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when you started playing 5 string
- Thread starter biff malibu
- Start date
I wanted more notes... I felt really limited on a 4 with 20 frets. So I got a 5 with 24. I had a B on it for a while.. it was fun to play around with, add low octaves, and no downtuning.. but then I went for the high C and found it a lot more useful. I do a lot of tapping, and the high notes are useful for playing melodies and making fingerings easier.
When I picked up my first 5-string, I felt completely unprepared. I hardly play my 4-stringer at all these days.
The reasons I choose it, is because I was listening to alot of music that is played below Low E at the time.
The reasons I choose it, is because I was listening to alot of music that is played below Low E at the time.
biff malibu said:
At the time, summer 2000, I was in a covers band and needed the extra range to play certain songs withouth the hassle of detuning, retuning or transpossing. At first it took me a while to get used to the extra string but I found that it makes playing easier since you can stay in one position and get ost of the notes you need. I don't feel "better equipped"
since a lot of great music can be played with 4 strings, but it made my job easier. Now I mostly play 6 strings for the same reason, one position yields more notes, also it helps my carpal tunnel not to move around and have a a more straight left wrist position. FWIW
about a year ago i got my Fender MIM Standard Jazz V.
I mainly got it because i wanted to see what i was like and i was also listening to audioslave alot and i wanted to play alot of the stuff the was played on the low b from audioslave.
but now ive found that having the low b is a necesity. i can stay in pretty much one position to play most songs and i can play most drop d stuff but i now mainly use my p bass as a drop d bass if i play somthing in drop d that would harder to play on a 5 string.
but it mainly started as an experiement.
I mainly got it because i wanted to see what i was like and i was also listening to audioslave alot and i wanted to play alot of the stuff the was played on the low b from audioslave.
but now ive found that having the low b is a necesity. i can stay in pretty much one position to play most songs and i can play most drop d stuff but i now mainly use my p bass as a drop d bass if i play somthing in drop d that would harder to play on a 5 string.
but it mainly started as an experiement.
I was content playing 4s, until I kept reading all the chatter about 5 strings right here at Talkbass.
In June of 2001, I bought my first fiver, a Yamaha BBN5 II for $400. I didn't want to spend too much in case it didn't grab me. It took me most of the summer to become completely comfortable with the B string, which I sometimes mistook for the E string.
Now, it would take a lot to get me to buy another 4 string. The only ones I would consider would be vintage models.
I was at the time, and still am listening to smooth Jazz and Country music which use notes from Eb down to B. (sometimes lower)
I still, however, play all my 5s like 4s, and mostly only use the notes on the B string from Eb down to B. I almost never play E at the 5th fret; I like the sound of the open E better. Go figure.
Even if you just use the lower notes on the B string for a low UMPH at the end of a song it makes a 5 string worth it.*
I am starting to think about getting a sixer.
Mike
* I first heard member Rickreyn say this about 5 strings, and it made sense to me. Anyone heard from him lately?
In June of 2001, I bought my first fiver, a Yamaha BBN5 II for $400. I didn't want to spend too much in case it didn't grab me. It took me most of the summer to become completely comfortable with the B string, which I sometimes mistook for the E string.
Now, it would take a lot to get me to buy another 4 string. The only ones I would consider would be vintage models.
I was at the time, and still am listening to smooth Jazz and Country music which use notes from Eb down to B. (sometimes lower)
I still, however, play all my 5s like 4s, and mostly only use the notes on the B string from Eb down to B. I almost never play E at the 5th fret; I like the sound of the open E better. Go figure.
Even if you just use the lower notes on the B string for a low UMPH at the end of a song it makes a 5 string worth it.*
I am starting to think about getting a sixer.
Mike
* I first heard member Rickreyn say this about 5 strings, and it made sense to me. Anyone heard from him lately?
everyone talks about the convenience of staying all in one position, but i myself HATE staying all in one position. I love the sound of moving up and down all on one string. I mean, most individual strings cover almost 2 octaves, so why not use it all? Of course, this could be one of the things that caused my carpal tunnel and my tendonitis, but i don't really think so! 
I initially switched because I wanted more low end, and to facilitate playing in Eb, Bb, and Ab.
The first fiver that I bought was a crap neck heavy thing that sounded awful. I gave it up after a few months, because my left wrist and hand was in constant pain.
A few years later, I tried a much more ergonomic six stringer, and have been playing fives and sixes ever since!
Most of the other reasons that everybody has mentioned are why I prefer having a B string.
