Reasons to play a 5 string bass: It's the only one at my parents' house.

so the 5 reasons why you should play 5 string: 1. Lower notes 2. Lower notes 3. More efficient shifting 4. Lower notes 5. Lower notes

Damn, who would imagine Johnny Sins was a killer bass player!

whew, good thing I bought a 6 string instead of a 5 string. One of the biggest things I like having a low B for is the smoother tone. Playing higher notes on the lower strings gives you that well-rounded, deep tone perfect for hip hop and you can instantly switch back to the higher strings if you want more attack and clarity for double stops and such.

I should play a 5 string bass because of the depth it adds. I shouldn’t play a 5 string bass because I actually have no depth and suck lol

Title: "why you shouldn't play a 5 string" Scott:Proceeds to jam out on a 5 string

I started playing (4-string) bass in 1971. I added a 5-string bass at the beginning of 2006. My only problem was a BIG problem - at first I often started any given song on the wrong string. After 35 years of the top string being the E string, I had to get adjusted to the fact that the E string was now the second string, or that the A string was now the third string, etc. Once I found the correct string at the beginning of each song, I was good for the rest of the song. But, it took about a year of regular playing and making a mental note at the beginning of each and every song to make that transition successfully. I eventually got to the place where I could comfortably switch between 4 and 5 string basses with very minimal disruption. That one issue challenged me much more than I expected.

I got a 5-string because I'm in my 60s and it easier to play some songs that hurt more on a 4-string. I can move down on the fret board and as a result move my left fret hand less. When you get arthritis and joint stiffness, you appreciate not having to move as much.

5 reasons to play a 5 string: - big boy low notes - big boy lower notes - big - cool sounds cool - makes you brain shakeshake

3 more reasons to play 5 string basses 1.If you like synth bass tones 2.If you like metal music 3.If you want to experiment more

tbh, I love my 6 string. The "shift" you were talking about, is very convenient. Such a huge percentage of the entire 4 string bass range is available from a single position.

The first bass I bought ages ago was a 5 string. I had never played bass before but I had experience with guitar, sax and flute. It was never hard to play it and in fact that B string makes a beefier E, has much better tone and it comes really handy when you play down the neck. Instead of going back up and down quickly, it provides a helping hand. Plus it makes your window panes tremble like a fucking earthquake. I now have a 5 string fretless by LTD and I absolutely love it.

Play whatever instrument you want. Just make sure you play it WELL. Haters be damned.

6- string player here. My personal advice is to pick as many strings as you need to express yourself as a bassist.

Started as a 4 player, transitioned to a 5 about 7 years in, and the rest is history. Been playing a 5 for 13+ years now. Main reason I got into it was just because I was playing a lot of new age gospel and r&b where a 5 is a necessity, not an option

I play the 5 string bass in EADGC tuning, fun to get high notes on a bass when you're improvising on a solo.

Instead of saying "should" or "shouldn't", rather think "pro's and cons".

Reasons to play 5 string 1.reggae 2.segae 3.raga 4.metal 5.lower note

5th fret on B sounds better 90% of the time than the open E. Lot of 90s alternative is in Eb tuning. And I like knowing where my notes are. On guitar I'm fine tuning down on bass it throws my center of gravity off. It's also a nice thumb rest for straight 4 string part. And the low D has came in handy in so many songs in D(uh), A , F. Hardly ever hit the low b. But the low D is surprisingly usable. And finally it helps me navigate my High B on guitar better

As a guitarist i play 6 7 and 8 string guitars and i actually view them as different instruments. It was also maybe wasier to transition for me because i played violin piano and cello before i played guitar and i just view them all as different instruments within the category of strings. They just happen to have a lot of tuning similarities

I prefer 4 string with B-E-A-D. I get more use out of the low B than a high G. Also more comfortable with my smaller hands.

Takeaway from this video: Stevie Wonder invented 5 string bass.

I have played a 5 string bass for over 20 years and love playing it. Your pros and cons were great advice and I too have seen too many people get a 5 string just because they think its cooler to have one and never really make it part of their over all tool. I love the B string and incorporate it everywhere I can. Also I am a bit lazy and the 5 string definitely makes some lines a lot easier to play than jumping all over the fret board. I think it comes down to personal taste and for me playing a 4 string is a strugle these days as I am just so use to having 5.

