Question Drop D or (dare I say it) 5 String

[Thornton Davis]

FWIW, I too played 4 string basses for decades and struggled everytime I played a 5 string. But I was determined that I was going to teach myself how to play one, and found the difficulty I was experiencing was in my head. I was looking at the neck as I always had, as a 4 string. Once I got it into my head to look at the strings and neck in a new light my playing fell into place on the 5er. That was 6 or 7 years ago.

I've been playing EBMM Stingray 5's ever since. Recently I added a Sterling 5 to the clan. Can't say enough great things about these awesome basses.

Bottom line for me is I'll never go back to using a 4 string as my main bass.

Buy a SR-5 or ST-5, you won't regret it.

TD

 

[T-bone]

I never buy this argument. If the song is in Eb, I play the root on the 6th fret of the A string, and with flats, a decent rig and a Stingray or Bongo it's more than fat enough to sound great in any situation.

Funny you should say that, Mark. We recorded a rehearsal and I was surprised hear the Eb (on the A string) was actually low enough. Going from an F to an Eb (on the A string) however is a bit high. It works, and doesn't sound bad at all. It just has me wondering about a 5er and going a little lower. That or a Drop D, but dang, shifting frets like that significantly increases my risk of messing up.

All of my basses are 4's and I'm proud to be a real man. They only require 9v and don't look like toilet seats. That and my computer is an 8088 with 1200bd modem.

Might be time to step into this new century.


tbone

 

[Jodizzle]

Glad to hear I'm not alone.

Hey, you're back. How was your trip? Did you scare em down there?

tbone

I sent many children screaming. Not sure why ... usually kids love me

Never saw so much green in my life. Thanks for asking.

 

[Smakbass]

I never buy this argument. If the song is in Eb, I play the root on the 6th fret of the A string, and with flats, a decent rig and a Stingray or Bongo it's more than fat enough to sound great in any situation.

I rarely use the Eb on the D or the Ab on the G and I almost never use open A D or G strings..I always prefer the fuller sound on this part of the neck, seems like a lot of soundman prefer guys who do this as well as the notes are more consistant in vol. and tone.

I think though if the guitarist is detuned as well though that lower Eb would be nice,,specially if the band spends alot of time there,,,,if its a cover gig where your sort of all over....I would just do what Mark does,,,(If I was playing a 4 string).

My criteria for which bass I choose to play is more based about the sound rather than the notes available on it..I can generally work with whatever I have.

 

[T-bone]

I sent many children screaming. Not sure why ... usually kids love me

Are you kidding, everybody loves you.

Never saw so much green in my life. Thanks for asking.

What do you mean by "green?"

tbone

 

[maddog]

get a 5'er and play in 5th position. Walk down the B string when you need it.

Of course, this is from a guy who ditched 5'ers to go back to 4 strings.

So take it for what it is worth.

 

[njhammer]

I play both 4 and 5. I find the 5 great using the B for that deep effect. 4 is the root of rock and roll.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I play nothing but detuned 4's now. Yup, mostly just drop D.
Used to play 6's, then went to mostly 5's, but a few years ago I just really dug the sound of just 4 strings.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I rarely use the Eb on the D or the Ab on the G and I almost never use open A D or G strings..I always prefer the fuller sound on this part of the neck, seems like a lot of soundman prefer guys who do this as well as the notes are more consistant in vol. and tone.

+1, I seem to live between the 5th and 7th frets.

 

[tkarter]

It has been a long time since I have played anything but a 5er. Now the 6 is making me remember when I went from 4 to 5.

I would say a good solid month of playing a 5 you would be like hey I can do anything thing I can do on a 4 on this and still have that low B when you need it and life is good.


I would recommend the Bongo 5H for your 5 string needs.

tk

 

[drTStingray]

You should get a 5 - it shouldn't take too long to get over the difference - for me the biggest challenge was stopping both the B and E strings ringing when playing the other ones. The SR5has a great sound which brings out those low notes really well, and has real advantage in some ways (e.g two octaves being available from one fretting hand position).

I've not found any problem switching back over to the 4 string as and when required (and even in the same set!)

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I don't like the feel of the strings when they are tuned down, therefore a 5-string is a must. I also prefer the sound that way too. I think there are some that like the dark sound when the strings are tuned down, but I like the notes to have as much definition as possible.

I think it's definitely worth it to try and make the 5-string work for you.

 

[sloshep]

I bought my SUB 5 back in 2006. Played it for for 9 months then got frustrated. Swore off the 5 and went back to a 4. I kept the 5. It kept calling to me. I found that I hear in my head low Eb, D and C#. When I was playing by ear - no problem. When reading chord carts - problem. So I kept working at it. Now I am having fun playing the 5 again. I still have those brain fade moments, but there are becomng less and less. For some of us it just takes longer. I'm still not to the comfort level of a 4 , but I'm getting there.

What I'm trying to say is get a 5, but give yourself time learning it.