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Help! 5 string Bass vs 4 String Bass for a Beginner

Roberto Rivera

Roberto Rivera

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 15, 2012
Messages
119
Im a guitar player that wants to explore the beauty of the low sound. so I want to do an investment for a bass guitar and an Amp.

I have set my eyes on a Sterling Ray 34, but now I have my doubts if a Ray 35 is a better choice? 5 strings more notes available, then it's better? i have read that a 5 string bass is less comfortable than a 4 string, that It´s easier to do slapping on a 4 strings, but on the other hand the 5 string bass you have the lower string to play certain songs that it will be difficult on a 4 string bass unless I do a de-tuning on the lower string

so my question is. if Im a beginner should I go for the 5 string or the 4 string? taking in to account that the bass will be my secondary instrument.... for the time being!
 
hello robert and welcome to the dark side :)

if you have played 7 string guitars they will behave the same way as a 5 string bass.
it gives you some deep notes that you cant get on other things.

if you have played 7 strings and had no problem with adjusting you will probably have no issues with a 5 string bass either.

i have both 4 and 5 strings and i swap between them without any issues. some of my bassplaying friends cant take it. they always start on the wrong string when playing the 5

you should try a 5 string and see if things goes easy or if you have to think every time you use it.
then make a desicion :)

hth!

MrM

ps: or you could just buy 1 of each.. thats a good solution to the problem ;)
 
`

A 5-string has only a few useful notes available that are
not already available on a 4-string. The main advantages
of a 5-string are the ability to stay in position rather than
ranging up and down the neck, and the closer string-to-
string spacing if you prefer a more geetar-like experience.

The disadvantages of a 5-string are a bulkier neck with a
longer cross-neck reach to the low string, and the closer
string-to-string spacing ... if you prefer a more bass-like
experience. An initial hurdle of the 5-string that's acoarst
unrelated to the playing experience is the upfront cost.

EDIT: Also, SR5's have a rather grotesque PG :-)
 
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Depends on how you use the low B. It can be a thumb rest with occasional use or it can change the whole dynamics of the song.
For example, a song I'm playing this evening that I was practicing on my 5-string I was doing most of the work on the E and low B strings. The sound was monstrous.
This morning the tab broke on the input jack so I had to revert to my 4-string. It still sounds good but without the lower registers of the low B it doesn't sound as epic as it did in my earlier practices.
As far as what to start with, I would try both 4 and 5 at the music store to see if you're comfortable with a 5er.
If you feel you would want the 5er in the future but don't want to buy multiple instruments I think the time to buy would be now.
 
Really depends on what range you will be playing in. If you need the occasional low B or C,then go with a 5. Drop D or standard go with a 4. I use drop D on 3 tunes,and I installed Hipshot D tuners on both fretted Sterlings. Works like a charm!
 
For a while I actually drop-tuned all strings on a bass, from E-A-D-G to D-G-C-F. Worked like a charm with stiffer strings like DR Lo-riders. The benefits were that a lot of rock songs tend to move from E to D or are in D or G configurations so I got a better low-end range and in general more low-end due to the down tuning.

I stopped doing this when I got involved with projects with funk bass playing required and it's hard to slap somewhat slack strings.
 
`

I also tune all my 4-stringers to DGCF. Since I despise slapping,
I'm waaaaay OK widdit ... plus I play FL so fret rattle is not any
problem, usually using a 105 or 110 low string.

What has NOT [sooprizingleeee] been mentioned at all so far is
stringing a 4-string with the BEAD from a 5-string. I do some of
that sometimes, and if you love slapping, just tune up CFBbEb !
You'll luurrrrrrv the tension and if you don't choose a heavy set
of strings [like go with a 125 'B'] the tension will be well within
the normal abilities of the neck and truss rod of the 4-string ax.
 
Go for the 5: as stated it can help keep you in a particular position to prevent moving around, and gets the low end you hear in lots of songs.

I use my low B like KevinM: it's a finger rest when not used and it's a nice and handy lower-er range for what I am playing. It's nice to bounce on E to low B as you can with A and E on a 4 string if you ever have to ride an E in the key of E.

I actually have two 5s and three 4s and sit 60% in the 5 zone.
 
It depends on what music you like and what type of material you will be playing. If you find you like the lower notes, then I would consider jumping straight to the 5-string. However if you're not sure or don't think you'll notice the difference, I would go with a 4-string.

I personally find a 5-string more comfortable because that is what I am used to and even when I am not playing the B-string, I have it available. Plus you have the added option of fretting a low E rather than playing it open. Fretted notes at E and above have different sonic characteristics on the B-string which are another option.

The main difficulty I found when moving from a 4-string to a 5-string is muting the lower strings, especially the B-string. Left alone, it will ring slightly (sympathetic ring) when playing the others. So you have to have a muting technique to prevent that. I anchor my thumb on it and in a way that it does not make a harmonic ring.

One is not better than the other; they're just different.
 
since you already play guitar why not get a six string bass
 
the other reason to own a 5-string bass is if you are in a band with both male and female singers and you often change the original key in a song to take into account the singer's range. The 5 gives you a little more to play with as far as transposing to keys that female singers usually prefer (B, Bb, C, and D) as opposed to (E, G, A that the guys like). YMMV

Plus, you can play songs from SRV, and other blues guys that detune half step (Eb) without retuning your 4-string. That can save you 10-15 seconds of dead time in a gig and keep the momentum going.
 
Go for the 5, nothing beats the big rumble of that fat b string. You can also play some nice chords higher up the neck.
 
Lots of folks who start out on a 4 report having difficulty moving to a 5, though many have been able to do so. However, if you're just starting out on bass, you don't have to overcome that hurdle. If you learn on a 5er, you will not have to adjust to the narrower string spacing and larger overall neck size, they will just feel natural to you.

Personally, I am glad that I started on a 5 and, because of that, I will always have a 5-string as my main bass. I have had many 4-string basses as well and do enjoy playing them occasionally. But, I am most at home on a 5-string neck with 17-18mm string spacing. Based on my experience, I think it probably easier to start on a 5-string and then move to a 4-string than the other way around.
 
My first bass was a 5er and I really like the versatility. Sure, I don't use the low B on every song, but it's nice to have when you need it. Also as others have said it's nice to have the occasional Eb or D when you need it, but without having to retune or re-learn where all the notes are. I'm used to the string spacing and the neck isn't too big.
 
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