why did you do it? what were your thoughts initially? i mean, take me through the process. do you feel "more prepared" or "better equipped" going into battle with 5 strings instead of 4? what type of music were you playing that made you start using a 5 stringer?
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when you started playing 5 string
- Thread starter biff malibu
- Start date
i'm starting in august, when i get my 5-string. i'm doing it because i need to. the band i've joined play in B and i'm having to tune down my 4-string at the moment, which ain't ideal.
Better prepared - I now could play all songs in our R n R repetoire, even the ones that had notes below E - but I was initially a little disoriented.
I quickly realized that each time I looked down at my neck I was a little lost. What is my finger doing on the A string? Oh, wait, that is the E string... I forgot...
But I got used to it pretty quickly. You just need to 'reorient' yourself a little.
I quickly realized that each time I looked down at my neck I was a little lost. What is my finger doing on the A string? Oh, wait, that is the E string... I forgot...
But I got used to it pretty quickly. You just need to 'reorient' yourself a little.
My first 5 was a Peavey TL5, VERY nice bass. Then I got a fender Jazz Plus 5, Lace Sensor PUPS. Still have that one. I was in sort of a top 40 cover band in Miami, needed more low range. I kind of practiced on my 4 as it if were a 5 for a little while. Now all I play is/are 5 string basses. A 4 feels odd any more.
I started playing 5 string because the band that I was playing in was tuned down to C. I picked up a Lakland Skyline 55-01 and tuned it up to C. I have since tuned it back to standard and readapted to it.
When I started playing a 5, back in 1990, I didn't have a hard time knowing my notes but I did have to re-learn my muting technique as the fretboard was way wider than my pencil necked Univox bass I still had at the time!
biff malibu said:
I went strictly five string relatively early on (probably the mid to late 80's). Originally (and to this day) I was very impressed with the impact that a few, tasteful, 'lower than expected' notes could have on the performance and impact of a tune. I'm not one to 'lay on the B string' all night. Sometimes I don't touch it for many songs in a row. However, at just the right moment (building into the bridge toward the end of a song, etc.), it can really have a beautiful effect and impact IMO.
Also... it allows you to play certain songs in certain keys (i.e., Superstition in Eb) in the appropriate octave without de-tuning or using difficult fingering.
The only thing that took me a while is slap muting... that extra string can sometimes creat problems there, although I usually have it pretty much under control.
i play in a couple bands. one is an 80's-90's rock covers from the police and the cure to coldplay. the other is an electro garage rock..kind of joy division mixed with kylie minogue. im thinking about a musicman 5 string. my friend had one in natural and that thing ripped.
Actually, I went from our dreaded little brother (y'know the one with six skinny strings) directly to a 6er! I drifted into the realm of the 5 string for a few years, but am returning (with the exception of my NS CR5M EUB) to 6's now.
I'm almost totally non-functional on a 4 - hence one of my "tag lines":
"No B, no ME!"
I'm almost totally non-functional on a 4 - hence one of my "tag lines":
"No B, no ME!"
kinda by accident...I was shopping for a new bass and just went thru a couple of lemons when i saw a new Fender V deluxe in a local shop. The owner felt bad since he sold me the other crap basses and knocked $150.00 off the tag. It played great and was great bargin. He told me if i couldnt get use to it i had a few weeks and i could bring it back. I just sat down and got used to it as quick as i could and man it was tough at first since all i knew was a 4. Well... i like the 5's now added range and notes and really the best is the string spacing is helpfull due to me having small hands and i can use the B for my thumb. I also have a Carvin 5 as well.
this is going to sound stupid probably but aside from the obvious extended range you can get from a five string, i thought a 4 string looked too small on me. i'm 6' 2" 230lbs and a 4 string just looks really dinky on me and feels weird. I love the five string though and will never play 4 string again. I've gotten used to having that extra string and it feels like something is missing if its not there.
I just wanted to. It wasn't about more notes or anything, I just thought it'd be fun and additional notes would be an added feature.
I didn't get much use of the B, so i switched to a high C which i like a lot, especially on the fretless.
Five was just something i wanted to try, so I did it.
I didn't get much use of the B, so i switched to a high C which i like a lot, especially on the fretless.
Five was just something i wanted to try, so I did it.
I'm a reformed g****r player, having started on bass a few years ago. I decided to go with a 5 string right away even though I don't use notes below the low E very often on original songs and most of the covers I've played don't use it. Our originals are a mix of rock, classic rock, progressive rock, and blues. The covers are primarily classic rock and progressive rock.
