Why play a four string?

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

I primarily gig with my 5 string fretless these days, because my music requires those low notes. I also used to think like you, "why would I play a 4 again?" Then I got a gig with a traditional-minded artist in Nashville who didn't like the image of my bass (let's not get into that please - not relevant and it's long ago), so I found a 70s fender P. It had the looks the artist wanted, but what surprised me is this: I liked how I thought and played on the 4. Moving up and down the neck where before I would move across on the 5 unlocked some sort of door for me, and my lines got much more creative and interesting. I think differently with a 4 in my hands, and I really like where it leads me.

Like I said, I still gig primarily with my 5, but I'll never be without a 4 again if I can help it, and I use a 4 a lot in my solo project.

So that's why I personally play a 4 when I can, even though I'm very experienced with 5s. It's different for everyone, of course.

... it took some time to me to master the fretboard of the 4-strings basses I play; however, now I easily travel over it, switching from key to key with some limitations in the high register due to the neck width there (in any case, running up and down the neck is a requirement when playing melodies or soloing, so it is something that we, as bass players, sooner or later have to come to terms with)..
A 5-strings bass extends the instrument’s possibilities in the low register (in a context where the extra notes can be discerned), but I frankly don’t see many other extra advantages of a 5-strings bass over a 4-strings one.

Edit:

Maybe, as Scott Devine says, I’m just too used to 4-strings basses and I’ll think of a 5-strings one as a 4-stringer with an added string, which, in my case, will likely become a long thumbrest.
Here’s his point of view on the matter, which, I believe, is substantially neutral:

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Why would anyone do anything differently than I do it?

 

[BarfanyShart]

I went back to a four, but changed my tuning to CGDA. My BG was a 5 string for 15 years, but I was primarily a DB guy and I have to admit I never felt at home on 5 strings. Now everything I got is four strings.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

One less string to purchase and intonate. And I’m going to mooch off of my cake again.
View attachment 3714965

... took the words out of my mouth !

 

[chris_b]

If you've matched the instrument to your requirements then all is good.

 

[RayLawrenceJr]

I wrestled with the title of this post.

I have been a four string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” lower register. A lot of music diving down to low D, C and even B.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo fake Fender fiver I pulled the trigger on a quality fiver.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a four string anymore. I can play everything on the five. Even if I never drop below the E it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last four string I had for 7 years. And we had a bond. But when the fiver came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1600 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in four string entirely.

I understand fivers aren’t for everyone.

Some people have small hands. Same here. I tried them all. Well those I could afford. I’m sure Alembic make a very lovable fiver. But I love my house too.

No one was more surprised as I was that Fender made the five string bass I would love so much.

And after a great while playing only fives I wonder why anyone wouldn’t just play those and let the four just go extinct.

I’m sure the flamers are writhing their hands as they read this.

I think I just heard a MMBWAAAAHAHAHAHA in the distance.

My point is I moved away from fours and I don’t see any reason to ever go back.

So I doubled down.

View attachment 3714769

I wrestled with the title of this post.

I have been a four string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” lower register. A lot of music diving down to low D, C and even B.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo fake Fender fiver I pulled the trigger on a quality fiver.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a four string anymore. I can play everything on the five. Even if I never drop below the E it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last four string I had for 7 years. And we had a bond. But when the fiver came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1600 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in four string entirely.

I understand fivers aren’t for everyone.

Some people have small hands. Same here. I tried them all. Well those I could afford. I’m sure Alembic make a very lovable fiver. But I love my house too.

No one was more surprised as I was that Fender made the five string bass I would love so much.

And after a great while playing only fives I wonder why anyone wouldn’t just play those and let the four just go extinct.

I’m sure the flamers are writhing their hands as they read this.

I think I just heard a MMBWAAAAHAHAHAHA in the distance.

My point is I moved away from fours and I don’t see any reason to ever go back.

So I doubled down.

View attachment 3714769

Nothing wrong with having a 5 string bass. Some genres would require it. If you are playing country or blues you could still use one but for most gigs you can get the job done with the 4 string. Get what you like. If you add one to your arsenal then you can have it as needed or even use it as a backup bass. Sometimes it's fun to switch it up. Part of being a musician is to be creative.

 

[fishdreams]

I see cello players (and all the lefthand shifting they do) and i rather re-tune in 5ths on a 4 string than get a fiver, if I'd really need the extra notes

 

[OptimalOptimus]

I had that thought very early on.
I only played a 5 for a few years before moving to 6 because the way I saw music the 6 would make more sens to me.

I played only 6 for like a decade if not more before buying a 4 again.

I think people who can’t play a 5 or 6 is just because of their technique. Muting is different and less forgiving than on a 4 and well some people can’t get pass that.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I wrestled with the title of this post.

I have been a four string player for a long time (longer than I’m going to tell anyone).

