Why 5 Strings are essential

[oldprussians]

Oh I can hear the cries of "Rubbish!!!" already!

But this is my opinion:

In reality a working bass player won't play over more than 2 octaves in a piece music so that he/she/it (to be PC), does step on anyone's toes.
That's fine, but on a four string to do that in certain keys. D and E-flat, one ends up going above middle C, which is no longer in the bass clef! A lot of Jazz pieces use D and E-flat. Thus having five string allows you to do that, as well as giving you the possibility of playing three octaves in C above middle C. There are even ABG that have 5 strings although it is not as important with those because you are most likely to be playing with just guitars, although it might be useful if you are doing baroque arrangements.

This argument of course goes for Double Basses as well, I'm currently looking to convert my old Double bass to 5 strings.

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Don't over-analyze it, a 4-string is fine. It's about making music, after all. We all know that what a 5-string is really about, is that super sweet thumbrest the B-string provides

 

[HaVIC5]

First, your typical bread and butter bass line for pretty much any style of music won't go anywhere near middle C (15th fret G string). What's written as middle C on our instruments is actually an octave below it (remember, bass is a transposing instrument), and still very safely in the bass register away from the sonic space of the treble instruments.

Second, when you're playing in the keys of Eb and D, that doesn't mean you can't play notes that are lower than our lowest Eb and D. Stevie Wonder's I Wish comes to mind - it's in Eb and the bassline goes down to the G a lot. That Eb on our instruments is still plenty low, though, anyway. In concert pitch its the Eb below the bass staff. Our low E is the E below the 4th ledger line below the staff - that's really low! There isn't an explicit need for notes lower than that.

The reason why a 5-string is "essential" (although there are many ways around this) is, because they're getting more and more popular, more and more commercial composers are writing for notes below our low E, so you'll very often run into charts that delve down that low as a working bassist. You're very often expected to play that low not because if you play it higher you'll be getting in other instruments' way, but because the writer wanted it.

 

[whizack]

I think it's useful just because of the full E major scale being available from the 5th fret on the B.

That would not be feasible otherwise w/o down-tuning a 4 string to Eb Ab Db Gb.

Not to mention having access to the lower register inversions.

 

[DanielleMuscato]

I would be lost without my low B. I've tried (many times!) to enjoy a nice vintage Fender, etc, but just can't get past losing that low Eb, D, C.

 

[mattofash]

I myself have always played on fours and at the moment am learning to play on 5s. And I love the added range it has it feels good.
But I HATE the fact that at least around my area, bassists seem to think that their better if they play a 5. And I see it with my guitard freinds as well. As soon as they get more strings than is standard they start looking down slightly.

 

[whitespike]

I have never played anything else but a four string. I have never had the desire to. To each his own though. If you would have never touched one, you wouldn't know the difference.

 

[oldprussians]

First, your typical bread and butter bass line for pretty much any style of music won't go anywhere near middle C (15th fret G string). What's written as middle C on our instruments is actually an octave below it (remember, bass is a transposing instrument), and still very safely in the bass register away from the sonic space of the treble instruments.

Second, when you're playing in the keys of Eb and D, that doesn't mean you can't play notes that are lower than our lowest Eb and D. Stevie Wonder's I Wish comes to mind - it's in Eb and the bassline goes down to the G a lot. That Eb on our instruments is still plenty low, though, anyway. In concert pitch its the Eb below the bass staff. Our low E is the E below the 4th ledger line below the staff - that's really low! There isn't an explicit need for notes lower than that.

The reason why a 5-string is "essential" (although there are many ways around this) is, because they're getting more and more popular, more and more commercial composers are writing for notes below our low E, so you'll very often run into charts that delve down that low as a working bassist. You're very often expected to play that low not because if you play it higher you'll be getting in other instruments' way, but because the writer wanted it.

I'm sorry mate but if you play the open D or on the A string 5th fret and play a 2 octave scale you end up above middle C concert pitch! Same argument for the for the E-flat. Don't forget that the guitar is only 1 octave above the Bass, and is in fact in the bass clef in the main. The reason the guitar sounds higher than the bass is down to the size of sound waves created by the chamber in the case of acoustic guitars of both types, compared to the Double bass that has a huge chamber. Thus ABGs don't stand out against the guitars not because of loudness but because the sound wave aren't big enough. In the case of electric instruments the difference is down to the EQ on the amp and the frequency response of the driver, typically 45 hertz on a bass and 35 on a guitar. Try playing guitar through a bas amp and see how deep they are! The driver in my custom made cab is 40 hertz so that I got a good thump from my E string, 40 being the fundamental of the E note pitched there. The low B being 30 hertz thus I'm changing my driver.

 

[Dave Siff]

I tune my 4-string DGCF, and I've thought about trying CFBbEb. I like having a fretted low E and those extra low notes, I just don't want another string. I've tried the 5 on numerous occasions and I just can't make the leap.

 

[JimmyM]

Whatever, pal. It's not essential. I've gone about 3 years now without playing one on a gig and about 10 years playing one only rarely. I know a lot of people who play regularly who have never even touched a 5-string onstage. If the music you play demands it, then play one. If not, don't.

Know what's essential? Owning a bass and amp and being able to play. That's about the only essentials.

