Why do so many 5 & 6 string players NEVER use their low B?

[Slade N]

i use the B regularly but not every song, i dont use the G string every song either. some songs all 5 get used, others songs not. what im saying is it depends on the song, but if/when you need it to use, you have at your disposal

 

[drumrtommy]

As a 4 string player first I actually use the B a lot when I have it.

The E on the 5th fret is nice, and for songs like uptown funk, I think the D sound better lower.

also “I got you (I feel Good)” sounds better to me with a low D.

And I play a 28” scale length 5 string mikro

I also find that from the technique aspect, 5 string feels better using a floating thumb that 4 string

 

[Nightman]

I don’t know any 5’er player that don’t play notes on the low B string.

 

[pedroims]

To me, the G string is the one I play the less.

On my play list there are way more songs where I need the B string than the G.

 

[pingvuiini]

Even if you aren't playing the B, it makes for a handy thumb anchor.

**DING!!!**

I only use the low B for pickup notes and accents and I never ride on it. So in essence it has become a very expensive thumb rest. In fact, I am having a custom bass being built as we speak and the builder asked about an extended fingerboard design on the bass side which would serve as a thumbrest. But then it would be problematic for the truss rod wheel at the end of the fingerboard so I told him to ditch the extended fingerboard idea since the low B string basically *is* the thumbrest anyways. I can't wait for it to be finished.

 

[juggahnaught]

There's a fallacy here. I'd wager that the number of players who don't use their lowest string is probably close to the number of players who do. I'm sure that for every video you could find where a player doesn't use that string, I could find a video where they do. Your sample size for this assumption is grossly inadequate - two examples of bass players playing in a solo context. (Not trying to be harsh, but I'd definitely find the conclusion unwarranted. )

That said - there are reasons not to use the B string. I used to use it a lot in fifth position and higher and I feel as though I use it less now - possibly because I've been playing different basses, and actively working on position shifts. (That said, I still do use it quite a bit.) Some people may be in that same situation, or they may be coming from a four-string - or maybe they generally use a four-string but they're using a five for a gig that needs it for a few songs. Strings also have different timbres and some players incorporate that into their playing; especially in a solo context, the smaller strings are snappier and can give more "sparkle" depending on the strings and the bass, and they of course do have a higher note range. Finally, depending on the neck taper, playing the B string may take more of a stretch after a certain fret range.

When I'm playing anything on the E string, I definitely like having the option to go down when I have to, even if it's for something like a Latin groove where I want the fifth below. It's just a really nice option to have, and if I'm hanging out on the B string, I don't really have that anymore.

Hope this helps!

 

[locisbrelm]

For me, it's the tighter spacing between strings. Makes it really easy for my right hand. I love my 4s for slapping but my 5s for pretty much everything else. Chords are pretty much the same just the 5 has more voicing.

A lot of the bands I've played with lately have down tuned to hell, so I find myself on the B(tuned down) quite a lot. My question would go more like what's the point of D and G strings?

 

[tsheldon]

NOTE: I am primarily a 4 string player that sometimes plays 5 string, but my 5 strings are always tuned E-A-D-G-C (no low B).

I never bonded with a low B string (I've tried). Regardless of bass, it has always sounded flabby and undefined to me. Lately I have been watching some excellent 5/6 string players, and I've been paying very close attention to how they use of their low B string.

To my surprise, a huge percentage of these players barely use the low B. It's not uncommon to see some monster players that will go the entire tune without hitting the low B string a single time. I'm confused why anyone would use a 5 or 6 string for even one tune, if they weren't going to use the B string anyway.

This is an odd, but serious question. Does anyone know why people are doing this? What am I missing? Why are guys doing this?

Um, seriously? Music. The answer is music.

There’s no bonus points for using every string. There are no bonus points for using 15 different techniques. There are no bonus points for playing any specific thing. All the points are awarded for expressing artistic intent throughout everything you play.

Good players make the best music they can make regardless of how many strings/frets/whatever are available to them. Note selection should be a product of what sounds best or expresses yourself best. Not what notes you have available.

Damn it, I’m getting old and grumpy.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Do pianists use all 88 keys in every song?

 

[Rabidhamster]

NOTE: I am primarily a 4 string player that sometimes plays 5 string, but my 5 strings are always tuned E-A-D-G-C (no low B).

I never bonded with a low B string (I've tried). Regardless of bass, it has always sounded flabby and undefined to me. Lately I have been watching some excellent 5/6 string players, and I've been paying very close attention to how they use of their low B string.

To my surprise, a huge percentage of these players barely use the low B. It's not uncommon to see some monster players that will go the entire tune without hitting the low B string a single time. I'm confused why anyone would use a 5 or 6 string for even one tune, if they weren't going to use the B string anyway.

This is an odd, but serious question. Does anyone know why people are doing this? What am I missing? Why are guys doing this?

Why do you use a 4 string bass when for some songs you only need one?

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

So, as I've posted before recently, I've a recent convert from a 4 string to developing myself on a 6. For the past ~ 45 days, I've been in the woodshed learning the new instrument. This past weekend, I got up the courage to get it out of the house and into actual use.

