Who hear finds a 5stringer easier to play than a 4?

[BrandonBass]

I recently bought a 24fret warwick fiver, and i wonder why I havent done it earlier.

The fact that it has 24frets means that it is much easier to access the 21st fret since it doesnt get in the way of the lower horn and the distance between each frets are smaller as well. As in you dont have to stretch as much.

And I kinda dig the narrower string spacing as well, though it gets some getting used to.

Anyone else have the same school of thought?

 

[walldaja]

I like not having to depend on open notes and always being able to reach more notes across the board. I'm much more at home on a five or six than a four even though I learned on a four.

 

[dreads311]

I've been playing a 5 so long that anything else doesn't feel natural. However, I prefer wide string spacing. That's why I opted for the broadneck option on my Warwick.

 

[Moving Pictures]

The 5-string in my avatar is my easiest bass to play. I still play 4's but I love that 5-string.

 

[Baird6869]

I fly on my 4 strings as my Pedulla and Jazz basses have super thin necks and I grew up playing 4's. So I definately find 4 string bases EASIER to play.

Having said that, I now play 5 string 95+% of the time. I like the versatility of the B string. Don't get me wrong, I love 5ers... But from a pure ease of playing standpoint, 4's win that IMO.

 

[dedpool1052]

i just prefer the narrow spacing on my 5 compared to my 4's, but it doesnt mean my 4's are any harder to play. i had an '83 aria pro II that had quite narrow spacing that made playing it a breeze. it really was a fast bass. unfortunately there were other aspects of it that i couldn't get along with, so it got traded.

 

[joebar]

look at my avatar
I agree

 

[GlamJam]

I like playing a metal (yes, it's the best bass for metal) on a fiver with narrow string spacing, pickstyle. For fingerstyle or slap I prefer my 4 string Jazz.

 

[mellowinman]

I still like my 4 string better, but I do enjoy playing the 5 string. I think they're different. The 5 string has one more string than the 4 string. You may have already noticed that. I think it's pretty noticeable.

 

[Jazzdogg]

This may sound silly to some of you younger players, but those in their sixth decade will probably be able to relate:

My left wrist has become less flexible as I've grown older, which sometimes makes it painful to play on the lowest frets. Playing a fiver enables me to play the same pitches higher up the fingerboard, which accommodates my left wrist and alleviates the pain.

 

[mtb777]

I've been playing a fiver for so long that I rarely pick up my 4's anymore. I now have a six that I'm pretty enamored with.

 

[Stevorebob]

I still like my 4 string better, but I do enjoy playing the 5 string. I think they're different. The 5 string has one more string than the 4 string. You may have already noticed that. I think it's pretty noticeable.

My five string also as one more string. Just noticed that.

 

[chris_b]

I've been playing 5 string basses exclusively since the early 90's.

I love their flexibility, and while I don't often play below bottom E, I play that B string on most numbers.

I did a fly away gig last year and could only get hold of a 4 string Jazz. That was weird. It felt like I was in a straight jacket.

 

[georgestrings]

Although I play 5ers pretty well, and without difficulty, I still find 4 strings to be easier to play...



- georgestrings

 

[bassguy72]

I find a 7 easier than a 4 or a 5

 

[FretNoMore]

I'm lost on a 4-string bass, haven't played one in years.
Upright, OK, but electric I keep hitting the wrong string.

Having access to those lower notes, as well as more
positions on the neck for the same notes, is great.

 

[Thumpinshelton]

I have been playing 5's since around '93 and now feel more awkward on a 4. But, the funny thing is that I really don't use the B as much as most would think. It's more of an overall neck feel and thumb rest haha!

 

[Thornton Davis]

I bought my first 5 string 20 yrs ago and could get my head around it for the first couple of years, then one day I picked up another brand name 5er and everything just clicked. Haven't looked back since then, for me it's a five string or nothing.

My four string basses rarely see the light of day anymore. I just consider them, retired.

TD

 

[Tom Howland]

It's different.
I believe you have to find the right 5-string, that works for you.
I went through 3 or 4 brand 5-strings till I found they one.
Some just never felt right.
A MTD 535, or a Roscoe LG3005. are it for me.

 

[Stevorebob]

A 5-string is much easier for me. Easier to play in E-flat or D without detuning. Easier fretboard positions. Easier to confuse guitards with what I'm playing. And easier to keep others off my bass.