Switched to 5’s a couple decades ago and never went back to 4’s. The 5’s just provide more versatility, and are a must for many of the great heavy rock bass lines out there. When not using the string, I often rest my thumb on it. Best reason to own a 5 string is the 4 string bass still exists in a 5 string setup. If you don’t need the 5th string, don’t use it. Play it like a 4 string. And when you do need it, you have it. It’s really no harder to master than a 4 string. ✌️

reasons to have a 5 string: •stevie wonder

Without headphones, all i could hear are the fret buzz 😂 😂

I got a 5 string recently, I love it because I have lower note, and it’s made me improve a lot. I’ve improved from it a ton because it’s forced my to get super accurate with slap, finger style, tap, and even fretting.

I actually started on a one string bass. I had an older cousin that died when I was 3. Later in life when I was 11, my uncle gave me a bass that my cousin built in his high-school wood-shop. It was basically a garbage can with a huge maple neck, a long ass wire and a see-saw type of adjuster up top. You could get about half a scale of frequencies out of it...

this video was more like "10 reasons why you SHOULD play a 5 string bass"

Good reason to play a 5-string bass. It's my only bass!

As usual, your insights are helpful and make a lot of sense. I went back and forth and spent a lot of $ on basses trying to figure out which player I want to be. I settled back to a 4 string. I made a commitment to the 4 string - Thanks Scott.

I have been all over the all forums and video's trying to figure out if I should get a 5 string. I have been confused and have gone back and forth until this video. Extremely well done. I know that I should get a 4 string now. One of the better video's I've seen. Thank you some much!

#6 If you're playing with horns, they like flat keys and a five can help you out quite a bit.

I play in a metal band (with a five string) with two guitarists using heavy distortion, usually playing in standard tuning. I think it's nice to be able to play the lower notes to make the sound even heavier and also to cut through the distorted guitars. I think I use the B-string in about every song we play.

My pros for playing a 5 string are there’s more flexibility. The low B string adds another dimension with regard to playing rock, as well as other genres. It can be thunderous. It’s massive especially when going into a chorus. The con is that it took me a long time to get acclimated to playing it. I was off and on with my 5 string bass and it wasn’t productive. Until I saw Nate Watts with Stevie Wonder and the lightbulb went on, I struggled. From that time on (2007) I’ve played the 5 string. It’s awesome to play but I had to play only the 5 string to be proficient.

I've been playing five-string basses for over twenty years now, and I still have trouble with B-String muting occasionally. One of the things I found early on was that, if the instrument is not set up correctly, and if the tone is not consistent across all the strings (yeah, B-string, I'm lookin' at you...), the bottom end just sounds muddy and dark. Be sure to give the B-string adequate relief at the top of the neck, and enough room under it at the 14th fret to be able to dig in when you need to for funk, tap, pop, etc. (Usually this is about 2.5 to 3 mm from the fingerboard at fret 14 for me, depending on the instrument.) String selection plays a big part here, too. Not every instrument is going to sound good with a .135 B-String. Look at what the maker of the instrument puts on it from the shop - that's likely going to be its optimal string set (or at least something in the same gauge).

I play a 4 string because I don't have a 5 string. Just love the bass you have.

I prefer a 5 string for a few reasons: 1) I can play along with Drop D without tuning down. 2) I have the lower notes B-Eb. 3) There is now an E and F at the 5th and 6th frets on the B string. 4) You can play E as a fretted note or an open string. Muting is harder for sure but I'm learning to play bass so I can avoid learning things....

Some good tips here. Before plunging into buying a 5 string I decided to try an alternate tuning on my 4 String Peavey T20. For one song I really like that I play at church it would sound so much better with a low D#. So I tuned my low E down a half step and really liked the results!

i love how he always shows himself testing his mic

Extra reasons for playing a 5 string: 1. Broadening your horizons. You'll never know unless you try. 2. Satisfying your Gear Acquisition Syndrome (arguably a case for not getting a 5'er as well).

"how to trigger every Robert trujillo fan in 15 minutes"

My first bass was a 5 string. I played it for years before buying a 4 string. It’s not ideal for slapping, but for most other songs, it’s still my favorite kind of bass.

