Any 6-String Bass Players Out There? Do you really ever play the 1st string?

[backagain1]

Any 6-String Bass Players Out There? Do you really ever play the 1st string, or would a 5-string be sufficient?

Thanks for your input!

backagain1

 

[Bass Control]

A five-string would suffice for a majority of what I play, but I do use the high C string for harmonics and random noodling during quiet parts of songs when our "lead guitarist" fails at playing lead. Rarely does any of the counterpoint that I play in my bands actually go that high, but the string is there for when I need it.

 

[kamakazee]

I play gospel, funk, hard rock and metal and switched from the Bongo 6 after 2 yeras to the Bongo 5. I never used the C unless playing scales, or like Bass Control says, just noodling. I never feel like I'm "missing something" because I don't have a high C string. It's lighter weight, less to mute, and easier to control.

 

[Golem]

Any 6-String Bass Players Out There? Do you really ever play
the 1st string, or would a 5-string be sufficient?

Thanks for your input!

backagain1

I had a beautiful tonefull 6FL but ultimately
felt that the C-string was pretty much just
this obstacle in the way of my comfortably
reaching the 5 actually useful strings.

It was a 19mm 6, so the neck was a huge
hunka wood that surely contributed to the
great tone, so I considered all the possible
alternate ways to use an extra string along
with the main 5 strings. Nothing really hit
me as sensible, so I offed it.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

Sufficient for What?

I don't need a 6

or a 5 for that matter...

But I have a 6 and 3 Vs...

Think of it this way...the 6 String is just another way to express yourself on the instrument that is BASS...You can cover ANY song in the FIRST position on a 6...and like most 4 String players..never have to learn how to play above the 7th Fret, and say..'there's no money above the 5th fret" to justify that nonsense!

When I use my Bongo 6..I use all the strings..not all the time..cuz it's not a harpsichord. But I could do ANY gig on a 4....I love the 6 and the stuff I do on it expands my ideas on what I do on the 4 and the 5. So for me it's worth it just for that.

Watch Anthony Jackson...

矢野顕子 * Water Ways Flow Backward Again - YouTube

he da bomb.

 

[Datta]

Watch Anthony Jackson...

Or Nathan East:
Eric Clapton - White Room - Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall - YouTube
He never loses his hold on the groove, and his C-string notes just kill. Not that Eric Clapton needs any help, but it ADDS. He's one of my favorite all-time bass players, and this is my idea of a how a 6 can be played. 93% of his notes are on the lower 5, but those 7% really shine. In my opinion. And you can't do that with a 5, though of course you can be awesome with 4 or 5. As we all know.

 

[tkarter]

I love my 6 string bongo when playing in the key of D.

I can play most any song on it and not have to move much and it did take me a good long while to learn to use the C string.

I always play 5 strings as I love that low B.

To learn the 6 run the triads and you will soon learn to use that C string. If your ears are good you can go to 7 strings.


Music is about the key.

I have had guitar players say I hate you when you play the 6 string. That tells me they are looking at me for the changes and can't figure it out.


I am not a great bass player but I do know some.

tk