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

[foothilla]

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.

LOL, while I appreciate the point you are trying to make, I'm often talking about guys that play 4 strings,...guys that have 4 strings at their disposal,....guys doing sessions that are being recorded (where they have the ability to switch up). Or even guys like the dude in the last video I posted, where it would have benefitted him to showcase that low B often.

I wasn't referring to just some random lazy guy, with one bass, playing a small gig.

 

[Wasnex]

No,..but if it's a tune I don't want to use the high C, then I use a 4 string on that tune.

I'm even seeing guys that I know that have a bunch of 4 strings using basses with low B's for recording,...even though they aren't using the low B for that track?

Conversely, I'm barely seeing anyone outside of Metal using the B string with any regularity.

For the record I don't typically play metal and I used my B string plenty.

Seems silly to change basses just because you don't need to use the full range of the instrument for one song. I have played primarily a Yamaha TRB6P since about 1995 and I use the B and C string when I feel it's appropriate. I don't give it a second thought as to whether I use them on every song, or not. I simply don't care.

I doesn't really make sense for me to switch back to a 4 string. I started with Simandl fingering 1,3,4. But, when I was transitioning to 5- and then 6-string bass, I also transitioned to one finger per fret. So I have developed a totally different system of fingering and shifting across the strings than what I used back when I was exclusively a 4-string player.

I do own 5-strings and 4-strings, including my first bass. I have played the TRB6P for so long that it is home, so basically it would take extra mental effort to figure out how to play technical passages on a 4-string or 5-string. The 6-string gives me more choices in how I play a line.

Now if it makes sense to you to switch between different instruments I am fine with it. I have no need to force my world view on you. However, perhaps you should open your mind to the idea that people are different, and doing things a different way doesn't necessarily make it wrong. I suggest focusing on how you can be a better player rather than worrying about nonsense.

 

[crazyBassClown]

Do you use your C string on every tune?

Hell, I don't even use the G on quite a lot.

 

[OogieWaWa]

I can't imagine not using my B string. I usually play an octave lower on tunes in any of the keys of B to E and I use it for easier fingering on a lot of other tunes. It adds a lot more girth to songs usually played in C or D on the A string. Me love my B string.

There's the ticket, practicality. C and D keyed songs. But I don't even use a 5'er, I use a Hipshot double drop tuner for that very reason. Even stuff in F, G (and Bb), having to go up for that 5th doesn't sound as good as having the lower note available. No problem normally for stuff in E, A and B. I'll even drop the E to D for songs in F so I don't have to use that darned first fret with the thickest piece of cable, that gets tiring after a while. Doubling octaves when in DADG is simple, same fret. That covers 98% of every song ever written, or at least the ones I'll ever pay. Eb? Bah.

 

[foothilla]

However, perhaps you should open your mind to the idea that people are different, and doing things a different way doesn't necessarily make it wrong. I suggest focusing on how you can be a better player rather than worrying about nonsense.

For starters,....where did I say anyone was doing anything "wrong"?

I made an observation about some players and I came here to understand why they prefer what they prefer. If my mind was closed I wouldn't care about anyone's preference beyond my own.

No need for you to be so defensive and sensitive. Feel free to play just 1 of your 6 strings, if that floats your boat.

 

[N4860]

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?

In my own personal experience as a 5 string player, not all of my songs use notes on the B string. When I play live I still use the 5 string for a full set because I won't have to make adjustments to my pedalboard or my amp to keep things consistent. Also makes things easier for the sound guy.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

It's only 4 extra notes..

 

[bbh]

I only play 5’s. The b string is used when necessary, to get fatter notes, to make traversing the neck easier. Not all songs need anything below an e. To me, this is an obvious answer.

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

I have even seen 4 string players rarely touching the G string, if ever.

 

[Bass4Gsus]

When I want something lower then the low E it's there. I use it if it fits the song. Above the E I use it as I can cover more of the "scale" in one position and sometimes I will play that F on the E string and use that position. It simply increase my options.

 

[SiliconElle]

Hmm. Lately, I often find myself playing the same music on different basses. A lot of the music I’m currently playing I learned on either my fretless (a 4-string), because it’s what I happened to bring from the studio because I felt like playing fretless, or the ABG (also a 4-string) that I keep in my room. Also, those songs originally used a 4-string and I wanted to learn to play the same way as those players. However, I’m now playing some of those songs on my 5-string because the sound of that particular instrument fits them better. When I play original stuff, I’m more likely to use the B string as well.

