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

#21
Who hear finds a 5stringer easier to play than a 4?

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Me ... I don't like 4s any more

To me a 4 string bass is a bass that is missing a string.
 
#22
I'm sure it's because I didn't put in enough practice time with it, but I was constantly confused, when looking down at the strings, and thinking that the top (B) string was the (E) string, when I had a 5er. I'm sometimes confused with 4 strings, due to lack of practice/knowledge of basics :(

I really would like to have access to the lower notes on the (B), for playing reggae, but I always felt that the amount of time that I'm "allowed" to practice, wasn't allowing me to progress to a point of comfort with the 5er.

In your opinion, are there specific techniques/drills for getting comfortable with the 5er, or is it simply a matter of time?

I'm nearing a place in life where I'm considering a second bass, and wonder if I should just continue with what I'm comfortable with (4 string), or push out of my comfort zone with a 5er. My BIGGEST concern is that I won't be comfortable with it, and then won't play it...
 
#23
RASHOSS said:
...In your opinion, are there specific techniques/drills for getting comfortable with the 5er, or is it simply a matter of time?
Click to expand...

Just a matter of time.

RASHOSS said:
My BIGGEST concern is that I won't be comfortable with it, and then won't play it...
Click to expand...

I felt this way, too. But once I had a fiver, I stopped playing my fours. I think your concern should be that you won't be comfortable going back to a four.
 
#24
Well, I thinks it's comfortable to hit the B when playing the E string, you know how your fingers hit the string above the one you're playing. But since the B is the most used one when I play I guess it doesn't matter, I just need it anyway.
 
#26
I started playing bass in the early eighties. The 4 string was my first, but soon discovered certain recordings with a lot of notes below E. That was the point where the bass got really interesting, so I had to get a 5. My first 5 was an Ibanez RB885, with narrow string spacing. Seems like a lot of the early stuff was narrow spacing. I then got into building Warmoth basses as they had wide neck options. I have not played a 4 since 1986 and never intend to. The 5 has much more versatility. If you're thinking about playing bass, start on a 5 from the beginning.
 
#29
Stevorebob said:
Easier to confuse guitards with what I'm playing. And easier to keep others off my bass.
Click to expand...
I agree with the first sentence, the second seems opposite for me. No one cared when I played my four, I got a five and all of sudden to play it.

But yes, I do find 5's and 6s easier to play now. When I play fours now I think the E is the B and keep playing a string to high -_-

Rahoss- it just takes time. Switching from 4 to 5 is like getting new shoes. It wont feel quite right until youve gotten used to it. Also don't assume all 5s are the same as the one you played. There are thinner and wider string spacings which may be easier you to play. :)
 
#30
RASHOSS said:
I really would like to have access to the lower notes on the (B), for playing reggae, but I always felt that the amount of time that I'm "allowed" to practice, wasn't allowing me to progress to a point of comfort with the 5er.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I have about 30 reggae covers in my repertoire, and only one of them requires me to go below E. That one ("Come Around" by Collie Buddz) goes to D; easy enough to tune down to.

That said, yes, learning it is just a matter of time. That whole E-string/B-string confusion is something everyone goes through when they transition. Then after you play the fiver for a while, you get confused on the 4-string. I actually don't currently own a fiver, but I used to. I mainly play a sixer now, but make it a habit to practice the 4-banger too. At this point I can go back and forth between them with no confusion, but sometimes I wonder: if I put a fiver back in my arsenal, would I need to reorient myself to that all over again? I think there's a chance I'd have some G-string/C-string confusion to deal with there at this point.

And can there be a more embarrassing problem than G-string confusion? :D
 
#31
I started playing bass in 1969, and got my first 5 string in 1987. been playing 5s ever since. 4 string basses feel like banjos now.

Once you get used to the bottom string not being an E (assuming you are using a low B, and not high C), you will find it easier to play because you don't have to shift positions as often. And the notes lower than E sound great in some situations.

If on the other hand you rely on open strings (other than the E) and find a 5 hard to play, and think the low B is only good to rest your thumb on, then you need to work on your technique. ;)
 
#32
Jazzdogg said:
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.
Click to expand...

It doesn't sound silly to me.
That is the #1 reason I went to a 5.
Playing in F, F#,B is much easier on my left hand.
 
#33
I have a couple of friends that moved to a five but use it more for playing in one position rather than using the B for the stuff below E. at a jam playing traditional Hawaiian music I got few irritating looks when I used a low D instead of the higher octave. Needless to say I do not play with them anymore as I desecrated the song.
 
#35
I started in '68 and went to 5s in '98. When I tried to front a 3 piece band 2 years ago I went back to a 4 thinking it would be easier with one less string to worry about, since I have a hard time remembering words. Bass plus vocals is tough enough, right? As I suspected my vocal chops weren't up to it (unless I can really concentrate I go flat).

When I play 4s it's always P width so the transition to a 5 is easier. 5 all the way for me now especially with the new gig being Country.
 
#37
I play better on a 4. when I play a fender style 4 string with lowish but not too low action and a great setup that is fairly flat along the neck I play completely with confidence, without looking, without thinking, and therefore better, faster, with fewer errors and so on.

Despite this I set a goal recently to replace all of my 4 strings with 5 strings because I really miss the B string notes in a lot of the music I play and record, and also because I didn't want to have an excessive number of basses by having both 4 and 5 string versions of each type that I like. It seems ridiculous to have so many basses.

Hmmmm..

that was when I owned 3 basses, 2 of them 4 strings.

NOW I own... let's see...
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, maybe 10 (I honestly can't remember if I have 10 now).

one of them is a 4 string. and it doesn't even have working electronics LoL.

So my goal of moving from 4 strings is accomplished (my 4 is going to be sold once I fix the electronics) - I never have to worry about not having a B string (well that's not true, my 8 string octave bass only goes down to E).

However my reasoning of not having duplicates of my instruments failed miserably.

I only want to keep my BTB 6, my EBMM 5 fretted and fretless, my Carvin BB 5, my affinity jazz V (not worth selling and plays/sounds/looks like a $800 axe), my hagstrom 8... ah man this is silly LoL.

the btb 5, sr 5, aria sinsonido 4 can all go.

Well, maybe not the Sinsonido... it's so cool... aw man! how does this happen? I should really sell the BTB 6 as well.... I don't "need" it. but, but I do. I need it... I need it....
 
#38
I'm with ya Jazzdogg on the wrist thing as I'm about to enter my 6th decade.
I've been playing a 5 string for 10 years now. I still have a bunch of great 4 strings which I enjoy playing every chance I get which is rare. That said, I find myself missing the low B when it's not there and feeling confined as to what I can do. Sad to say but I've been converted. Although 6+ strings weirds me out. You could just about land an airplane on one of those necks.
 
#39
Thumper said:
I started in '68 and went to 5s in '98. When I tried to front a 3 piece band 2 years ago I went back to a 4 thinking it would be easier with one less string to worry about, since I have a hard time remembering words. Bass plus vocals is tough enough, right? As I suspected my vocal chops weren't up to it (unless I can really concentrate I go flat).

When I play 4s it's always P width so the transition to a 5 is easier. 5 all the way for me now especially with the new gig being Country.
Click to expand...

Funny, I feel the complete opposite. I feel that the low B helps by letting me keep my left hand position quieter. I mean I can play most of the bass lines without having to move my hand very much, thus letting me not have to look down for hand position.
 

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