It's fun to make use of the lower notes once in a while, but that's just occassional spice. The real reason I bought it was the versatility of being able to cover a wider range of notes in a given position by using the B string.
It's fun to make use of the lower notes once in a while, but that's just occassional spice. The real reason I bought it was the versatility of being able to cover a wider range of notes in a given position by using the B string.
biff malibu said:
Initially I did it because I thought it would be cool! After I got it, it was cool! Take all the coolness away and now we have to look at the functionality of it. I love being able to walk down past E and on to D without having to compromise the bass-line. I rarely use my open B, but I use Eb alot, mostly due in part because my Guitarist insists to on tuning down a half step. I play with several different people and find that leaving my tuning regular and just transposing the songs works for me. I play Blues/Rock/contemp-Christian. About the only use I have for my 4 string now is slappin'. Honestly, I tried a gig with the 4 string, tuned down a half step and I just couldn't do it. I felt restricted without the freedom of going lower. I would never do a gig now without at least 5 strings. Another advantage that I have found for the 5 string, is that I can play a Low F or G position on the B string, for example, higher up on the neck where it's more comfortable for my fret hand. Not sure if this helps you or not, but yeah...I've been playing 5+ strings now since the early 90's for sure and every bass I get from now on will be 5+ strings without hesitation. I will never go back to 4 string unless it's maybe an Upright Bass.
Anyways, have fun!
~cheers~
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Made the switch ONLY because I had to. Fought it bigtime too, tried going the BEAD route.... finally threw in the towel. For me it had to be all or nothing also. Switching back and forth from 4 to 5 threw me off constantly. I don't look at my neck all that often, and I play mostly off of feel so I'd mess up a lot more than I wanted to on the BE/EA thing. After a few months of playing only the 5 it wasn't an issue any more at all.
As someone else mentioned I have a little bit of a rougher time slapping on a 5 - but it may simply be because I haven't committed any time to it. I'd also like to mention that while some people get 5 strings to avail themselves to more gigs, there are just as many gigs out there where groups are predjudiced to 5 strings. They specifically want 4 string players and associate 5s with shredders, metal heads, jazz guys - actually, I don't know what the hell they associate it with, but I've experienced the predjudice first hand.
As someone else mentioned I have a little bit of a rougher time slapping on a 5 - but it may simply be because I haven't committed any time to it. I'd also like to mention that while some people get 5 strings to avail themselves to more gigs, there are just as many gigs out there where groups are predjudiced to 5 strings. They specifically want 4 string players and associate 5s with shredders, metal heads, jazz guys - actually, I don't know what the hell they associate it with, but I've experienced the predjudice first hand.
I joined a band where the guitar player used a seven string, and tuning down a four string just wasn't going to work. Since then I've sold my 4's (except an abg), I really prefer the wider neck. A four string doesn't quite feel right anymore; and I play hard rock/metal. The only problem I still have is if I'm playing with a 6 string guitar player and I'm watching his hands, I'll go to the wrong string sometimes.
I was initially attracted to 5-string because of the lower notes, but after I switched I realized the true benefit: the greater range of notes in each fingering position. I also love the ability to play fretted low E. Then there's playing in flat keys: Eb, Ab, Bb: the low B string is especially useful in those situations. Finally: I play the B string *above* low E more than I do below. If I'm in the key of G, I often play on the 8th fret B string rather than 3rd fret E (depends on whether or not I want the low C and D).biff malibu said:
After 20 years of playing fours, it took me close to 3 months of steady playing to get fully comfortable on 5 string. But now all I want to play is 5 string. I recently sat in with a friend's band and played his four... I did OK, but would've done much better with five.
The style of music is irrelevant. I play better on five strings for all genres, all styles. I could play six or more strings if I wanted to, but I don't want to. Five stringers are best for me.
I encourage you to try a fiver... but best of luck whatever you decide to do: there is no overall 'best' number of strings... only what's best for each of us as individuals. And some of us play 4, 5, *and* 6 (or more)... maybe you'll go that route yourself!
I played 4 for about 13 years, then tried a good 5er for the first time. Loved it. Haven't looked back.
part of it is the feel, I love the slightly wider neck. 6 is too wide, 4 is too narrow, 5 feels just right to me. I don't use the B string in every song, but I play the 5er regardless as it just plain feels better. (only have one 4 string left in my stable...)
part of it is the feel, I love the slightly wider neck. 6 is too wide, 4 is too narrow, 5 feels just right to me. I don't use the B string in every song, but I play the 5er regardless as it just plain feels better. (only have one 4 string left in my stable...)
