5 string/6 string. what is the point?

[timmo]

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?

[stingrayPete1977]

I once posted this question so don't be too harsh on him

[stingrayPete1977]

Oh and yes five is better usually played by better players

[voxpop]

I like showing off.

[BassBus]

[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]

[BassBus]

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.

[stingrayPete1977]

[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.

[chrismuzz]

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.

[BigRedX]

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.

[timmo]

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

[stingrayPete1977]

Good post BRX but you forget to say if they are better or not

[stingrayPete1977]

[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.

[BigRedX]

[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".

[EssentialTension]

... and the great majority of recorded music over the last 60 years has used a four string bass.

[FinnDave]

I've nonly been playing 40 years, so have not yet graduated beyond 4 strings. I might do so when I'm about 90.

[stingrayPete1977]

[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

[Kiwi]

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.

[chrismuzz]

[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!

[EssentialTension]

[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.

[LukeFRC]

I play 4's, quite fancy trying a 5 - will it make me a better player?

[stingrayPete1977]

[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

[stingrayPete1977]

[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!

[EssentialTension]

[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.

[stingrayPete1977]

[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

[timmo]

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