 

[Bass4Gsus]

A lot of Gospel music, which I play myself, makes full use of that low B. Other than that, and metal and maybe country, it's as much or more about flexibility of position than hitting those low-low notes.

To the original question, sometimes skilled players who use 5-string basses are playing songs that they originally mastered on 4 strings, and don't feel the need or desire to relearn their technique on the same songs just to accommodate that B string.

It's amazing how hard it was to use the low B when I first got it on songs I had locked down, serious muscle memory. On new stuff I used the B string more, but not necessarily below the E, but the E, F, G etc. Over time I consciously incorporated the B string into the old material, you get used to it.

 

[foothilla]

Hell, I don't even use the G on quite a lot.

You're the second or third person to say that. I would imagine you guys aren't soloing, or doing anything chordal.

 

[Wasnex]

For starters,....where did I say anyone was doing anything "wrong"?

You didn't directly say any one was doing anything wrong. But you did say:

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...

This seems to infer that you think it's stupid to play a 5- or 6-string if the extended range is not used. My perspective is to use the strings as they are needed.

Some people think you really only need two strings to play bass.

I would cover the Presidents of the United States of America on my 6-string, without giving it a second thought. Using your implied logic, it would be stupid to even use a 4-string for these songs...or perhaps I misunderstand your position.

No need for you to be so defensive and sensitive. Feel free to play just 1 of your 6 strings, if that floats your boat.

Thanks, great advice .

 

[foothilla]

I have even seen 4 string players rarely touching the G string, if ever.

That I understand. If you are playing really simple, root note lines (without any soloing or chord work), you can get away without the G string. But, it's not like people have 3 string basses sitting around for those tunes.

 

[Auspuff]

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?

They think it makes them look cool.

 

[foothilla]

This seems to infer that you think it's stupid to play a 5- or 6-string if the extended range is not used.

If you have 4 string basses, and you play 4 string basses, and you are making a recording where you only want to use the E-A-D-G strings,.....then I don't understand why a guy would grab a 5 string for that particular recording.

I would have to understand why they are doing that before I could deem it smart, stupid, or otherwise. The fact that I don't understand a move like that, is why I am asking players about that particular decision.

I would cover the Presidents of the United States of America on my 6-string, without giving it a second thought. Using your implied logic, it would be stupid to even use a 4-string for these songs...or perhaps I misunderstand your position.

Perfect scenario to explain my curiosity:

Let's say that 2 string basses were common (like 4 string basses are). If you had an array of 2 string basses at your disposal, and you were very competent on your 2 string basses,....then yes, I would be curious why you used your 6 string bass for recording a Presidents Of The United States cover tune.

Not calling you stupid,...but I would be curious why you would chose a 6 string, over a 2 string, if you were only going to use 2 strings anyway (and you had 2 string basses at your disposal).

Using that scenario, wouldn't you understand why I would find your choice of a 6 string curious?

 

[foothilla]

They think it makes them look cool.

That was actually one of the thoughts that crossed my mind.

 

[BassNugget]

Here is my reason for purchasing and playing a five. Originally, I never wanted to play a 5 string. I loved the 4 so much; I was mostly playing funk and punk pop. When I began to play slower covers and pick up ensembles, the B was super nice to have, especially on ballads. Then a strange thing happened: I started to prefer the neck shape and string spacing of the five string. My current 4 is a 1999 EBMM Stingray with the 3 band EQ. I ADORE this bass. My five is the SBMM Sterling SUB 5 (2016?), but dang... it's nice. These days, I find myself liking that thinner neck with the tighter string spacing.

 

[foothilla]

Here is my reason for purchasing and playing a five. Originally, I never wanted to play a 5 string. I loved the 4 so much; I was mostly playing funk and punk pop. When I began to play slower covers and pick up ensembles, the B was super nice to have, especially on ballads. Then a strange thing happened: I started to prefer the neck shape and string spacing of the five string. My current 4 is a 1999 EBMM Stingray with the 3 band EQ. I ADORE this bass. My five is the SBMM Sterling SUB 5 (2016?), but dang... it's nice. These days, I find myself liking that thinner neck with the tighter string spacing.

See, again,...that's the kind of explanation I was looking for. That makes sense to me. String spacing, neck feel,.....those are the kind things that I was wondering if people preferred so much, that they would opt for that feel even when the extra string(s) aren't needed.

Thanks for an articulate explanation, without being defensive about it.