Uses for a 5 string bass

[notCardio]

OK, now I never wanted a 5 before, but I played one I really liked. I just can't convince myself. If they'd had it in a 4, I would've gotten it, but I think it's a strictly 5 model. Anyway, I don't really like the sub-bass heavy stuff. I'm a classic rock/mild funk/light jazz/weird stuff kinda guy. Not that I can play all that, but I hope to work on it. I can see me getting a set of bass pedals for old-style prog before I can see getting a 5.

Would a guy like me find any use for a 5 string?

[thewanderer24]

First off, there are only 5 more notes on the 5. It's not about the huge extended range.

One of the biggest things you get on a 5 is having choices of where to play certain things. Depending on what and how you play it can be a lot easier on your hand to play the same groove line up in 5th or 6th position instead of at the headstock on a 4 string. Also, a 5 string should help you avoid a lot of shifting you'd have to do on a 4 string.

If you play with horns a lot, and get a lot of songs in flat keys, you will really like having that low Eb.

Ultimately, whether you want 5 (or more) strings is up to you and what you hope to gain from it.

[Phildo]

Or instead of going 5-string, you could just detune the low E on a standard 4 string until it flaps around and sounds like a bag of cock. It'll give you pretty much the same effect, really.

Face it, Leo got it right first time round.

[notCardio]

All I could think was that I'm not playing hip hop or industrial metal, so why do I need to go that low?

And I'm still trying to figure what to do with 4. If I get that close to right, I'll be happy. And being an old codger, old dogs and new tricks, you know?

Maybe it's time to give myself a new challenge, though. But I'm really, really lazy to begin with. Hmmm.

And believe it or not, it was an OLP. I know, I couldn't believe it either. I usually think they're crap, but I swear this one was sweet, and the looks were just made for me. And it was dirt cheap. But I still feel like I'd be throwing my $ away on something I'd never play.

Thanks for the input, and the fresh perspective. We'll see.

[Dogman]

I like my 5.....I do play alot of low B music, but also, as was pointed out, if I don't need to play all open strings, I can play the E up on the 5th fret, and roll from there.

[Chris Shaeffer]

The low string is a wicked place to rest your thumb, too.

I dip down to the 5 all the time, especially playing up the neck. Makes some passages much easier to play.

Has to be a good bass, though- poorly made ones will bottom out, not have good tone on the lower notes, etc.

Take care,
Chris

[notCardio]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaeffer

The low string is a wicked place to rest your thumb, too.

Speaking of that, I'm planning on putting thumb rests on a couple of basses. I miss those, I don't really know why they quit putting them on.

Just thought I'd share.

[zed32]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaeffer

The low string is a wicked place to rest your thumb, too.

I dip down to the 5 all the time, especially playing up the neck. Makes some passages much easier to play.

Has to be a good bass, though- poorly made ones will bottom out, not have good tone on the lower notes, etc.

Take care,
Chris

i agree. i've played almost exclusively 5 string basses for almost 10 years now, and it's not all about using the extra 5 lower notes, but more about using the 5th string to make certain things easier to play. you'll have a wider range of notes at your immediate disposal.

and yes, if all else fails, it's a wicked thumb rest.

[Jouni]

....there's an old joke of a 4-stringer given a 5-string to play, and when asked how he liked it, answered the bassist: "Not too bad, but the strap was tight as hell!"

[notbradsohner]

I use my 5 string to easily make runs down to lower notes when I am higher up on the freboard. Its nice being able to hit the 6th or 7th fret on the low string instead of going down the the 1st or second on the e string.

[Unsprung]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaeffer

The low string is a wicked place to rest your thumb, too.

That's what I usually joke that the 5th string is good for. Last month, I'd tried out a used Epiphone EB-3 SG bass to which the previous owner had attached a thumb rest...practically UNDER the E string! If I wasn't bumping into it when up-picking with my index and middle fingers, I was bumping into it (or the neck pickup trying to pick around it) when attempting a thumb down-pick. I hung that one back up on the wall, fairly quickly.

I could almost see myself maybe eventually going for a 5-string bass...the argument of "keep running out of low notes, with a 4-string." Of course, once I got comfortable with 5 strings, then it'd inevitably happen that I'd be running out of low notes, with 5 strings, then be yearning for a 6-string bass. I was once asked to stop playing a 6-string bass, as I was playing guitar Barre chords on it...the guy behind the counter gets my attention, then says "please stop." I stopped, looked around, and other guitars in the room were shaking on their wall hangers.

Matt

[luapleba]

Been playing bass for 25 years. Studied in college. Played in the big band. etc. I carry both a 5 and a 4 to most gis. So far everything mentioned is true. There is a time for 4 and a time for 5. Slapping a bass is much easier on a 4 than a 5 as well as the thinness of the neck does wonders for hand fatigue in the course of a long gig night. However, a low Eb is not possible on a 4 (which is really nice when reading big band charts). Try different basses. Ask fellow bass players to let you try their 5's. Do what feels right. For example: I thought after playing a 5 string for a number of years that a 6 was the next cool progression. What I found is that I did not enjoy it at all. Way too much work.... I guess that's what I'm getting at, try some 5's. If that's what is right for you, then, that's what is right for you.

if you have more detailed questions I am more than willing to give opinions ;-)

good luck

paul (member that isn't on any forum much, but has played a shit load of music in the course of 35 years).

[ggunn]

To each his/her own. I play a 5 string (it's my fourth bass and my third 5 string) and I'll never go back. I like the extra range (the songwriter I work with writes a lot in D) as well as the option to grab the lower notes on the B string rather than switching positions. YMMV.