 

[neurotictim]

It's essential that you feel comfortable playing, and that you have the full range you desire at your fingertips. There are bassists out there (some who frequent TB) that can take a POS Squier with one rusty old string and make it sing far better than I can with my six.

By the same token, I know there are virtuoso bassists out there that take 7 or more strings out and make guitar players feel useless... Also a fun function.

It's always been about personal opinion. I love my six for more than just the extended range it gives me.

 

[LowFreak]

I have played with a low B for many years, but I switched back to 4-string years ago, and I seldom miss the extra string. If the song really requires the extra bottom I detune the E-string to a D. Lower than that is unneccesary (imo).

IMO the the low notes (below the E) should be used sparingly.In fact - the majority of bass players (that I have heard) tend to overuse the low notes.
To play "I Wish" in Eb is a challenge, but when it comes down to it, it is all about voicing and groove. What would Stevie Wonder have played if he played a 4-string? I am sure he would have made it sound great!!

On a sidenote : I used to play a Warwick Streamer 6-string back in the days, and it played incredibly clean in the low register. With the act I played with at the time we had a part of the show where I let the low B ring out for four full bars (on a ballad). We used a ultraclean Meyer PA, and we had a crazy soundtech. So what he did was this : He patched the bass to a separate stripe on the mix, and EQed it so it boosted the 30-35 hz range. When the low note came he would use the PA to it's full potential and often the dust would rain down from the roof of the room. Many times people in the audience would look at me, point at their kidneys and shook their head in despair , and one time a guy in the front row actually puked when the bassnote hit him - lol

 

[PilbaraBass]

they're not essential, sorry...

but a D will work in any octave...a B will work in any octave...

it may work a little "better" (depending upon the context) in the lower octave, for sure...but you don't "need" a five string...

I've been playing music for the last 2 years that just screams "5 string"...it was recorded on 5 string and we play a lot of it in drop keys on top of everything...but do I have a 5 string yet? no...does it work without one?...yes, it sure does...am I going to get a 5 string?...yes, to that too...but I don't "need" one...to me it's just a better avenue of approaching the stuff we're doing...(not the "only" avenue, just more in the "style" of which it was recorded)...

 

[f'nar f'nar]

I don't think it's "essential", otherwise 4 strings would have become obselete a long time ago. I own a 5 string and love it, I also own a 4 string and love it.

 

[BigMikeW]

I own only 5's but that is just me. I need that B string for what I do and who I play or record with.

BUT, essential? Depends on the work you are doing.

If you are a session player you should definitely have one in your arsenal. Especially in Nashville.

But, a rock bassist or pop. Not Necessarily.

And, they make this ool thing for 4 string basses called a D-Tuner. They work pretty well.

 

[Rumblin' Man]

I've had a 5 for many years, I've not once been asked to use it much less found it to be essential so I stick with my 4s. But I'm seriously considering making myself a 3 string.

 

[WayneS]

The reason the guitar sounds higher than the bass is down to the size of sound waves created by the chamber in the case of acoustic guitars of both types, compared to the Double bass that has a huge chamber. Thus ABGs don't stand out against the guitars not because of loudness but because the sound wave aren't big enough. In the case of electric instruments the difference is down to the EQ on the amp and the frequency response of the driver, typically 45 hertz on a bass and 35 on a guitar. Try playing guitar through a bas amp and see how deep they are! The driver in my custom made cab is 40 hertz so that I got a good thump from my E string, 40 being the fundamental of the E note pitched there. The low B being 30 hertz thus I'm changing my driver.

That makes no sense at all.

The fundamental of the E on a bass is 41.2 Hz.

 

[Plookie]

I would be lost without my low B. I've tried (many times!) to enjoy a nice vintage Fender, etc, but just can't get past losing that low Eb, D, C.

I am in the same boat with you Dave.

I am lost without my LOW B, C, D, Eb.
When I try playing on my 4 stringer, I always want to hit a low B. I think, no, I KNOW it's the style of music I play, where the B string comes in handy....all the time.

For the 4 string, I think it's how THAT bassist plays to the piece of music he/she thinks fit.
Remember, it has been a 4 string bass guitar long before the 5, 6, 7, etc, came along. So I give maximum respect to bassists who try to reproduce whats in their minds unto that piece of music. It's all music!


Pavel Jazz Pro 5 deluxe a.k.a. "Blue Butta"
Eden "Highwayman" WT-600 amp
Eden 2x10 bass cab
Link Removed

 

[WeeMann]

I've only ever played 4 strings and never been left wanting. For the last 15 years I've used a Hipshot D Tuner which allows me to drop down to D at the flick of a switch - it comes in handy in certain keys and I wouldn't be without it, but I've never played anything where I felt I needed more range.

Plus, what's wrong with playing in the higher registers anyway? I don't know about anyone else, but to me, it's all about playing music, not just conforming to what everyone expects. yes, the bass has a role and you need to stay aware of that, but there are times when playing up the dusty end adds to a piece of music. Have a listen to the Studio version of Queen's Love Of My Life - Deacy rarely ventures down into the "Proper" range, yet the song works wonderfully.

 

[BuffaloBass]

Having all your finger and a sense of groove, those are essential. Everything els3e is contrived. Although I do dig working positions off teh b string.