I dropped the 6 and went back to 4/5's. If bass were my primary, a 6 may make sense but it's not and adapting to that larger neck is very difficult. Beyond that, mastering the additional range would take time I don't have
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Why don’t you play a six-string bass?
- Thread starter Just Wrong
- Start date
fear.
edit: i've noodled on 6-string EBs and thought they were a lot of fun, but it was noodling. i'm afraid i'm too entrenched with the 4-string thing and not enchanted enough to consider other configurations. i have played 5-strings with a high C (friend's axes) and those instruments were more to my liking, but i just never got around to them for myself. at this stage in my game = too much trouble, too far off the beaten path.
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I tried to switch to 6 a few times. For some reason the switch from 4 to 5 was natural. But, for me, switching to 6 was going to require some adjustment period, and I really didn't have the free practice time to work on it. There are notes on a 5 string that can't be played on a 4. I know that playing across the board is easier, but I could always shift if I wanted to play higher notes. Plus, some notes have more 'weight' to them when played in a higher position. But, it's all genre specific, so I appreciate that others make 6 strings work for them.
This thread got me thinking and this is what I'm thinking. I can play a 5...sort of. I'm fortunate to have a EBMM Stingray Special 5 but every other bass in my collection is a 4. It's hard to find the motivation to pick up the 5 when it's so much easier to just play a 4. Obviously, I'm not proficient with the 5 because I don't play it enough. But I find that hard to do when I can easily pick up a 4 and focus on the music itself rather than the added challenge of fumbling with a 5.
I consider all my 4s to be keepers and I have no desire to sell any. So what I should do is practice some self discipline, put all the 4s in storage and force myself to play only the 5 string Stingray full-time. It won't be easy but I'm going to try that. Could be a New Year's resolution and much harder than dieting or exercise.
I consider all my 4s to be keepers and I have no desire to sell any. So what I should do is practice some self discipline, put all the 4s in storage and force myself to play only the 5 string Stingray full-time. It won't be easy but I'm going to try that. Could be a New Year's resolution and much harder than dieting or exercise.
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I don't play/own a 6 string for the same reason I don't play/own a 5 string - I don't need the extra strings.
D
I can barely tolerate the flimsiness of a high G string, but it's nice for melodies and I go there occasionally in walking bass lines. a high C is just too much outside the bass range for me. I do like the extended range down to low B so 5 is where I feel most comfortable.
I don't like the shape of the neck AND the extended range of a 6-string bass would be entirely lost on me.
Beyond that, the more strings you add, the less interchangeability you get with parts, and I enjoy the process of tweaking my axe too much to trade it for some extra notes I know will be rarely used.
But, to each his zone.
Beyond that, the more strings you add, the less interchangeability you get with parts, and I enjoy the process of tweaking my axe too much to trade it for some extra notes I know will be rarely used.
But, to each his zone.
...Because I prefer odd-numbered stringed basses. That said, I have two fivers, three sevens, and a nine. I like the sevens, so if I'm going to rock that many strings, why not one more? The more, the merrier.
Also, I don't always play a six string, but when I do, it's a guitar.
Also, I don't always play a six string, but when I do, it's a guitar.
As a diehard 6-er, I just think a lot of people simply don't need one. If you're pounding out eighth-notes in a classic rock band or something, a 4 is just fine. Playing jazz or other oddball stuff, absolutely.
That said, I have been digging my 6ers so much lately, my 5's are getting neglected. Haven't owned a 4 in over 20 years.
That said, I have been digging my 6ers so much lately, my 5's are getting neglected. Haven't owned a 4 in over 20 years.
I'm still trying to figure out how to play four strings.
I'm no Lennartney or Jaggards, but I recently got into 6-strings just to write stuff, since repeated attempts to enjoy/excel at playing guitar have failed miserably. I can't get my head around it. I find the C string useless for most bass lines--too twangy and thin--but great for working out chords. I play a 4-string in basement jams. If I ever play out again, it won't be with a 6!
