timmo Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Maybe a silly question, but why have more than 4 strings on a Bass? Are they better? Have they always been around, or is it a fairly recent occurence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I once posted this question so don't be too harsh on him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Oh and yes five is better usually played by better players Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I like showing off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1366394612' post='2052098'] Oh and yes five is better usually played by better players [/quote] Oh no they're not. [size=4] [/size] [size=4]Uh oh, here we go.[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBus Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Some players like to get down below the bottom E, so a fiver fits there. Others like to get up into guitar territory or play chords, so a sixer fits there. Some others don't want the low B but like the idea of chords and notes above a G, so a fiver tuned EADGC fits there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1366395101' post='2052108'] Some players like to get down below the bottom E, so a fiver fits there. Others like to get up into guitar territory or play chords, so a sixer fits there. Some others don't want the low B but like the idea of chords and notes above a G, so a fiver tuned EADGC fits there. [/quote] I don't do any of those thing very often but I do play across the board making things easier and also can play songs in different keys much easier if playing with different bands playing the same songs but in different keys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 A lot of modern music is best suited to very low bass notes, down to B or sometimes lower. A 5 string makes this possible without losing the upper range. Personally I don't do a hell of a lot of tapping so I don't necessarily 'need' a 6 string, but it helps me to be able to play a wider range of notes without my left hand whizzing up and down the fretboard so I always feel more comfortable using one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Five and six sting basses allow you to play lower and higher notes than a standard 4 string bass. They also give access to more notes with less left hand movement through playing across the neck rather than along it. Five and six basses have been around longer than you think... Fender first made the Bass VI (tuned like a guitar but an octave lower) in 1961 and the Bass V (normally tuned E-C) in 1965. The modern 5-string bass (tuned B-G) dates from the late 70s. I bought my first 5-string in 1989 and my oldest 5-string bass was made in 1983. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 Ahh ok.Thanks for the replies.Not something a beginner should worry themselves about then.I haven`t really noticed them until a few months ago.But when you take up a new hobby, you tend to notice things more.Like i always listen to the bassline closer than i used to when listening to music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Good post BRX but you forget to say if they are better or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='timmo' timestamp='1366396896' post='2052145'] Ahh ok.Thanks for the replies.Not something a beginner should worry themselves about then.I haven`t really noticed them until a few months ago.But when you take up a new hobby, you tend to notice things more.Like i always listen to the bassline closer than i used to when listening to music [/quote] Lots of people start on a five these days, probably easier if its something you want to do anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1366396919' post='2052147'] Good post BRX but you forget to say if they are better or not [/quote] For me, as someone who also plays guitar, they feel more comfortable, but that might also have something to do with the fact that I've hardly played any 4-string basses for the last 24 years. So as to what's best, that's up to each player to decide. I've recently been going through all my 4-string basses trying to decide if any are worth keeping, and for me the answer is "no". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 ... and the great majority of recorded music over the last 60 years has used a four string bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I've nonly been playing 40 years, so have not yet graduated beyond 4 strings. I might do so when I'm about 90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1366397462' post='2052157'] ... and the great majority of recorded music over the last 60 years has used a four string bass. [/quote] Quite a bit has been recorded on fives even if the live shows were not too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 Only old men who can't adapt, young things who STILL think vintage is cool and failed guitarists play four strings. Real bass players play fives. Play 6 or more..? Guitarist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='timmo' timestamp='1366396896' post='2052145'] Ahh ok.Thanks for the replies.Not something a beginner should worry themselves about then.I haven`t really noticed them until a few months ago.But when you take up a new hobby, you tend to notice things more.Like i always listen to the bassline closer than i used to when listening to music [/quote] I jumped straight from 4 to 6 strings after 2 years of playing, so don't rule it out if it interests you I did accidentally play the wrong string a lot while I was still getting to grips with it though To this day, I probably play a 4 and a 6 string about the same amount of time each, so you don't have to abandon one for the other. Oh, and yeah bass playing has totally changed the way I listen to music too! I feel the groove and nod in different places than, say, a guitarist would! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1366398085' post='2052169'] Quite a bit has been recorded on fives even if the live shows were not too [/quote] Very likely but the great majority was still done on four strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 I play 4's, quite fancy trying a 5 - will it make me a better player? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1366398447' post='2052182'] Very likely but the great majority was still done on four strings. [/quote] And all could of been done on a five but not on a four except the stuff done on a six stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1366399185' post='2052199'] I play 4's, quite fancy trying a 5 - will it make me a better player? [/quote] It has me 100% certain about it but its not for all, I won't be going back and since I broke my wrist and am struggling even with five a six looks more interesting than ever, we could put sir duke back in the set! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1366399524' post='2052207'] And all could of been done on a five but not on a four except the stuff done on a six stuff [/quote] But no one person has to do it all on one bass. You can use what you like, or at least what the producer likes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted April 19, 2013 Share Posted April 19, 2013 [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1366399894' post='2052216'] But no one person has to do it all on one bass. You can use what you like, or at least what the producer likes. [/quote] Then there is the bass synth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted April 19, 2013 Author Share Posted April 19, 2013 (edited) I am ruling out a 5 or 6 string at the present time, as i have blown all my meagre savings on buying a 4 string.Maybe in the future.Another thing that i have learned, it is very rare to find a one bass person, so i still have to add to my collection.I had the presence of mind to buy a 3 rack stand, so i have room for 2 more Edited April 19, 2013 by timmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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