But as music has progressed, last year I found myself in need of the “even” lower register. A lot of music diving down to low D, C and even B.

So after a torrid affair with a cheapo fake Fender fiver I pulled the trigger on a quality fiver.

After a little acclimation I seem to have it well in hand now.

And besides the lower notes I have found the greater freedom of horizontal playing.

I still move up and down the board. You know some old habits will never die.

But I now see no reason to have a four string anymore. I can play everything on the five. Even if I never drop below the E it gives me many choices I didn’t have before. And I find that liberating.

My last four string I had for 7 years. And we had a bond. But when the fiver came into the picture it went into the case and sat for three months.

I don’t think anybody wants to sit a $1600 bass in its case for months let alone years.

I released it about a month ago. While I miss it I have new friends now. And have lost interest in four string entirely.

I understand fivers aren’t for everyone.

Some people have small hands. Same here. I tried them all. Well those I could afford. I’m sure Alembic make a very lovable fiver. But I love my house too.

No one was more surprised as I was that Fender made the five string bass I would love so much.

And after a great while playing only fives I wonder why anyone wouldn’t just play those and let the four just go extinct.

I’m sure the flamers are writhing their hands as they read this.

I think I just heard a MMBWAAAAHAHAHAHA in the distance.

My point is I moved away from fours and I don’t see any reason to ever go back.

So I doubled down.

View attachment 3714769

I play both. There is a significant different tone playing low E in the first position and an E in the 5th position on the B string. Like you having played a 4 string for decades, I find the difference in timbre playing older material that was played on a 4 string problematic, not to mention having the extra neck and B string dampening to deal with. JMO. I’ll agree that for more modern music, you need a 5 string.

 

[joel406]

Well actually it's become more than the five extra notes.

It's also the positions. I'm enjoying staying in one area of the neck. And the extended slide possibilities.

I feel now a five can do everything a four can but a four can't do everything a five can.

And I've found many songs that just work better with five string even though they were originally (probably) done on a four.

For me the four string has out lived it's appeal.

 

[fcleff]

No, I'm not.

Yes, you will.

 

[joel406]

... it took some time to me to master the fretboard of the 4-strings basses I play; however, now I easily travel over it, switching from key to key with some limitations in the high register due to the neck width there (in any case, running up and down the neck is a requirement when playing melodies or soloing, so it is something that we, as bass players, sooner or later have to come to terms with)..
A 5-strings bass extends the instrument’s possibilities in the low register (in a context where the extra notes can be discerned), but I frankly don’t see many other extra advantages of a 5-strings bass over a 4-strings one.

Edit:

Maybe, as Scott Devine says, I’m just too used to 4-strings basses and I’ll think of a 5-strings one as a 4-stringer with an added string, which, in my case, will likely become a long thumbrest.
Here’s his point of view on the matter, which, I believe, is substantially neutral:

I saw that video. A long time ago. I think he's wrong.

 

[fcleff]

Man, you guys suck at the Jaco game.

 

[J_Bass]

Man, you guys suck at the Jaco game.

Gimme a gig!!

 

[zubrycky]

Yes, you will.

Maybe yes, maybe no. Who knows what will happen in the future?

 

[zubrycky]

I went back to a four, but changed my tuning to CGDA. My BG was a 5 string for 15 years, but I was primarily a DB guy and I have to admit I never felt at home on 5 strings. Now everything I got is four strings.

I never had a 5 string but one of my 4's had its tuning changed to CGDA.

 

[dramatwist]

Why? Why not? Play what you want.

 

[JRA]

Why play a four string?

Because threes are not commercially available.

To me a five is a four with options.

sure, but to cats like me: a four is a 'streamlined five' with an abundance of succinctness.

 

[Maxdusty]

I also, am Jaco

et moi aussi! Je suis Jaco!

Not all bassists are Jaco, we call them 5 string bass players.

Geez, this is all starting to sound like a T-Shirt slogan.

 

[Reiska]

This post not intended for "hired gun" recording musicians that are obligated to play someone else's composition or get fired.

It always cracks me up when people say they "need" the low B or D or whatever. Just about every song ever written can be played on a kazoo or uke or by a 4th grade class full of recorders. Music is an art to be interpreted by the musician and the listener.

It's just music. Have fun with it. Live audiences will never know if you played the D an octave up. They are too busy singing along and talking with their friends.

I play 99,999% percent of time a big a** 4-string double bass with gut strings but with that said, the low notes ain`t a joke and is definently something that goes right into body and soul of everyone. The low low low frequencies that are felt as much as they are heard are the ones with biggest impact on us human beeings -This is evolutionary biology, those low frequencies can be found in huge sounds of nature, thunderstorms, eartquakes and riverfalls roaring. I don`t think there`s too many people who doesn`t react to church organ low pipes, no matter religious or not. It`s pretty deep in our DNA.