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Why play a four string?
- Thread starter joel406
- Start date
I could probably do with a 5 string because my band keeps lowering the keys of songs and I have to octave-up certain notes. But if I use one and like it I won’t be able to use my 4 strings again if I start to rely on the lower notes (rather than playing the octave up on the 4). I have some nice 4s. I don’t want to have to replace them. I don’t want to swap basses between songs. I have a backup bass but only need it if the main one breaks.
Sorry if I have offended you in no way meant to. The only reason I used those examples is that those instruments like Cello, Bassoon, Contra Bass Bassoon, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, actually play in the lowest registers.
Their technical exercises are well suited for the electric bass. I was a proponent of the five string for quite a few years. (please see my earlier posts in this thread.)
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If it’s any consolation, I use a modified cello tuning for my four...
B G D A.
Looking at cello tuning gave me the idea.
Thare are even a few metal bassists who play four string. Slipknot's had two basses on stage, one tuned in drop D and one in drop A. Bongwater's plays a four in F standard sometimes, like nearly an octave below standard tuning.
I know a guy that does this. He happens to be a cellist first but does a lot of electric bass work. Nobody ever wants to try his bass...
Lol, because they can’t! I’ve tried to convert a few, with zero success.
I imagine it would take A LOT of work to learn 5ths tuning coming from 4ths.
It's not as bad as you might think. I made the switch over the past year, and the main thing is just the mental hurdle of committing to it. The legend is that Red Mitchell locked himself up for two weeks relearning his bass in fifths and came out a monster - and that actually sounds plausible to me now.
I wasn't offended! I wasn't arguing with your experience or approach, simply noting how I approach things. And I have seen at least some of your posts. I'm enjoying the discussion. (Trombone was my first instrument; it was nice to finally end back up in the low end after years of wrestling with guitars.)
Yes but you can still utilize a multi-scale and go across the fingerboard, thereby being more efficient when necessary. Less shifting is always a bonus.
I’ve written plenty of lines on my 6 that I’ve attempted on my 4. I can certainly do them on the 4, but the movement of my left hand is far more efficient on the 6.
(.120-132)(.85-.95)(~.65, any d)(.37-.45). Basically, for whatever scale you're working with, you want a regular B and D, a light E or heavy A, and a light G. Easy solution is a light or extra light 5-string set. It's enough of a thing in DB world that there are commercially-available sets, hopefully that happens for BG someday.
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Bass is bass, baby. It either has that swing or it doesn't. If more than four strings gets you there, I applaud you for finding your truth.
I went more than a decade without touching a four. Now I'm approaching the same time period without a fiver. I never missed what I didn't have.
What I like about fours is, with the dominant Fender standard, they are easy to modify.
The music I make with a four or a five is the same. The constant is me.
Everybody's got a thing.
I went more than a decade without touching a four. Now I'm approaching the same time period without a fiver. I never missed what I didn't have.
What I like about fours is, with the dominant Fender standard, they are easy to modify.
The music I make with a four or a five is the same. The constant is me.
Everybody's got a thing.
I was turned to fiver like five years ago, but I still have a 4 (and short scale even) because it is a SG Bass model that sound is unique and when you need that sound...well, no choice. But to people who need to play lower but love the 4, why not just get a 5 string strings pack and put on just the lower ones?
That was mentioned before, BEAD tuning makes a lot of sense, but you usually have to file the E string nut and bridge saddle to accommodate, so it’s not quite a zero-mod change. You lose some high register, but I’d find it a much easier transition for small/average size hands like mine.
Your hands would have to be extremely tiny to not be able to reach the B string. I have small hands and gigged a 6 string Brubaker for about 6 months with no problem.
Only you know your true limitations but I wouldn't sell yourself short.