I played my basses with BEAD tuning for 30+ years for a number of reasons. So when I finally bought a 5 string I realized I'd approach it very differently than I would have otherwise. I had already figured out how differently things sounded on different parts of the neck, and how to use that. But now I finally had that G string to use when I had to go higher on some parts and in some keys. Scott I really dig your video lessons - SO much good information!

“ i play a 2 STRING !!!!!!!” *”I PLAY 1 STRING!!!!!” “i play theremin. *alien noise*”

5 string is needed for a lot of metal music, to provide the full octave below the low-tuned guitars (7 strings, tunings like drop-B, etc)

This has made it very clear to me now. Thanks Scott.

Thanks for posting Scott! Just rewatched this old video. I have a 4 and a 5 string. You're right.. I needed to be more deliberate about spending time on my 5 string or it becomes redundant. And I need to adjust my playing to accommodate the 5 patterns more than my patterns (that I already know) on the 4 string. Really well stated.

Another good reason is tonal flexibility. The B string has a darker tone higher up the neck, i.e. a G on the 8th fret of the B string sounds noticeably “woofier” than at the 3rd fret on the E. It gives you the opportunity to tonally differentiate between different sections of a song/piece of music.

Once you go 5-string, you never go back...

Awesome video. I was unsure which way to go but this cleared it up. I’m sticking with my 4 string. Thanks for the help mate 🤘🏻

Another positive is that it can be a lot easier to pluck the E-string fast with 2 fingers for me. As someone that uses an Ibanez SR875 I found that to be welcoming.

In metal, a 5 string is a must have, and I'm glad to see that this list isn't hating on 5-stringers, rather warning them of the hard work ahead of them

Scott: if you play a five string it means you don't have to tune down Ryan martinie of mudvayne: *laughs in F# B f# b e*

Watched this before I picked up my 5-string and I’m so glad I watched this! Ready to get to work and play so fun funk songs

I stopped playing bass at all. I went from four string to five string in the 80’s and I loved it. The fat b is great. I have decided to pick up an instrument again at 70 years of age, a four string, but to me I need a five string to feel complete. Five is way easier to play for me. But hey thanks for the class. I’ve been a blues bass player for about 50 years and was always introduced as the world’s laziest bass player. Got paid the same as the busy guys for doing half the work. According to a drummer I worked with , knowing what to leave out without making the tune sound wrong made for a really good bassist. Cheers

My adventures with a 5 string bass Background: Started with a 4 string as most of us do, but always wanted a 5 string, about a year and a half ago-2 years ago i got my first 5 string bass. Pros- Expanded range: the band I play bass for does have a lot of songs that are in E flat or D so opens up new sonic possibilities that are not possible with a 4 string, even on songs that are not in those keys, can drop to a lower register to accent parts of songs or change the 'mood' of a song. More fretboard options: as stated in the video, can adjust fretboard position for songs making some licks easier playing them on the higher frets where spacing is closer. Cons- Increased weight: It didn't occur to me when I started that a 5 string would be heavier, but it was noticeable the first couple gigs I had with the bass. The extra weight is noticeable and I was sore after the first couple shows I did with a 5 string, consider getting a good strap to help distribute the weight better. Wasn't really a big issue, just something to be aware of for long gigs. Learning curve: Definitely not as easy as pick up and go play a 5 string for the first time without issues. Muting the B string is something to keep in mind and work to do. For me personally it took a few practice sessions to not hit the wrong string with my pick/pluck hand, I'd either be a string to high, or one too low. After a few weeks of practice I was able to adjust, but definitely had to work at it. Expanded range: I know I said it was a good thing, but there is a temptation to try and shove low notes wherever possible and try and force the use of low notes. While practicing solo and with a band, I do like to play with various voicings, but I try to look and determine if it makes sense to use the lower register in the context of the song, and look to see how my bandmates feel about different voicings I come up with. Just because you have a low B, doesn't mean you should use it all the time. Switching between 5 and 4 string basses can be hard in the beginning: My first month or so I tried going back and forth between my 4 and 5 string basses, this proved to be difficult while learning my 5 string. it would mess up my muscle memory for the new bass and make my playing sloppy with a 4 string. This can be dealt with through practice, but something to keep in mind. if your going to learn a 5 string, try and make sure you can stick with it to avoid any challenges and/or frustrations. Once you have a handle on the 5 string, it isn't too bad switching between versions, it now takes me almost no time to adjust between 4 and 5 string bases. For shows however, I try to make sure I am either using a 4 or 5 string for the whole show to avoid any mistakes. I put a couple more cons than pros, but I do love my 5 string bass, I play with a band that pretty much gives me free range to compose my own bass parts and having the extra options allows me to play with various voicing and fretboard positions when working with the music I play. These are just some things I came across in my switch to a 5 string, your experiences may differ.