Saturday gig -- originals band, kind of a power pop/rock thing. I tastefully added low notes from the B string where I thought it would work with our songs. I realized after the gig that I never got onto the C string at all. But loved what the low B brought to the table. We recorded the show through our mixer, and I was blown away by how much yummy goodness the lows added to what we do.

Sunday studio project -- different originals band, more fusion/jam band vibe. I'm wondering, based on the previous nights experience, if I should have just got a 5 string instead of a 6. Multiple tracks recorded for 4 songs later, and I'm all over the fingerboard and all 6 strings and really utilized the C string a lot to prevent extra shifts in position. I left happy I had that extra - extra string.

TLDR version: I guess it just depends on what you're playing on whether you utilize the B string on a 5 (or 6) or not. I gotta think that as I get more familiar with the 6, I'm going to utilize all 6 strings to the fullest.

 

[projectapollo]

Songs played in first position on a 4 string's fretboard can be moved to 6th position on a 5. Less stretching, less hand fatigue,,........Also, some guys believe Mass equals Tone. 5 strings are a bit bigger, and that can lead to bigger tone. Plus, if only playin 4 strings of a 5, the B is a GREAT fingerstop to keep your plucking fingers from getting too far away after a pluck. When I play a 4 today, that's something I have to account for. My fingerstop is gone. Heh.

+1, +1, +1

 

[foothilla]

There's a fallacy here. I'd wager that the number of players who don't use their lowest string is probably close to the number of players who do. I'm sure that for every video you could find where a player doesn't use that string, I could find a video where they do. Your sample size for this assumption is grossly inadequate - two examples of bass players playing in a solo context. (Not trying to be harsh, but I'd definitely find the conclusion unwarranted. )

That said - there are reasons not to use the B string. I used to use it a lot in fifth position and higher and I feel as though I use it less now - possibly because I've been playing different basses, and actively working on position shifts. (That said, I still do use it quite a bit.) Some people may be in that same situation, or they may be coming from a four-string - or maybe they generally use a four-string but they're using a five for a gig that needs it for a few songs. Strings also have different timbres and some players incorporate that into their playing; especially in a solo context, the smaller strings are snappier and can give more "sparkle" depending on the strings and the bass, and they of course do have a higher note range. Finally, depending on the neck taper, playing the B string may take more of a stretch after a certain fret range.

When I'm playing anything on the E string, I definitely like having the option to go down when I have to, even if it's for something like a Latin groove where I want the fifth below. It's just a really nice option to have, and if I'm hanging out on the B string, I don't really have that anymore.

Hope this helps!

Maybe I didn't articulate well. I realize that a lot of players use their low B string. And I don't really study every genre (I don't actively listen to pop, country, metal, worship, and punk). I'm sure that if you took every genre into consideration, the majority of players are indeed using their B string to some reasonable degree.

So, I am generalizing, but I am noticing a decent amount of players that never/rarely use it. I am particularly noticing this with some really talented jazz player and rock players. I'm seeing it with local players out in the Los Angeles circuit, on youtube, and out at big shows. These guys may be the minority, but there seem to be a lot of them. Maybe it's always been that way, and I just never noticed? Maybe it's more common in the styles of music I seek out? Or maybe I am blowing it out of proportion.

I guess if no one else is noticing this in players, it must just be my inaccurate perception. I was just wondering if these guys felt like the bigger neck sounded better? Or if they actually preferred something about the feel of the wider neck? Or if it was something else strange that I wasn't even considering (e.g. "I like the aesthetics of a huge bass").

...but it seems like it's just me that is noticing these guys that barely use the low B. So, we can close the thread if I'm just being an over analytical douche.

 

[And I]

Ha! Trust me, I have seen a ton of guys that use the low B,...particularly in metal. And I've seen plenty of Phil Lesh types that go to the low B once in a while. But, outside of that, I am seeing a lot of players that almost never touch it.

I play funk n soul n a bit of rock n roll and a tiny bit of jazz. I use it constantly.

 

[aguacateojos]

I live on my B string so...

 

[foothilla]

Why do you use a 4 string bass when for some songs you only need one?

I've played singer/songwriter gigs where I probably could've gotten away with a one string bass.

 

[Epitaph04]

“I see so many keyboardists/pianists with 88 key instruments...why do so few use the A0?”

“Most cars go over 100mph...why do so few go that fast?”

Just because its there doesn't mean you use it all the time. Neil Peart has a huge kit but most of the time hes on the snare kick and hi-hat. Its there when you need it.

 

[bassrique]

With all due respect, huh? 5ers and 6ers use their B all the time. Many use the B for economy of energy and transposition purposes. And Stevie Wonder.

 

[foothilla]

Here is another guy that I love (love his playing, love his basses). I watch his videos obsessively. Whenever he plays a 5 or 6 string, he barely touches the B string. And he makes the basses, so you would think he'd wanna showcase that low B.

Skip ahead to 4:20, that's when the playing starts:

 

[31HZ]

Do pianists use all 88 keys in every song?

I demand that they switch to smaller keyboards for songs where the range would be appropriate to do so.

Oh, and they'd better have a backup keyboard, of course.