warrior (Christian Musician), so I seldom have much cash to throw away on basses.

So when my wife okayed the purchase of a new bass, sixer's were just emerging.. After spending about 10 years longing for a five, I thought I'd move on up to a six. I ended up getting a beautiful Koa Modulus Quantum 6spi. Playing a six was a little awkward at first, I finally learning to just not look down, and let my fingers do the thinking.

My opinion on 6 string basses? I really believe getting a six improved my playing skills, and helped me grow as a player. Just like moving over to fretless about 15 years ago enhanced my understanding of playing, I feel the 6 helped round out my chops. I will never be on the cover of "Bass Player" but with almost 40 years of paying the price, I can "fake it" through pretty well any musicial encounter.

Are there more strings in my future? Due to budget contraints, probably not. But I am not against more strings. My dad, an old musician himself, calls my mighty six a harp, so who knows what's in store generations from now?

Mark

deManBass
 
#132
As a serious response, I'd just like to say that personal style and application informs the number of strings you need (or like), not the other way around.
I have 4 and a 6, and would like a 5 soon too - you can say different things on each.

Piezoman said:
What's so great about 6 strings? I go on this site and everyone talks about their 6 string basses. I own a 5 string. Is the 6 any better?
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#135
There is no accounting for taste. What fun would this world be if there were only vanilla ice cream? What fun would there be if there were only 4 string basses? So much discussion has passed through this string about 4, 3, 5, 6, B, A, S, H, C, etc., that no one has touched on the variations within the six, and the abundance of possibilities! 34 or 35 scale - or 36! String spacing! Stringing it from Low B to high C - or from a Low F# to a high G, providing true low tones. Or string it with a Low E on the bottom and a high F, and learn some solo stuff on it so that you can gig with a band, or keep all the money yourself if you can work out some cool solo bass stuff. Of course, your really only NEED four - IF your name is JACO (a 4 letter name) - WOOTEN is six letters, but he does amazing things on a 4 as well. Use whatever your gift allows you to do well, to inspire others and express your uniqueness.
 
#136
Ryan Berry said:
1) Some people really need the low B because E just isnt low enough
2) If you play lots of songs in dropped D you can have the low B and just hit D on the 3rd fret
3) On a Four-string, making jumps from low notes to high notes requires large position shifts. On a 6+ bass you can do large jumps from low to high by playing across the neck instead of up and down it.
Listed above are my main reasons.


About a month ago I got a bit irritated with the age-old question. I had some pseudo-Berklee guitarist ask me:
"What's with the 6 string bass?"
My answer: So other bass players will think I'm cool.

"A real man can do it with four".
My answer: Well, I guess I'm not a real man.

"What do you do with the extra two strings?"
My answer: I only use two strings.

"Well, it makes things easier"
I asked: Which one?
"The 6-string"
Yeah, it sure wasn't easier at first! :rolleyes:
-Art
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
#137
i find that playing diffent basses for different occasions is the best.

4 example i play a 5 and i don't really use the low b that much but its good 2 have it there just incase. going on 2 a 6 though is the same. u have it there wen u need it so is handy.
but saying that 4's r great 2 slap with coz anythin lower that e slapped sounds kinda ****, and u can be a little more relaxed coz u dont have 2 worry about brushing the b. sames goes poppin the c could get in the way. but still if u dont have fat fingers like me it wont. coz i picked up one of those umm, paul mc cartney stile basses and i could even pop with my lil finger
 
#138
I prefer a 4 string. My favorite bass players play 4's and I could never get used to the feel of anything else, especially those wide necks. My hands are pretty small. I do own a 5 and Ive been practicing a lot but, I'll always be a quad dude. I can do more on 4 than most can do on a 5 or 6.

Obviously, the extra strings give an extra dimension of sounds. If anything, the 5 is the most practical in today's musical climate. The low B is an industry standard and is essential to playing the new rock, hip-hop or synth-driven pop music. Fortunately for me, I don't play much pop or recent Top 40.
 
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