I play trumpet and bass and I can't think of one other player I know who wouldn't want more upper range on his or her horn. In fact, a lot of players feel that the high range on trumpet is a holy grail. Bass-wise, why wouldn't a bass player want to extend his or her low range? Some of my bass playing friends wouldn't even play my 5 string bass as if doing so would be an unforgivable break from the 4 string tradition. Follow your bliss, honor the music and don't let tradition limit your possibilities.

Pro 5-string bass here, primarily for the increased low range and hence flexibility. Thanks for this video, Scott - your input is much appreciated. Liked and subscribed. Cheers.

I took heed to some good advice here and bought a 6 string bass... thanks!

#6 seven string guitars

In my modest opinion bass is an instrument with great margin of progression and each musician must choose the best solution for himself. I use high C, for me it is much better than bass B, it fits more to the music I play. And we must not forget that every single person is unique.

Incorporating the B string seamed so natural and joyful, the extra work(muting) is so worth it! Also, I did have to retire my 4 string for a year or so...I didn't miss it at all.

I.m going to 5 string for lower notes in deep bass reggae. You are an excellent Bass Player, and Teacher. Thanks, Blessings, and Respect.......

Reasons not to for me: - technique adjustment - learning curve - I only play for fun - expensive Reasons to: - Polyphia

Reasons to have more that 4 strings 1. Primus

A fascinating video.... and I don't even play bass! True, I am considering getting one just to supplement Cubase stuff but brilliant. One of the clearest KZfaq pieces I have ever viewed.

I used to play with live hip hop/funk band and the low B was handy when I was duoing with our DJ. I could hit that low B and the active EMG pickups gave it an electronic 808 feel. It gave a little continuity for when we'd switch between live rhythm section to our DJ's beats.

I just bought a 5 string Stingray. Thanks..... Cost me 80% of my money

The 5 string has been my primary instrument for the past 15 years. I play mainly Southern Gospel and country, and the low B adds so much, particularly to ballads. You have to learn how to use it judiciously, however, else it won't have the desired effect of accenting certain lines.

Thanks Scott, very useful!!!

I’m a guitar player and I have a inexpensive 4 string. I was looking at upgrading to something more premium. I was considering a 5-string. Watching this video helped me choose a 4 string because of the great points made here that I did not consider. Thanks!

"very long thumb rest"

Poor man's 5th reason why 5th string sucks... my guitar amp can't get away with handling its godly thunder.

This was extremely helpful. Thank you!

Thanks for a good guide about the differences - a much better clip than I thought it would be from the clickbait title

if you have a 5 string but only play as a 4 string player re-string the bass by moving the strings down but add a High C string where the G string was

One problem I find with my 5 string is that I find slap bass more difficult. The strings are closer together than a 4 string so it’s much easier to slap the wrong one, especially that low B, which can completely ruin things if slapped by accident. That’s why I find most bassists that do slap bass use 4 strings. Although, I have seen a few using 5 or 6 strings.

Wow. Well said. Very thoughtful!

I am a guitarist who occasionally plays bass. Have to say the 5 string was much easier for me than a 4 string. I got to move my hand a whole lot less, and play higher up the neck which is so much easier. Just one man's opinion. Made me think about getting a 7 string guitar now :-)

Here's the alternative--works great for me, anyway. Tune down a whole tone on every string. Thus E-A-D-G becomes D-G-C-F. To make this work, you need heavier strings. They won't feel heavier because the tension on the strings will remain matched to the tension you used for EADG. I started this for playing with a singer-songwriter whose style is folk-ish but with more interesting chords and some open tunings. She does a lot of songs in D and Eb. Plus for her songs in G it is very nice to have a low D. I buy my strings from Kalium, formerly CircleK, on line. You can Google them. I don't have any connection with the company. I use a 'balanced' set with the D (low) string at .112 instead of the usual .105. As a guy with not very big hands, this is more appealing to me than learning and stretching across the wider fretboard of a 5 string. Hope some of you try it! By the way, imagine that you put a capo on the second fret. What would you have created? A 4-string bass with a scale of about 30", tuned to EADG. In other words it's not much different from a short scale bass, except that you get the lower notes and the tone of a 34" scale bass (because of the improved tension).

