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Why more than four strings?

#84
Bryan R. Tyler said:
Adding a wider range can open up a lot of possibilities for your playing that you wouldn't have known otherwise.

It's actually much more difficult to find "good" reasons to start out playing basses with less than five strings these days other than if the somewhat wider neck is physically uncomfortable for you (hand pain or too wide to effectively mute would fall into this category). There's nothing you can play on a four that you can't on a 5+, and a lot that you can't. It's like asking for a good reason for a guitar player to use more than four strings- bass guitar is an instrument, not a musical role.
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:D
 
#86
senorblues said:
Sorry, this was meant as a response to post 77, which seemed offensive.
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Sorry you took it that way. I didn't mean it to be offensive. I have limitations too. I just dont think its a good thing to impose my limitations on someone else, and I tend to over react when I see that going on (if that makes sence) Just for the record, I limit my self to 6 strings and below. I have no use for anything more than that (right now) But I won't question some ones decision to play what suits them. Whether thats a 4 string or a 11 string or anything in between.
 
#87
senorblues said:
Are there any good reasons why 5 and 6 string basses are so popular?
E seems plenty low enough and I don't understand why anyone would want a wider neck. Is it just a fad or craze?
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all people who play bass are crazy, anyway...the more strings, the crazier you are...

Take Stew McKinsey, for instance..."He mucho loco!" :D

As I get older, I can feel my sanity slipping away...I may get a 6 or even a 7 string soon...
 
#89
20db pad said:
Did somebody already do the "1998 called and it wants its thread back" joke yet?
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:D

I am curious how 5 and 6 strings could be considered a fad or a craze when they were first invented over thirty years ago and have been widely commercially available for nearly over fifteen years.
 
#90
senorblues said:
More strings makes you a better player? Good for you.
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Yes and no. actually it can make you better in the way that I said before. try playing a low g minor scale skipping thirds on a 4 vs. a 6. it’s faster and easier on the 6. it’s not just the low g minor skipping thirds it’s all sorts of scales. think about it, if something takes less effort to play you can play it that much longer, making you a better player. although I do personally think it’s more impressive and fun if you can do it on a one string or no strings at all. that’s one more reason why I play a 4 can ya dig? If you want to play on any given number of strings go ahead and do so. it can limit you or it can expand your options. ether way you can still be the best or worst in the harts and minds of many. :cool:
 
#91
Bryan R. Tyler said:
:D

I am curious how 5 and 6 strings could be considered a fad or a craze when they were first invented over thirty years ago and have been widely commercially available for nearly over fifteen years.
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I think I'm going to go with the goes-up-to-11 analysis myself - 5 and 6 holers go up to 11 (and Derek Smalls, you'll notice, plays a 5 string a fair bit too).


LS
 
#92
It's just a plank of wood with strings stretched across it, put as many strings as you feel like on the thing. It seems like so many people here are extremely small/close minded about how to create music. There's no rules man, it's just pretty noises... make them however works best for you and stop worrying about if you or anyone else is "doing it right."
 
#95
baalroo said:
It's just a plank of wood with strings stretched across it, put as many strings as you feel like on the thing. It seems like so many people here are extremely small/close minded about how to create music. There's no rules man, it's just pretty noises... make them however works best for you and stop worrying about if you or anyone else is "doing it right."
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:hyper::bassist::hyper::bassist::hyper:
 
#96
20db pad said:
Did somebody already do the "1998 called and it wants its thread back" joke yet?
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LOL! At first I thought it this was something that someone had dredged from the archives. I did a double take when I saw the start date. Mark your calendars: Dec 2008, New Mexico gets its first internet connection! :smug:

I think the "fad" ended about 5 years ago when a fiver became the standard. Just go into a GC and see what's hanging on the wall. Playing a four is "retro" these days (nothing against those locked in the past). ;):D

I'm still having a hard time believing this thread is for real. What's next? The "Why would someone spend more than $300 for a bass?" thread? C'mon. :rollno:
 
#99
lump said:
LOL! At first I thought it this was something that someone had dredged from the archives. I did a double take when I saw the start date. Mark your calendars: Dec 2008, New Mexico gets its first internet connection! :smug:

I think the "fad" ended about 5 years ago when a fiver became the standard. Just go into a GC and see what's hanging on the wall. Playing a four is "retro" these days (nothing against those locked in the past). ;):D

I'm still having a hard time believing this thread is for real. What's next? The "Why would someone spend more than $300 for a bass?" thread? C'mon. :rollno:
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Kiss my SX!
 
#100
senorblues said:
2 strings were enough for this guy-
Check out Morphine:
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Yeah, and look how young he died. The direct result of using too few strings. Those seeking out 11 and 12-string basses? They're really seeking eternal life.
 

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