[crankypants]

I have a 4 and a 5. I got used to the 4 - much easier in many ways. The 5 took quite a while to get used to. I still find it difficult keeping that low B string from resonating while I'm playing on the upper strings. For some reason I have no problem with the E string on a 4 stringer.

The 5 string has come in handy in (and I use it almost exclusively with) the steel drum band I play with. We don't use bass pans, but if I'm not careful I will step all over the cello and guitar pan parts - a problem which is compounded by the fact that those pans are generally the quietest and muddiest sounding voice in the band. It's great to be able to hit a low C.

[thewanderer24]

Originally Posted by crankypants

I have a 4 and a 5. I got used to the 4 - much easier in many ways. The 5 took quite a while to get used to. I still find it difficult keeping that low B string from resonating while I'm playing on the upper strings. For some reason I have no problem with the E string on a 4 stringer.

Floating thumb technique on your right hand would take care of this problem. A little awkward at first, but very helpful and ergonomically friendly once you get used to it.

[crankypants]

Originally Posted by thewanderer24

Floating thumb technique on your right hand would take care of this problem. A little awkward at first, but very helpful and ergonomically friendly once you get used to it.

Ummm...what's that? I'm not using a thumb rest, if that's what you mean. Maybe I need some lessons.

[gcapel]

Zak Wylde's group BLS has a lot of tunes in B. He just drops the low E to a B on his guitar.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by crankypants

Ummm...what's that? I'm not using a thumb rest, if that's what you mean. Maybe I need some lessons.

Rest your thumb on the B string when you are playing on the E string. When you're playing on the A string, rest your thumb tip on the E and mute the B with the side of your thumb. String muting was the single biggest technique challenge I encountered in picking up bass, and everyone does it a little differently. I try to mute all the strings below (in pitch) the one I am playing on with my thumb, and all the ones above it with the fingers of my left hand.

In my experience, you are correct; 5 string basses seem to do that more than 4's.

[thewanderer24]

Originally Posted by ggunn

Rest your thumb on the B string when you are playing on the E string. When you're playing on the A string, rest your thumb tip on the E and mute the B with the side of your thumb. String muting was the single biggest technique challenge I encountered in picking up bass, and everyone does it a little differently. I try to mute all the strings below (in pitch) the one I am playing on with my thumb, and all the ones above it with the fingers of my left hand.

In my experience, you are correct; 5 string basses seem to do that more than 4's.

actually floating thumb is different than what you describe. You describe what some people call "moveable anchor". Nothing wrong with that technique; it's just different from what I meant. Definitely, everyone's approach is a little different.

Floating thumb is NOT anchoring your thumb on any string. It means letting your thumb hang down loosely, so that it rests against all of the strings lower than the one you are playing on, thus muting them. This is my usual approach, unless I am playing a line mainly on the lowest string, in which case, I might anchor on a pickup.

[crankypants]

Originally Posted by ggunn

Rest your thumb on the B string when you are playing on the E string. When you're playing on the A string, rest your thumb tip on the E and mute the B with the side of your thumb. String muting was the single biggest technique challenge I encountered in picking up bass, and everyone does it a little differently. I try to mute all the strings below (in pitch) the one I am playing on with my thumb, and all the ones above it with the fingers of my left hand.

In my experience, you are correct; 5 string basses seem to do that more than 4's.

This technique sounds pretty close to what I do. The problem is that when I'm playing up on the D and G strings the low B is flopping around mercilessly. I think the E is not so much of a problem in this instance, because I can stick my thumb somewhat between the E and the A and dampen them both. Trying to dampen all the lower strings with my palm would cramp what little technique I have.

[crankypants]

Originally Posted by thewanderer24

Floating thumb is NOT anchoring your thumb on any string. It means letting your thumb hang down loosely, so that it rests against all of the strings lower than the one you are playing on, thus muting them. This is my usual approach, unless I am playing a line mainly on the lowest string, in which case, I might anchor on a pickup.

I will have to give this a shot.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by thewanderer24

actually floating thumb is different than what you describe. You describe what some people call "moveable anchor". Nothing wrong with that technique; it's just different from what I meant. Definitely, everyone's approach is a little different.

Floating thumb is NOT anchoring your thumb on any string. It means letting your thumb hang down loosely, so that it rests against all of the strings lower than the one you are playing on, thus muting them. This is my usual approach, unless I am playing a line mainly on the lowest string, in which case, I might anchor on a pickup.

Actually, that is pretty much what I meant. I am anchored on the B string when I am playing on the E, but I am muting everything below with the side/back of my thumb when I am on a higher string. The tip of my thumb at the string immediately below the one I am playing is just the position.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by crankypants

This technique sounds pretty close to what I do. The problem is that when I'm playing up on the D and G strings the low B is flopping around mercilessly. I think the E is not so much of a problem in this instance, because I can stick my thumb somewhat between the E and the A and dampen them both. Trying to dampen all the lower strings with my palm would cramp what little technique I have.

Not the palm but the thumb.

Bring the fingers of your left hand low across the strings so that you mute the ones above the string you are playing on with them. Also, a good habit to get into (I was told by a bass teacher) is to grasp the neck with all the fingers below (pitchwise) the one you are fretting with, i.e., if you are fretting with your pinky, all the other fingers are down on the strings behind it.

[Superhuman]

I love my 5 string, great for banging along with my 7 string for heavy riffs. And no, I don't play Nu-metal!!! Playing off Eb opens up a whole new dimension when it comes to layering lead guitar.

[VomitHatSteve]

I could never find a 5-string that I actually liked. My fingers are way too stubby to play one proprely, but I always find that I need those extra few notes down below the E. Jazz/pep band in high school always needs the E-flat. Worship music in church always needs the D. I opted for re-stringing my bass with the low 4 from a 5-string. I absolutely love how it sounds now. So much less octave-jumping!