Great advise, I'll stick with my beloved 4 strings, I've got by for the last 40 years. Thanks!

I started playing a 5 string because I played bass in a hard rock band that used 7 strings. I’ve ultimately stuck with that bass because it just sounds so good.

I started out playing a standard 4 string but was wanting to experiment with a short scale since I have smallish hands and walking lines were really stretching my playing. I came across a 5 string short scale in a pawn shop and after testing it was able to get it pretty cheap. Initially I was just really happy with the lighter shorter feel and the ease of playing. Then I started working in the 5th string on songs with Eb's, lower D's, etc. and loved it even more. It's my every gig bass now.

I'm happy with the way this video is made bacause it does not try to bash 5 string players or basses it's a positive warning and learning video and i can appreciate that, good video

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them". Bruce F-in Lee

I don’t have big enough hands to fight a 5 stringer. But the gig scenario is a good reason to own one.

I've been playing bass for about the last 5 years and I went to a 5 string because I do play alot of different styles of music. I keep both around and I will agree from my experience what is in this video is truth. My 4 string anymore is a case queen. I love the extended bottom range of my 5.

I am not a bass player by any stretch of the imagination so my opinion on the bass holds not ground BUT I really did enjoy the video, well balanced, objective view on the topic. Thanks for that.

simple you get one for metal. especially if you are in a very tight and rythmic lower range band like periphery. and put on the right tone that fifth string sounds gnarly as heck.

I play 5 and these reasons to play are spot on. Especially the transposing part. At my church we transpose alot of songs depending on the vocal range of the singers. Alot of time we are going to D. Either way it's a life saver to have access to the low end notes.

For the music I play a 4 string with a hipshot drop D tuner is all I need. I rarely need the B. I do have a 5 string just in case I need it! I think it all depends on the music you play and your style.

You turn up at a gig and the guitar player has tuned down a half step to Eb. Do you: a. quickly tune your four strings down 1/2 step or b. go buy a $2,000.00 bass with an extra string

Scott - I hadn't thought of this before, but an advantage of 5-string is that it places the open position of a 4-string mid-neck. That region physiologically feels more comfortable to me, so that may be #6 on your SHOULD list. Great vids, mate.

The efficiency bit is what really gets me with five-strings. I'd be happy to have one CFBbEbAb, for all things Sabbath

God damn I needed this,just bought my first new bass,4 string...a tb70 sbk and have been stressing whether I should have got a 5...cheers

I've been playing bass for 41 years. Back in the mid-80's, I saw a picture of Jack Bruce with a Warwick 5-string, and I had to have a five-string. I played it exclusively for a few years--forcing myself to make full use of that B string, but every time I picked up a four string, it was like, "Yes, I'm home!" For a while, I kept a 5-string around (just in case), but I never played it, because, honestly, I simply preferred the feel of the 4-string. So, my reason for NOT playing a five-string might be this: Don't do it just because a musician you admire uses one. A little irony for this Jack Bruce fan: Ultimately, Jack didn't like the five-string.

#5 *DJENT*

I only bought a 5-string bass because I was playing in the pit band for a production of "The Rocky Horror Show," and, just as you said about musical theatre, the arrangements demanded that I use a 5-string; a 4-string would simply not do the job. I felt very comfortable with the 5-string on that show, because it was very useful on all of the arrangements. But since then, I've used the 5-string only now and then, although I've always kept it onstage as a back-up bass should my primary bass (a 4-string) develop a problem during the gig. But the 5-string still feels a bit 'un-natural' on my usual gigs, as if that 5th string is just in the way. Perhaps I'm a Luddite?

thanks for this you really answered questions I had on this. It helped with a purchase. 👌