I love playing the open E at the fifth fret, and playing in F and G up the neck , instead of in first position.
I have short fingers, so having more notes under my fingertips in one position is a big plus, too. And if I play with a guitartist that likes to drop tune, I don't need to!
The first fiver that I bought was a crap neck heavy thing that sounded awful. I gave it up after a few months, because my left wrist and hand was in constant pain.
A few years later, I tried a much more ergonomic six stringer, and have been playing fives and sixes ever since!
Most of the other reasons that everybody has mentioned are why I prefer having a B string.
I love playing the open E at the fifth fret, and playing in F and G up the neck , instead of in first position.
I have short fingers, so having more notes under my fingertips in one position is a big plus, too. And if I play with a guitartist that likes to drop tune, I don't need to!
i have been playing for 5 years and i have had an ESP c-305 for all five years. I opted for the 5 because a lot of the music i was listening to at the time was either tuned low, and/or their bass players had 5's. i thought it would be useful for me.
Like a few people are saying here, it's just range of notes. it's not very practical or even cool IMO to spend a lot of time on the low B, it's how you place the notes. you can add a very dramatic or even dark feel by throwing in a well-placed low note from the B string, and it works very well as a parallel to the A string. all in all, it's personal preference.
Like a few people are saying here, it's just range of notes. it's not very practical or even cool IMO to spend a lot of time on the low B, it's how you place the notes. you can add a very dramatic or even dark feel by throwing in a well-placed low note from the B string, and it works very well as a parallel to the A string. all in all, it's personal preference.
I started playing a 5 because:
- It was a good excuse to get another bass ("but my washburn doesn't go down to a low B, baby!")
- I play in church with a huge pipe organ quite often, and I wanted to be able to follow the basslines on that without jumping octaves all the time (it still goes about a 4th lower I think, but it's really unusual to use the lowest low notes in any of the music we play) (one of the guys who plays the organ often goes really low when I play in the higher register though, which sounds fantastic!)
- I got a screamin' good deal on an Ibanez ATK 305 which was too good to pass up
- A lot of the players I like used 5's.
Steve
- It was a good excuse to get another bass ("but my washburn doesn't go down to a low B, baby!")
- I play in church with a huge pipe organ quite often, and I wanted to be able to follow the basslines on that without jumping octaves all the time (it still goes about a 4th lower I think, but it's really unusual to use the lowest low notes in any of the music we play) (one of the guys who plays the organ often goes really low when I play in the higher register though, which sounds fantastic!)
- I got a screamin' good deal on an Ibanez ATK 305 which was too good to pass up
- A lot of the players I like used 5's.
Steve
I actually started with a 6 string and will go back to it again some time, but 5 string I got to actually add a high note, EADGC, thats my personal preference.
Range, fingering, chords, etc.
Range, fingering, chords, etc.
About 6 months ago I tried my hand at playing a 5 string, but quickly got frustrated and gave up. The problem was at that point that I wasn't as experienced as I am now and was unable to see the benefits that playing a 5 string.
Recently I got a used BB405 to see if I could finally master the fiver and low and behold I was able to take to it like a duck to water. With just a little bit more experience behind me I was suddenly able to understand what playing a 5 string could offer in terms of how I could play or add flourish to songs. The other factor would probably be that when I first tried playing a 5, it exposed massive holes in my technique. I worked on those over the last 6 months while still playing a 4 which has probably made it easier to adapt this second time around.
However it ultimately comes down to what you feel comfortable playing and what is feasible. If you can buy two 4 string basses, tune one of them down to B and switch basses between songs then do it (if you can't get the hang of playing a 5). But if you simply have to have a bass tuned down to B, but can only afford one, then necessity might be telling you to get a 5.
Recently I got a used BB405 to see if I could finally master the fiver and low and behold I was able to take to it like a duck to water. With just a little bit more experience behind me I was suddenly able to understand what playing a 5 string could offer in terms of how I could play or add flourish to songs. The other factor would probably be that when I first tried playing a 5, it exposed massive holes in my technique. I worked on those over the last 6 months while still playing a 4 which has probably made it easier to adapt this second time around.
However it ultimately comes down to what you feel comfortable playing and what is feasible. If you can buy two 4 string basses, tune one of them down to B and switch basses between songs then do it (if you can't get the hang of playing a 5). But if you simply have to have a bass tuned down to B, but can only afford one, then necessity might be telling you to get a 5.
When I first started playing a 5er I found it strange having an odd number of strings, but I got use to it.
