Why a 5? Or, How Much Do You Use That Low B?

[joelns]

I'm planning to order another bass before the year is out. I currently have a 4 string and have been playing 4's for many years. I do not own a 5. However, I'm thinking about making that next bass a 5.

For those of you that made the switch from a 4 to a 5, how much do you use that low B string? I assume you just worked it in to your normal playing. I'm thinking it opens up a fair bit of flexibility with voicing, inversions, and such.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[hdracer]

I use it all the time. It is the perfect thumb rest.

I have found myself playing up the neck more and shifting over a string. It helps my old hands.

 

[ddnidd1]

How much you use it depends upon the player's approach and the material.

However, a five does offer a lot more flexibility in hand position because of the fifth string.

 

[joebar]

I use it sparingly-
nice to have it, but mainly a rest.
I prefer the width of a five

 

[Chapbass]

I use it all the time. In fact, I play a 7 with a string lower than B (F#), which I don't use AS much as the B, but still occasionally (mostly around frets 3-8, to get a bassier tone than the low B).

I play mostly a rock/blues mix, which sounds like it would be out of place, but it works well. I typically use the lower parts to accentuate certain passages, as well as open up some frequency space when the guitars are playing pretty hard.

 

[bhernco]

I string my five E-C. Great for solo work.

 

[pacojas]

i use the B-string on every song! generally, from the 5th fret up. i love the fretted E much more than the open one! i currently play a standard 5-banger and a 4 tuned BEAD. enjoy the "B"!

 

[joelns]

Interesting responses. Some use it more than others. I can see that low B string coming in handy all the way up the neck. Need to get my hands on a five to try it out.

How difficult is it going back and forth between the 5 and 4 regarding string spacing and such?

 

[bthumpinonbass]

I prefer a 5 strictly for the comfy neck. I enjoy the low-B, but having played a Dingwall Combustion, I'm a little spoiled...no other "B" string brings me joy as Dingwalls. SOME DAY......I enjoy a 5-string in terms of flexibility...not to mention said flexibility forces me to move up the neck and push the envelope of my beginner's knowledge.

 

[NightW0lf]

I own both a 4 and 5 strings, and I always use my 5. Easier hand position for my type of playing, comfortable thumb rest and I never have to re-tune for a drop D song ever again.

It does require some getting used to though, took me a few months to be really comfortable.

 

[Sparkdog]

I think it really depends on the music you're playing. For Latin styles, hip-hop, and heavy metal it's pretty much mandatory. For any sort of old school roots music (blues, R&B, classic rock, country) I personally feel it doesn't fit well. That low B just doesn't sit right with the kick drum for me. YMMV

 

[hdracer]

Interesting responses. Some use it more than others. I can see that low B string coming in handy all the way up the neck. Need to get my hands on a five to try it out.

How difficult is it going back and forth between the 5 and 4 regarding string spacing and such?

Get one with the same or very close spacing as your 4

 

[mimaz]

I use the the B string just as much as any other...in fact, I haven't even gigged with a 4 string bass for almost 15 years...I've got a lot of nice 4 stringers that haven't even seen the light of day for years!

Once you integrate the additional string (or strings) into your playing, it really does make things easier.

 

[thewildest]

Statistically speaking (I play 6 string basses), the C string (1st) gets way more use than my B (6) string, as I solo quite a lot and use all sorts of chords all the time. Having said that, I continuously go to that low D or low C whenever I have to hit these notes as it gives some dramatic contrast against the spectrum of sounds the band produces.
As suggested above, if you are more into soloing/chords, a 5er with E-C tuning may be the way to go. If you are more into a more traditional bass role and depending on the kind of music you want to play, you could go B-G.
Always a good thing to have the availability of an extra string, in my personal experience/opinion.

 

[joelns]

Get one with the same or very close spacing as your 4

That won't be possible. My fingers are too short to manage such a wide neck.

 

[superheavydeathmetal]

I use it all the time. It is the perfect thumb rest.

Bingo! I don't use the B that much, but I do a little. However, it really is the perfect thumb rest, and add to that the string spacing is tighter on my 5 than my 4s, it plays like a dream. A true shredder's bass.

 

[TTPbass1]

i use the B-string on every song! generally, from the 5th fret up. i love the fretted E much more than the open one! i currently play a standard 5-banger and a 4 tuned BEAD. enjoy the "B"!

+1 same here...

 

[Slevage]

I use it often. For me a 5 string is about position, not range.

The place where I use the 5th string even more is on my EUB and BG strung E~C.
It is especially useful when I have to sight read charts. I can play all the way up to a high Eb without shifting position.

 

[mimaz]

I use it often. For me a 5 string is about position, not range.

This! ^^

 

[squidtastic]

I use the B string a fair amount. It's useful for playing vertically rather than horizontally and hence keeping you from having to move around the neck as much, but the main reason I use it is because I want those low notes! Just played at a club jam last night where we were doing some old-school hip hop stuff, and the MCs loved having that rumble.

Switching between 4 and 5 isn't a significant issue unless you play fast/virtuosic stuff, IME. I find that it only takes a minor adjustment -- sort of like switching modes.