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Why do YOU play more than four?
- Thread starter FreaqyFrequency
- Start date
I endorse people playing anything they want and I think it's grea tthere is a variety of basses and bassists.
Personally, I've owned and played 5'ers, 6'ers and an 8 string (doubled courses) and decided I can say what I want with 4, and that 4 is more comfortable to me.
Plus, even on a 4-banger, I play chords all the time. I play a few 4-string instruments that are largely chordal (mandolin (4 doubled courses), ukulele, tenor banjo)...bass is no different to me.
Hmmm, over here mandolin and banjo are more linear than chordal.....
Just messin' with ya, great points!
Just messin' with ya, great points!
I play more than 4 strings because it's more notes and, as Baird6869 said, it's better than drop D (doesn't really confuse me, but it's better to have an extra string, than to play in drop D).
And I play progressive rock, which very often required at least five strings, often six.
And I play progressive rock, which very often required at least five strings, often six.
In my current band, my main bass is an E-to-E short-scale six-string. Apart from things like the scale and string spacing being very comfortable and the pickups sounding really nice, the main reason I play it is because, with the kind of music we do, melodic or chordal bits on higher strings simultaneous with the bassline often fits really well into certain songs or parts of songs. It's nice to be able to provide bass while also enhancing the texture and melody in higher registers.
I play a 5 string because I was in a band at the time that tuned to low C. I bought my 55-01 and tuned it up. We also only had one guitar player, so that left me with a ton of room to move around.
I like having the lower fundamentals available (E on a B-string is cool!), as well as the extra notes and chordal possibilities. Additionally, I like the extra heft and, daresay, aesthetics of a 5 
.
.I play a 5 string because the girls shiver when I slap That Fat A$$ B string - 
I am looking into getting an 18 string bass - which is ridiculous
because I am to lazy and will have to pay some poor Geek to string and tune the thing - but I think it looks wicked and why the heck not?
I am looking into getting an 18 string bass - which is ridiculous
because I am to lazy and will have to pay some poor Geek to string and tune the thing - but I think it looks wicked and why the heck not?
I play 5 string because i like the posibility of playing lower than guitarists (I mean lower than octave lower)
Also VERY useful on tapping. Try playing low E or D while tapping on 4 string
My next bass will be almost cartainly 6 string, for more tapping possibilities and playing chords.
Also VERY useful on tapping. Try playing low E or D while tapping on 4 string
My next bass will be almost cartainly 6 string, for more tapping possibilities and playing chords.
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
anyone who plays more than 4 string basses obviously is countering some kind of inadequacy.
or is a frustrated guitarist.
or is a frustrated guitarist.
john turner
You don't want to do that. Trust me.
Bah, try living in a predominantly indie/Americana town. With each bass I order, I brake more and more rules. Every time I crack open a theory book, I edge further and further from actually getting an audition.
you're kidding, right? doesn't matter where you are, if you're auditioning, you're asking to be a part of someone else's gig. therefore, you provide what they want, or they're not gonna want you. that's not that hard, is it? i mean, that's the way it is for any job, isn't it?
i've gotten a decade and a half of insults, derision and snide comments questioning my manhood, my motivations, my musicality and my sanity FROM OTHER BASSISTS about my bass choices. no other instrumentalists have been nearly so threatened by my instrument choice than other bass players.
you should see the hateful crap i've had to put up with in emails and even other websites - bunny bass had a whole page dedicated to insulting me and my basses.
i've heard a bunch of "pros" completely dis my instrument choice - stood right next to jeff berlin as he totally slagged everything from the wood to the construction to the appearance and purpose of one of my basses at a namm show, apparently without him realizing the instrument's owner was standing on one side of him, and the instrument's builder was on the other.
one of the prime reasons i became so involved at talkbass back in 2000 when i first became a mod was because of that crap, in fact. it was no different here, back then, and folks really went out of their way to insult erb players. i put a quick halt to it here - see rules regarding erb players stickied at the top of the forum
. i've tried to be involved at other forums too, since then, and spread the good word.but it's been an uphill battle at a lot of places.
I play both and use them for different purposes.
The main reason I got my first 5 was so I didn't have to detune and had more low end at my reach.
now I still use a 4 more often in the last while
The main reason I got my first 5 was so I didn't have to detune and had more low end at my reach.
now I still use a 4 more often in the last while
you're kidding, right? doesn't matter where you are, if you're auditioning, you're asking to be a part of someone else's gig. therefore, you provide what they want, or they're not gonna want you. that's not that hard, is it? i mean, that's the way it is for any job, isn't it?
i've gotten a decade and a half of insults, derision and snide comments questioning my manhood, my motivations, my musicality and my sanity FROM OTHER BASSISTS about my bass choices. no other instrumentalists have been nearly so threatened by my instrument choice than other bass players.
you should see the hateful crap i've had to put up with in emails and even other websites - bunny bass had a whole page dedicated to insulting me and my basses.
i've heard a bunch of "pros" completely dis my instrument choice - stood right next to jeff berlin as he totally slagged everything from the wood to the construction to the appearance and purpose of one of my basses at a namm show, apparently without him realizing the instrument's owner was standing on one side of him, and the instrument's builder was on the other.
one of the prime reasons i became so involved at talkbass back in 2000 when i first became a mod was because of that crap, in fact. it was no different here, back then, and folks really went out of their way to insult erb players. i put a quick halt to it here - see rules regarding erb players stickied at the top of the forum
but it's been an uphill battle at a lot of places.
Oh yeah, I forgot the bassist's position in the food chain...just above the groupies and along the same lines as the roadies.
After all, we just play the easier version of a guitar. My fascination with musician psychology has told me that bands like to keep their bassists and drummers at a level where they don't play with enough signature style and tone in an effort to make it much easier to can and replace their arse (as opposed to "compromising", which singers and guitards do NOT do!:scowl
. There's also the psychological impact that guitards are intimidated by a bassist who can play more than root 8ths or play "follow the guitard" licks. Nope, years of being atop the musical food chain, guitards are indeed intimidated by our musical abilities. When they think to themselves, "so, what, does he think he's better than me or somethin?" well, if by "better" you mean I can actually read music, have good pitch (seriously, stop with the slightly flat bends during your solos!), practice with a metronome, know how to RESOLVE conflicts in other ways than firing people who don't agree.....well, then yes.
I'm not at all surprised about Jeff Berlin, as I'm not sure there aren't many areas that he doesn't bash, yet I struggle listening to the guy's music and I'm an open minded guy. Bunny Bass kinda surprises me.
I like 4,5,6 ... horses for courses. Jeff Berlin can play like a demon, awesome player and i respect him, but he's being deliberately pedantic, like "5 string basses.. blah blah" is his trademark or something. "what you gonna do when hulk-a-mania comes for you"
seems to me like he's selling something, hmmm.
I think you pick up the bass you love and play what you want, pick up a 4 and noodle all day.. pick up a 9 string conklin and thump the E for 4 minutes 30 seconds...
Me personally i like the 5 string, i play grind and death metal, i also sharpen the tools by getting stuck into some motown, parliment, bros johnston, earth wind and fire, beatles e.t.c
like to have a compromise between range and comfort.
seems to me like he's selling something, hmmm.
I think you pick up the bass you love and play what you want, pick up a 4 and noodle all day.. pick up a 9 string conklin and thump the E for 4 minutes 30 seconds...
Me personally i like the 5 string, i play grind and death metal, i also sharpen the tools by getting stuck into some motown, parliment, bros johnston, earth wind and fire, beatles e.t.c
like to have a compromise between range and comfort.
