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When would a 5-string be required?
- Thread starter Jaycat
- Start date
So you won’t do Spotify and assuming you won’t play 5, so saying 4 only is ok but 5 only is bad? There are a lot of bands out there. Move on to the next one that is ok with a four.
I dunno - I mostly see fivers in the hands of "older" players. Cover bands, some jazz, RnB. The young cats I see these days all play four bangers (usually a pbass, or shorty like a Mustang, something quirky, etc). At least in the modern pop/indie sorta scene, fivers are not considered very cool at all!However, younger players these days swear by them (and I have no grief with them). Just not for me. Again, it's all according to whatever situation you find yourself in. I will say this, however, if a particular group tells you that YOU need to play a 5 string say this to them - "Are you going to purchase one for me?" That will either shut them up or they will fire you....
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I agree that if you are "working" and the gig calls for a 5 string, or an upright, or a synth, or whatever, then you play what is required or don't entertain the idea of accepting the gig unless you're prepared to bring it.
This ad though sounds like they want a "dedicated" band member....yeah, dedicated to paying expenses!
They're obviously young, but I just see red flags. Wonder if they'll let you contribute to the songwriting with your five string bass and split writers' share, or publishing?
This ad though sounds like they want a "dedicated" band member....yeah, dedicated to paying expenses!
They're obviously young, but I just see red flags. Wonder if they'll let you contribute to the songwriting with your five string bass and split writers' share, or publishing?
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I don't buy it at all. I have a real hard time envisioning that the bands with down tuned baritones and 7 string guitars (those are predominately "youngsters") would frown on a bassist using a 5 string. And modern pop is one of the places where 5s are really entrenched - at least on the real pro level. I see old guys and playing 4's more than the young folks, unless you're talking beginners.
I see fivers in the modern pop-hop/more RnB influenced kinda stuff for live use(in the studio it's almost invariably synth), but not in the more guitar-oriented or singer-songwriter indie pop/rock type stuff - that's more what I mean. It's all four strings with a more retro bent - FSO's, shortscales, funky hollowbodies, etc. The downtuned 7 stringers and whatnot--that's more metal, no? I don't know anything about that music admittedly.
That's my take for sure. He who pays the piper calls the tune. (Says the guy who put on a shirt and tie and shiny shoes and played Cold Play with a youth hand bell choir.
)On the other hand, I had a BL/songwriter/singer/guitarist who really wanted me to play a 5-string because he wrote a lot of songs in B minor. I mean.... that's not it! I can play B minor just fine on a 4; I almost never play a low B even in that key.
But he liked what he liked, even though I rarely used the extended range.There are definitely some pop/rock genres in which you legit never need a five, and you can get by with a drop D or B-E-A-D tuning for the occasional low notes. But if you want to do any kind of variety work, there's really no reason not to have a 5-string. Why limit yourself?
The second part of your statement makes sense. First doesn’t unless you have a very non-traditional view of “guitar oriented” music.
Usually that implies music that focuses heavily on guitars. Metal would fit into this category. 5+ string basses are quite common in metal.
Well, that settles it! I’ll have to get myself a 5 string as soon as possible!
I guarantee you though, fivers will have a "comeback" in that world. Everything cycles. Just post a picture of Laura Lee or someone like that on Instagram playing an L2500 and they'll be flying off the rack!
Well I guess you don’t have to do it if you don’t want. Otoh, you won’t get the gig so choose wisely.
Great post, Chadds! Get perceived as accommodating and not difficult, and word spreads. And vice versa.
Yeah. The only guys that use 5ers in indie/pop rock are the session musicians the producers hire to surreptitiously replace band members.
I recall being fairly thrilled when I first had a good excuse to acquire a five-string to fit the gig, so I'm not a good candidate to understand the resistance to it. A five becomes so handy and IT WILL expand the way you play bass even when you play a four, which will have developed a "newness" to how you experience it, while simultaneously feeling like a reunion with an old friend. Why deny yourself all this? 
Actually in the world I'm talking about, fivers are pretty much shunned - producers typically want to see a 4 string pbass, and not much else, except a synth. But as I say, it's only a matter of time before they become "cool" in that world--everything comes around and goes around.
As for using session players to replace band members, that was certainly a big thing back in the day (remember The Monkees?). But now the producer just programs the bass.
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Why wait? I played a 4 for my first 4 years and sold it to buy a 5 and haven’t looked back. 24 of 28 years strictly on 5ers.
