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Why play a 6 string?
- Thread starter castleshade13
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Sometimes, but that's irrespective of the number of strings, and totally dependent on the player.
Jimmy Haslip of the Yellowjackets has played a 6-string for 10+ years and has numerous beautiful, soulful, inspiring solos:
Revelation ("25" (live album))
Jacketown ("25")
Motet ("Mint Jam", another live album)
Sea Folk ("Time Squared"- studio version, "25" - live version)
... many more
Here's a youtube vid of him playing a solo to "Spirit of the West" (solo starts about 45 seconds in):
I agree with the others here who are telling you that your band has no authority over your choice of your instrument, your sound, your voice. How would your drummer feel if you suggested that s/he lose a few toms?
Bryan R. Tyler
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Tell 'em that Bryan R. Tyler plays six-strings. That oughta be enough to convince them 
You can probably fill a phone book with all the bad bass solos out there. That's true. That said, you can probably fill an ocean with all the phone books worth of bad guitar solos out there.
Never believe that your instrument must fill a certain role no matter what unless you're in a cover band.
You can probably fill a phone book with all the bad bass solos out there. That's true. That said, you can probably fill an ocean with all the phone books worth of bad guitar solos out there.
Never believe that your instrument must fill a certain role no matter what unless you're in a cover band.
Sounds like your bandmates have little dongs. I think you are threatening to take your guitardist's pussy. I used a pick in the beginning because I wasn't supposed to. I played solos because you weren't supposed to. Do it to keep rock n roll rebellion alive. I had the extra string(s) phobia for years until I got a 5 string. Now I like being able to do MORE and being rebellious. I would even suggest joining up with some cooler bandmates. Who wants to ride around all day long for 30 mins onstage with a bunch of dorks.
Ok....as a 6er, here is my "offical" eval.
1. The number of strings does not affect intonation. Being set up poorly will affect intonation.
2. Heavier? Depends on the brand. My Conklin is a beast, but a lot lighter than some EB and Fenders I've played. My Rob Allen 6er is about 8lbs, so lighter than a lot of basses out there.
3. It's not hard to handle a 6er. Having a comfortable and stable neck profile is critical, but how the bass handles is none of their business because you're the one handling it.
4. Narrow spacing is a little more challenging for slapping, but not impossible. I learned on narrow spaced basses before I was even aware that you could pick string spacing. I now have a narrow and a wide 6. I honestly lean towards narrow spacing because the neck feels faster to me, although slapping is not a top priority for me. If you have a budget, you can have any spacing you want.
5. I'll tell ya what, in an era where guitards are tuning to our A, I'm not taking any lip on where our range is supposed to stop. Somehow uneducated guitards think they own several octaves while a bassist, typically with a deeper background in music, is allowed 1-1.5 octaves?! Gimme a break.
6. Again, of all the noodling guitar solos out there, I don't take much lip. If your guitarist can write a better solo than this, he can talk.
I was just watching the DVD of Clapton's 2004 Crossroads Concert. There's this guy backing him up on a beautiful white 6-string Nathan East Bass. Doesn't seem to be having any intonation problems. I believe his name is Nathan East. (Actually there are no credits anywhere on the DVD except for the guitarists. Very annoying. NE is playing a 6 version of his signature bass).
No way! I love Lesh but didn't know he ever played a 6 string. Schweet! One more cool guy to add to the list!
Exclamation points!
View attachment Photo 8.jpgUnless some miraculous gig comes through to back up Jeff Beck, I'll play six strings. Oh yeah, he digs chick bass players these days
I mentioned getting a 6 string to my band last week, 80% were giddy. They were upset I didn't have it tonight when we played tonight. 
It's not just jazz players who use a sixer. Jojo from Los Lonely Boys plays a six. He plays chords. And they are playing Tex/Mex!
If you want a six, get it.
And, if you want to solo, play chords, slap, tap, or anything else, don't let narrow minded people hold you back. Get the bass, woodshed like crazy, and see what you can come up with!
If you want a six, get it.
And, if you want to solo, play chords, slap, tap, or anything else, don't let narrow minded people hold you back. Get the bass, woodshed like crazy, and see what you can come up with!
You seem to equate the idea of a bass solo with slapping. I'm shocked you aren't as expectant to this reception with such a closed minded attitude.
I personally am hesitant to advance to a 6-string bass due to the complication of things for my fretting hand but everyone is different. Do not let your band members dictate how you expand your arsenal.
im gonna have to say none of the jazzier solos do it for me, but this little drum tracked piece by Mr Myung definitely does:
Ric5
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Why play a 6 string?
Because you want to! No other reasons are needed! Do you tell your drummer what drums he can play? Do you tell your guitarist what guitar he can play? They have no right to tell you what bass you can play!
Some bands seem to think the bass player is a second class citizen who they can tell what to do.
Because you want to! No other reasons are needed! Do you tell your drummer what drums he can play? Do you tell your guitarist what guitar he can play? They have no right to tell you what bass you can play!
Some bands seem to think the bass player is a second class citizen who they can tell what to do.
Light metal, the newest genre!
I say we call it....
Aluminum-core!!!
I've never seen the need for a six string in any of the bands I've been in, but then again, I don't do solos and don't ever plan on it.
If it's your cup of tea, it's your cup of tea. In my experience of playing heavier music, the more you follow the root notes, the heavier and tighter the music sounds.
If it's your cup of tea, it's your cup of tea. In my experience of playing heavier music, the more you follow the root notes, the heavier and tighter the music sounds.
Maybe not a necessity, but definitely more than a luxury. If I want to pedal a note on the B or E string, and pop a tenth, or the second octave, it's necessary. I don't have to do that, but if I want to, I need that sixth string. If your fingers are six inches long, you won't need it for that situation. Mine aren't. My hands are small.
One of my solos requires the sixth string, I go up to the 22nd fret on the sixth string. Also, on another original, I slap chords on the intro and during the guitar solo. You can do that with a four or five stringer, but you get mud on the ADG strings. DGC works great for chords.
The lowest and highest notes on a six are nice to have, but the main reason that I love 6 stringers is so that I can play in Eb, so I can play in E without using an open string, so I can play in F, F# and G without having to play in first position, so that I can do two and a half octave runs without shifting my hands, so that I can can grab a root and a tenth on the B and D, E and G, & A and C strings.
The extra low notes and high notes are cool too. But I spend 90% of my time between the fifth and fifteenth fret.
If you want a six, get one. Forget what the guys in your band say. Me, I play five and six. And in a month or so, I will be getting my first seven. Those guys in your band would really love me.
One of my solos requires the sixth string, I go up to the 22nd fret on the sixth string. Also, on another original, I slap chords on the intro and during the guitar solo. You can do that with a four or five stringer, but you get mud on the ADG strings. DGC works great for chords.
The lowest and highest notes on a six are nice to have, but the main reason that I love 6 stringers is so that I can play in Eb, so I can play in E without using an open string, so I can play in F, F# and G without having to play in first position, so that I can do two and a half octave runs without shifting my hands, so that I can can grab a root and a tenth on the B and D, E and G, & A and C strings.
The extra low notes and high notes are cool too. But I spend 90% of my time between the fifth and fifteenth fret.
If you want a six, get one. Forget what the guys in your band say. Me, I play five and six. And in a month or so, I will be getting my first seven. Those guys in your band would really love me.
Ric5
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Buy the bass you want to play and just show up and play it. If they don't like it too bad. that is their problem ... not yours!
No, I equate bad solos with slapping.
That was sweet, nice and understated, if he were Victor Wooten he would've ruined the whole thing by putting some lame slap bass solo half way through.
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