Topic: Five String or Four String??? (Read 3838 times)

JoashStilltheman · « **on:** January 19, 2007, 08:28:38 PM »

I"m new on bass and I have a 5 string bass. Is it better to learn on 4 string first?

dhagler · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2007, 08:38:10 PM »

I would recommend starting with four string, but the answer may depend on whether you plan to teach yourself or take lessons. Most self-study materials are written for four string basses.

Cherri · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2007, 11:17:12 AM »

The choice is yours...

JoashStilltheman · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2007, 01:27:41 PM »

Thanks for the input...I'll stick to my 5 string..I guess it will give me more edge...more notes.

Ransome-notez · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2007, 01:57:04 PM »

just like someone told me..... if you take two people one is playing a 4 string and one is playing a 5 string. If the one playing the 4 string can do everything the person on the 5 sting can do then whos the better player??

Stifled_1 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2007, 03:58:49 PM »

Nicely put .....

MikeGee · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2007, 04:22:49 PM »

It's only 5 more notes. You won't have an edge unless you are that much better of a player. Anyinthg can be done on 4 strings.

JoashStilltheman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2007, 06:31:22 PM »

True dty ransome.....
Five more notes? I don't get it.

B3Wannabe · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2007, 06:46:13 PM »

It may be 5 more notes, but it's five more notes on the bottom. You may be able to do some of the same things on a 4 string, but you can't hit a low B, unless your bass is strung B-E-A-D. The greater the number of strings are between instruments the less alike they become, so play what you like.

jeremyr · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2007, 07:57:05 PM »

i've said it before and i'll say it again.

You can play a 5 like a 4, but you can't play a 4 like a 5.

Not to mention a 5 makes for less shifts during playing.

I say start with a 5 and don't look back.

JoashStilltheman · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2007, 07:58:40 PM »

Ok Now I get it...thanks.. I didn't think of it that way!

BimmerFan99 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2007, 08:45:13 PM »

I started with a 4 and traded it in for a 5 a little over six months later. I love it, but it's more challenging to keep muted.

To practice as if I had a 4 string, I'd just keep my thumb rested on the B string and ignore it.

dhagler · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2007, 10:45:03 PM »

Quote from: JoashStilltheman on January 20, 2007, 06:31:22 PM

True dty ransome.....
Five more notes? I don't get it.

The fifth open string is a low B; the first four frets on that string are C, D-flat, D, and E-flat (the fifth fret is E, which happens to be the fourth open string.

You can play in the key of any of those 5 notes at an octave lower than you can with a four-string. Lots of gospel is written in D-flat and E-flat.

JoashStilltheman · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2007, 06:54:46 AM »

;DSo there is much advantage in 5 string. Maybe later on i"ll get 6

B3Wannabe · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2007, 07:19:45 AM »

Yea. That's one of the things I hear from people that switch from 4 to 5 or 6...muting. For those of us that play ERBs (Extended Range Bass: a bass that has 6 or more strings), knowing how to mute is must.

The 4-string-only people feel so strongly, because they look at guys like Victor Wooten, Marcus Miller, etc., then look at their local players who play 5/6 strings and say, he has more strings and he can't even do what Victor does, which is an unfair assessment of an ERB. If you take equally skilled player (both can tap, slap and play finger-style on an expert level), but one plays a 4-string and the other plays a 6-string, the 6-string will sound more "full" or complex, because of the extended range of the instrument. It doesn't mean that the person is "better" it's just that they can use the instrument to its fullest. How many of us, who have cars that can go 140mph, actually drive it that fast?...same thing. How many bass players only learn to play finger-style? How many bass players only play slap? How many bass players never learn to tap? The key to becoming a good musician, on any instrument, is to experiment with different ways of playing.

ddwilkins · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2007, 08:42:21 AM »

Personal preference. It's what makes you more comfortable. I started on 5 string, then bought a 6. I haven't owned a 4 string though.

Andrzej · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2007, 04:11:48 PM »

I don't think it really matters. One of my ex-students started with a 6-string and he coped pretty well. However, I would recomend to start with a 4-string just so that you can concentrate hitting the right notes instead of hitting the right strings. Having fewer strings to think about so that you can concenrate on your theory would probably be more of a benefit. But, if you feel confident and have good enough coordination to tackle a 5 or 6-string (or even higher) then I wish you all the best in your learning. You need pretty good finger dexterity when you play a 5 or 6-string bass and many LGM members would argue that comes in time as you are learning and excercising your finger strength, but some folk have very dexterious fingers to start off with anyway and that can be advantageous. If at any point you feel that you are stretching yourself too far then you probably need to knock off a string.

godsbassman2000 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2007, 06:31:20 PM »

Quote from: JoashStilltheman on January 19, 2007, 08:28:38 PM

I"m new on bass and I have a 5 string bass. Is it better to learn on 4 string first?

If you are interested in a 5er, I say start with it. That way you'll learn the notes on 5 string as oppose to starting with a 4, and transitioning to a 5.

Neither right or wrong,
just my .02 cents

kawi9893 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 22, 2007, 03:48:57 PM »

okay I'm new to the site but here goes bum thats why all the bass players are on this site for to help you so even if you got a 10 string instead there is someone on this site that would help you learn it. and if everyone is all about self and who plays better then this site is not for me I"m here to get as much help as I can and give as well peace

B3Wannabe · « **Reply #19 on:** January 22, 2007, 03:57:36 PM »

welcome to the site kawi9893

Author Topic: Five String or Four String??? (Read 3838 times)