If that was a determining factor, most of us wouldn't need more than 2 strings.
@el murdoque -
In no way am I implying your reasons are wrong for you. They did get me thinking, though, about how they sit with my perspective. Different strokes and all that, right?
1. Jaco only needed four.
Jaco's dead. I don't base my choices on what some guy 40 years ago that I never met plays. Anthony Jackson only needs 6, as does John Patitucci. And had 6'ers been a thing instead of an anomaly in his heyday, who knows? He may have loved one.
2. Leo got it right the first time.
We don't drive Model T's anymore, because designs on cars have improved (not comparing a Fender to a T, but why should I be limited to what was created something like 70 years ago?) The fact that there's a demand for more than 4 strings tells me Leo maybe didn't consider everything.
3. String choice is quite limited and changing strings is EXPENSIVE.
When you find the strings you like, it's not a problem. The extra 10 bucks isn't a deal-killer for me. I can always find DR Sunbeam 6'ers.
4. When you do your own setup, those six string necks are a test of patience. Either you have dual trussrods (which is scary), or you have a reinforced neck with single rod, but in any case, do a quarter turn, tune the bass and go on holidays for two weeks, the neck takes ages to set.
I have my dual-truss 6's set up quite quickly and easily. Do it twice a year, and never takes more than a day, if that.
5. Muting. Going from four to five feels like you need to wrap your brain around the fact that there's one more string now and once you got that into muscle memory, you're good to go. On a six, you can take the muting technique you learned on a 4 and toss it in the bin, re-learning right hand technique from square one.
Not hard, once you get it. Coming from a 5 made it easy. i don't even have to think about it.
6. Note choice. More often than not, you have the choice of playing that note by going one string lower (fatter) and five frets up or going one string down (skinnier) and five frets down. You need to make up your mind, because that fretboard buries you in options.
Not really, whatever's best just comes naturally, once you've done it long enough. I might think about that when I'm figuring out a tune, but it never comes up when I'm actually in the thick of it.
7. Weight. You think 9lbs is heavy for a bass? Go get a gym membership ASAP!
My Wal 5 string is almost 11 pounds, my EBMM is 10. My Bordwell fretless 6 is 9.5. I'm just used to heavy basses.
8. Cost. Buying a six will naturally set you back further than buying the same bass with less strings.
Depends on what one's budget is. I generally play customs, so I'm shelling out 3k+ no matter what I'm getting, but there are certainly affordable 6'ers. I started on a 6 string Hohner that I picked up for 450 bucks.
9. Learning the notes on that fretboard takes much longer because there are more strings.
Nah.
10. Intimidation. When you are in an audition, the guitarist will take a step back when you pull out a bass that has as many strings as their axe's got and they fear for their guitar's precious sonic personal space being invaded by a much bigger guitar, so they will much rather go with the other guy who brought a Fender P bass.
That's about knowing when to use the right tool. If I were playing in some classic rock/dadband situation, I wouldn't show up with a 6, I'd bring a 5. A jazz band or some other type of situation, generally the musicians are not gonna be intimidated. I don't play with insecure guitarists who would get uptight about that kinda stuff. I avoid guitarists like that like the plague.
11. Noodling. I mean just because you can does not mean you will, but having the option to go up two octaves and play a quick fill whenever you feel like it (or whenever there's room) certainly invites doing so.
That's what good musicianship is all about... knowing when not to noodle. There are no shortage of 4 string wankers.
These are my personal top reasons I could never be talked out of playing a 6.
In no way am I implying your reasons are wrong for you. They did get me thinking, though, about how they sit with my perspective. Different strokes and all that, right?
1. Jaco only needed four.
Jaco's dead. I don't base my choices on what some guy 40 years ago that I never met plays. Anthony Jackson only needs 6, as does John Patitucci. And had 6'ers been a thing instead of an anomaly in his heyday, who knows? He may have loved one.
