More strings automatically make you better?

[Bassplyr]

What's everyone's take on seeing a bass player with a 5 or 6 string bass? Does it automatically mean they are "better" than someone with a 4? Is playing a 6 string just an ego builder? I saw a guy this weekend playing a six string even though he had 2 guitar players in his band. Why would he need the 6th string?What are your thoughts?

 

[jongitarz]

Uh...Hello...I play with 6 strings and thats WAY better than a bass player!

Ducking under the computer table with my Glock.....

 

[Bassplyr]

Jon, you're on the wrong forum my friend! Yo need to be on the guitar players forum !

 

[Aussie Mark]

Disclaimer: I don't even own a 5 string

I can understand the reason for a 5 string - the low B, guitarists who tune half a step lower, country music etc, however, I can't imagine what I'd want to do with a 6 string bass, other than play chords.

 

[Bassplyr]

But by all rights, if you are in a band, wouldn't the guitar players job to be playing chords? So again, is this nothing more than an ego boost? And for the record I don't even own a 5er either.

 

[Aussie Mark]

In my current band there are a few songs in which I play chords, either to beef up the bottom end while the guitarist is playing fills or to cover the keyboard player when he has a brain fart. But, that's with a four string, not six.

 

[bovinehost]

1. Jon is a guitar player. We must shun the way of the guitar player, tarry not in the six string forum, for there lies madness.

2. I have a couple of fivers because - let's face it - playing anything in D has always been a pain in the ass for bassists, are you with me? D! It's way up on the A string and kind of wimpy, isn't it? And don't even talk to me about the open D, don't even ATTEMPT that, because we all know better. So the fiver solves that problem of what the hell to do when the key is D.

3. Sixers are wankers.

So sayeth Lord Bongo, so sayeth we all.

 

[TSanders]

Im okay with the 5's no problem, but if you ever see me with a 6 string it better say Taylor on it.

 

[cgworkman]

1. I'm with Lord Bongo on the B string theory,

2. Jon is a guitar player?!? WTF?!?

 

[barkatozz]

I've had a few 5 strings in the past & could never get used to them. For the 'D' stuff I have a Hipshot & for the lower stuff(i.e. Korn) I use a pitch shifter.

 

[bovinehost]

He said "Korn".

 

[Aussie Mark]

I agree that Korn is "lower stuff"

 

[phatduckk]

More strings automatically make you better? .

unless you suck

i figure if you have no idea what to do with 4 strings then youll be all the more confused with the extra fatty on there. i see a lot of "younger" dudes get 5ers cuz "<insert crappy nu metal band name here>'s bassist plays a 5". so that group of folk kinda takes away from "More strings automatically make you better" thing.

on the flip side though ... when i see someone beating the hell out of their 5er im more impressed than when i see someone kicking ass on a 4 banger.

to each their own ... as long as theyre actually using the fat string "correctly" then its all good. ive been GASin for my first 5er now. (sub??)

but ya ... i cant imagine what the 6th string could be any good for. i have a PRS for that LoL

 

[Samingo]

Alright. I have to agree with Bov here. I grew up on a five string. I enjoy the spacing of the strings, to just sit and fool around I totally prefer a fiver because they're just fun. For actually playing. Gimme a four string Any day. I don't care what the tuning is, I'd rather have a four. It's a matter of preference in the end. A four can do almost anything a five can do, it's just a matter of detuning and such.

In the end it's preference. I've read so much on this topic, and hear so much, it's pointless. If you like a fiver, play a fiver. If you like a Four, play a four. I switch in between because I love bass. I don't care how many strings it has. If they onyl made eight string basses, and I didn't use four of those strings for bandwork... I'd still love my bass. I think most bassist will agree with that.

Now.. will somebody fill me in on the meaning behind GAS pleas?
Sam

 

[Aussie Mark]

GAS = Gear Acquisition Syndrome

 

[dlloyd]

What's everyone's take on seeing a bass player with a 5 or 6 string bass? Does it automatically mean they are "better" than someone with a 4? Is playing a 6 string just an ego builder? I saw a guy this weekend playing a six string even though he had 2 guitar players in his band. Why would he need the 6th string?What are your thoughts?

I only play four.

I can see reasons for a lower string, that low B is fairly handy... I don't think many here will disagree there.

I can also see reasons for higher strings. I find the scope for playing chords on bass is a bit limited. I've been thinking for a while about trying a band with no guitarists... a higher string would be handy there.

As far as being better... you do have to have a slightly more polished right hand technique on a six, you can get away with more on a four. Doesn't necessarily make you a better musician though.

 

[tkarter]

I kinda of go with the bass player needs to groove and it doesn't matter how many strings sorta attitude. Personally I love my 5 string but still in the getting used to it stages. I can still keep up but occasionally play the B like it were the E. Makes me plumb mad at myself too.

tk

 

[bassmonkeee]

If you want to play a 11 string bass, go for it. It is certainly no skin off of my teeth. I've never understood why people have to "get" why someone would want to play more than 4/5/6/etc strings. Isn't the fact that they want to enough? Apparently not...

I mostly play 4s and 5s now, but I've played 6s in the past before I finally acknowledged that anything wider than a 5 makes my hands go numb after a short period of time. I didn't think I was better when I played a six, and I don't think I'm any less proficient on a 5.

If you can groove on a 4, you can groove on a 9. How does a guitar player having the "responsibility" of playing chords mean that I can't play them on bass? What a limiting mindset. At blues gigs, I'll sometimes play some minor chords during slow minor blues tunes while the guitar player plays a solo. Does that make me a wanker because I want to add some context, and color under his solo? Would I be more of a wanker if I was doing the exact same thing on a 6 string when the neck was 1/2" wider with an extra strip of metal from the bridge to the headstock? Is it appropriate for every situation? Of course not. But, then, I wouldn't spit blood or fire at a blues gig, either. Gene Simmons has no problem doing it at his shows, though.

Simply having more strings doesn't make one a wanker. Having more strings doesn't make someone a "frustrated guitar player." Having more strings doesn't mean someone only wants to solo up high. I've heard good bass players on an 8/9 string, and I've heard wanky bass players on a 4 string. There are still only 12 notes available.

People don't only play extended range basses because they want more notes. I don't only use the notes below E on my 5 string--do you? I like to stay in one position if I can--especially on 4 hour gig nights. So, if I can play an F at the sixth fret on a B string as opposed to going down to the first fret on the E string, then that's what I'm going to do.

Personally, I think less of a person who mocks a bass player for his choice of instrument than I do of a person who chooses an extended range bass for his tool of expression. Shouldn't we focus our energy on a group truly worthy of scorn?

Drummers.

EDIT: Here's a pic of Chuck Rainey playing Al Caldwell (plays with Vanessa Williams) 9 string. He really liked it and the possiblilities in opened up. Chuck has been known to play a 6 string bass. Any of you guys want to call Chuck Rainey a wanker? I thought not...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7837

 

[tkarter]

Well said Bassmonkee!! I agree with everything, but don't even really have a problem with drummers as I have only played with one and we get along great.


tk

 

[dlloyd]

If you want to play a 11 string bass, go for it. It is certainly no skin off of my teeth. I've never understood why people have to "get" why someone would want to play more than 4/5/6/etc strings. Isn't the fact that they want to enough?

Very well said.