My first bass was a 5 string, back in 1993. It was an Ibanez SDGR 885 (I think..). I just thought it would be good to have the notes "just in case". I since traded that for a Stingray 5 and just ordered an MTD Kingston Heir 5 fretless. I can't get used to a 4 string. Necks are too small and I forget that the low string is an E and not a B.
I rarely play past the low E (however, an occasional D is necessary for those dark Phish jams....). I like it more for the added range. My buddy calls it "cheating", I call it "working smarter, not harder".
I rarely play past the low E (however, an occasional D is necessary for those dark Phish jams....). I like it more for the added range. My buddy calls it "cheating", I call it "working smarter, not harder".
tZer said:
lol thats wat ive done...
i bought mine in february..i think it was
there was a guitar show at a college near my house and i went wit my parents. it was awsome. so many different kinds of basses and guitars, amps too. they also had little demos for different kinds of music in different rooms....the metal 1 was so kickass
so ya..anyway..my bday was in april and i looked at these 2 ibanez soundgear basses. 1 was a 5 string. the other was a 4 string. i really wanted to get the 5 string...i dont kno..it just attracted me....we eventually walked away...then later. wen we were about to leave i got my parents to buy the 5 string for me as an early birthday present...and then did
125 DOLLARS FOR THE 5 STRING..
the 4 string was 225 dollars
we asked the guy y it was so low...he said there was some damage to it but that he fixed it and theres a small crack on the front that is barely noticable. also the bak is scratched up...but u cant really see that either
plays great too tho, but i think i should get new strings soon
i JUST started playing it towards the end of the school year...idk y..it just was sitting there
its sweet tho...all black..very sweet indeed
When I went to buy my first bass (literally just a few days ago) I was going to get a 4-string, but the store manager talked me into a 5-string instead.
Now that I've had the bass for several days and have been playing along with a bunch of CDs, I'm glad I got the 5-string.
Almost all of the big name bands seem to like to play down to B, or at least somewhere between B and E. I don't know how anyone could work with anything less than a 5 these days.
Now that I've had the bass for several days and have been playing along with a bunch of CDs, I'm glad I got the 5-string.
Almost all of the big name bands seem to like to play down to B, or at least somewhere between B and E. I don't know how anyone could work with anything less than a 5 these days.
alexclaber
Commercial User
Chopsrr said:Almost all of the big name bands seem to like to play down to B, or at least somewhere between B and E. I don't know how anyone could work with anything less than a 5 these days.
Well there is the avantgarde concept of writing and playing your own music!
Alex
I was playing rock and blues up until 94-95 when I fell into a New Country band. New Country at that time was the rage and the 5 string bass was very dominate, especially the low b.
I felt that i'd like to try something different for awhile and New Country was new to me. For the first year while in the band I only played my 4 string basses, but there was that need for low b.
Bought a Fender MB-5 to try, and found myself very disoriented. Up till this point I had been playing only 4-string basses for 30 yrs.
It took me quite awhile to find my orientation and get comfortable with the 5, but once it clicked I didn't want to play any of my 4-string basses anymore.
Since then i've gone through 7 different 5-string basses before settling down with my current 5er.
Now a 11-12 yrs later I don't play New Country anymore (i'm back into R&B) and I only gig with my 5er. I do bring along a semi-acoustic 4-stringer as my backup which gets used for a few tunes.
Today i'm glad that I moved to playing a 5-string back then. I like the added versatility it provides me with.
TD
I felt that i'd like to try something different for awhile and New Country was new to me. For the first year while in the band I only played my 4 string basses, but there was that need for low b.
Bought a Fender MB-5 to try, and found myself very disoriented. Up till this point I had been playing only 4-string basses for 30 yrs.
It took me quite awhile to find my orientation and get comfortable with the 5, but once it clicked I didn't want to play any of my 4-string basses anymore.
Since then i've gone through 7 different 5-string basses before settling down with my current 5er.
Now a 11-12 yrs later I don't play New Country anymore (i'm back into R&B) and I only gig with my 5er. I do bring along a semi-acoustic 4-stringer as my backup which gets used for a few tunes.
Today i'm glad that I moved to playing a 5-string back then. I like the added versatility it provides me with.
TD
A keyboard player I once worked with asked me to sit in on his gig. His bass player played a fiver. I'd never played one but gave it a shot anyway. The minute I picked up the fiver I new I wanted one. My first was a used Fender Deluxe Jazz. I haven't used a four on a gig since.