2. Leo got it right the first time.
We don't drive Model T's anymore, because designs on cars have improved (not comparing a Fender to a T, but why should I be limited to what was created something like 70 years ago?) The fact that there's a demand for more than 4 strings tells me Leo maybe didn't consider everything.
3. String choice is quite limited and changing strings is EXPENSIVE.
When you find the strings you like, it's not a problem. The extra 10 bucks isn't a deal-killer for me. I can always find DR Sunbeam 6'ers.
4. When you do your own setup, those six string necks are a test of patience. Either you have dual trussrods (which is scary), or you have a reinforced neck with single rod, but in any case, do a quarter turn, tune the bass and go on holidays for two weeks, the neck takes ages to set.
I have my dual-truss 6's set up quite quickly and easily. Do it twice a year, and never takes more than a day, if that.
5. Muting. Going from four to five feels like you need to wrap your brain around the fact that there's one more string now and once you got that into muscle memory, you're good to go. On a six, you can take the muting technique you learned on a 4 and toss it in the bin, re-learning right hand technique from square one.
Not hard, once you get it. Coming from a 5 made it easy. i don't even have to think about it.
6. Note choice. More often than not, you have the choice of playing that note by going one string lower (fatter) and five frets up or going one string down (skinnier) and five frets down. You need to make up your mind, because that fretboard buries you in options.
Not really, whatever's best just comes naturally, once you've done it long enough. I might think about that when I'm figuring out a tune, but it never comes up when I'm actually in the thick of it.
7. Weight. You think 9lbs is heavy for a bass? Go get a gym membership ASAP!
My Wal 5 string is almost 11 pounds, my EBMM is 10. My Bordwell fretless 6 is 9.5. I'm just used to heavy basses.
8. Cost. Buying a six will naturally set you back further than buying the same bass with less strings.
Depends on what one's budget is. I generally play customs, so I'm shelling out 3k+ no matter what I'm getting, but there are certainly affordable 6'ers. I started on a 6 string Hohner that I picked up for 450 bucks.
9. Learning the notes on that fretboard takes much longer because there are more strings.
Nah.
10. Intimidation. When you are in an audition, the guitarist will take a step back when you pull out a bass that has as many strings as their axe's got and they fear for their guitar's precious sonic personal space being invaded by a much bigger guitar, so they will much rather go with the other guy who brought a Fender P bass.
That's about knowing when to use the right tool. If I were playing in some classic rock/dadband situation, I wouldn't show up with a 6, I'd bring a 5. A jazz band or some other type of situation, generally the musicians are not gonna be intimidated. I don't play with insecure guitarists who would get uptight about that kinda stuff. I avoid guitarists like that like the plague.
11. Noodling. I mean just because you can does not mean you will, but having the option to go up two octaves and play a quick fill whenever you feel like it (or whenever there's room) certainly invites doing so.
That's what good musicianship is all about... knowing when not to noodle. There are no shortage of 4 string wankers.
These are my personal top reasons I could never be talked out of playing a 6.
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Okay, the contrarian in me wants to say, "That wasn't the question".
But we'll shut him up and gladly say, "That's very nice, thanx for sharing!"...
I chuckled at the "I play bass", but it kinda sums-up a certain aspect of the role I've chosen as a bass player.
For the music I play, and the way I play, a six is just unnecessary. So the extra weight, string cost, neck width, are all negatives for me.
I love what some players do with them, and how they take the instrument beyond its traditional role, but I'm not that guy.
When I get in the mood to create in a more expanded way, with chords and melodies, and being the center of the arrangement, I'll just grab a guitar. I don't feel any drive to make my bass playing leave the accompaniment role.
Virtuoso composer/ soloist I'm not, and if I was, I'd play piano.
Played 4 for 56 years now. Was always content with that. Lately though, I've been considering altering one of my 9 basses to B_E_A_D. Whatever works for YOU is the way to go!!
