Why don’t you play a six-string bass?

[dbsfgyd1]

I bought my first six-string bass this summer after playing four-string basses exclusively for over 15 years. Honestly, I can't imagine going back to four (Ok, I could probably do with a five). Having the extended range of the B and, although to a lower degree, the C strings without losing what makes a four a four seems like a no brainer.

Why haven't you made the change to a six or even five string bass already?

'I'm 71 and still getting over the trauma from getting a 5 string at age 65…

Seriously, I play guitar and finger pick well so a switch to a 6er would not be an issue other than polishing muting technique. Truth be told, I don't play the type of music where a 6 string bass would be that useful. Then there is the cost..

But, I will say I have heard some beautiful art from masters playing a string, kind of a classical style, that blew me away.

 

[pb9717]

I moved from 5's, which I played for 20 years exclusively, back to 4's. Why? I didn't need 4 extra notes. ( I have a D tuner on my 4) The 4 is like a feather compared to the 5. I began taking lessons again after playing for 40 years, and the fastest way to realize 4 strings is more than enough is to try learning difficult music. Learn Berlins "tears from heaven" arrangement. Learn some Bach cello etudes. Try Berlins " Joe Frazier"…..You simply don't need extended range, when you challenge yourself on a 4 string. I played 5's for years because I needed the lowest notes for the songs my club date band was doing. I now rarely need those notes with my current gig ( I still use a 5 for a portion of the night) I strongly suggest mastering a 4 before jumping to more strings. IMHO.

 

[Altitude]

I have one and I love it. It's my Skjold '92, a 2006 build I've had since new.

It's light and sounds amazing. But I don't play it on many gigs these days.

When I bought it I was playing with a very music-y chopsy band where a six string made sense, optically and as a tool. These days I've mostly been playing in cover groups and I am the kind of guy who does think it's a little weird to show up with a six string bass and play 867-5309 Jenny. So I take my Valenti J or my P-bass to those gigs.

I just had the 6 refinished and I'm looking forward to playing it out again soon. Here it is with the old finish.

 

[TrevorG]

Recently went back to four after years on five. Great fun. Don't miss the weight. I never have enough to say on six strings. One of the outer strings will be wasted on me at any one time.

 

[coyote1]

6 strings make more and more sense the more i play them. i got my first one in 2003 or 2004 i think.

What I like about six strings is the ability to play all that's needed for nearly any song in one position.

 

[cnltb]

Why don't you play a six-string bass?
I have not heard a high C-string I liked.

 

[factory presets]

I like low notes. I can express myself over three octaves. I like 5 strings and I have some 4s in BEAD tuning. But I've never really felt like I was missing anything by not having a C String.

 

[Knavery]

I have six string instruments... They're called guitars. I don't need them in my basses. I prefer four for those.

 

[MrLenny1]

All my axes are 5 strings and one is E A D G C for fun.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

The reason I don't play six string bass is this:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[bucephylus]

Troll thread.

OP lit the match and must be enjoying his popcorn.

Some gigs make appropriate use of extended ranges. Others don't. Use of the appropriate bass for the gig makes sense to me.

 

[Core Creek]

I don't play 4's or 5's. I haven't owned a 4 in probably 2 decades and I switched over to 6 right before Covid. Once I got used to it I sold off all my 5's.

I remember what made me switch. There was a used Kiesel icon at my local Sam Ash for a steal but it had an extra string! So I had to give it a try. I started doing a funk blues thing where I do this modal lick that in the key of G moves me to the G string and when I tried in on the IV (C) all I had to do was move down a string. The lightbulb lit up and I realized how versatile it would be to have the reach right there instead of having to move up the neck.

Now I only use 6 because it's just what I'm used to and I don't want to think too much between gigs. With my current band there are only three songs that I actually use the high string, but when it's not there it's disorienting- I know because I popped my high string right before going on at a gig the other night!

I no longer tune the high string to C though - I tune it to a B. I've been playing guitar as long as bass and do a lot of soloing and it's just easier to use the scale forms I know from the guitar without having to compensate for that one half step difference. Not that I'm soloing much on bass these days. But when I do, there's less to think about. I also switched to headless bass to cut down the weight and I happen to like narrow spacing. Yeah, it's tight for slap but I slap maybe 3% of the time.

 

[zenrad]

I'm fine with a 5 but the few times I played a 6 that top string confused me. I'm sure I could get past it but I don't see a real need, I'm not the type of player that could really benefit from it. I've seen guys do chord-melody solos and so on with them, for those folks it makes sense to me. While no one would be surprised to see me show up with a 6 given the genre of music I play, for me it would just be an unnecessary Phil decoration.

I still have an active curiosity about a 6, Oteil really encourages using one, but he's Oteil If I could find a cheap one I'd give it a whirl, maybe a Glarry just for fun. For the cost of a nice dinner I could see if it has any real practical use for me.

 

[Core Creek]

Also if I play a 4 or 5 for too long it starts to degrade my proficiency on the 6.

This is why I only play 6. It's a degradable skill… I'd rather have the extra string and not use it than get used to not having the extra string and messing up when I do.

 

[Core Creek]

Because the bands I play with don't need or require a sixer. If you show up to an audition with a six you're probably not getting the gig.

I actually find the opposite. Showing up to an audition with a 6 garners a certain amount of respect. I've had zero problems getting gigs playing one.

 

[othefool]

Because Mark Sandman only needed 2.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Because hand pain and my ability to use hands without pain is how I make my living (I.T. Administration). Cost for string change and spacing are also factors, but hand pain is the primary reason I don't use 6's

 

[JRT64]

Had two 5'ers once upon a time. I soon found that I really did not need them, so I sold both. A 6 string??? LOL! I could never get my hand to work with that wide a neck even if I wanted to. I'll stick with my 4 stringers. They are all I need at this point anymore.

 

[MCS4]

I bought one something like twenty years ago and returned it during the free trial period. I hated the huge neck, didn't like feeling completely lost with all my patterns with the extra strings, and didn't feel at that time that the extra strings would benefit me much. During most of the time after that my primary bands have been rock/metal acts using various lowered tunings where I found it easier to use a four string tuned to match the guitars rather than standard-tuned 5 or 6. While I did own a fiver during part of that time period, I never used it much and later sold it.

A couple of years ago or so I finally bought a five-string bass (low B) that I really like, and I have been playing it quite a bit (although not with my main band). I could potentially use it as my main bass if I ever have a gig where the low B would be particularly useful and it seems important to play in standard tuning. Otherwise I'll still probably use one of my 4s in standard or detuned. I don't really have any use for a high C other than for playing around and writing stuff at home, which is stuff I could cover by restringing my current 5 or just playing guitar... certainly not enough that it would make me want to deal with a six string bass neck regularly.

 

[coy garcia]

I've played them, not my thing...I'd rather shift positions.