Four String Basses Are Obsolete

[DiMarco]

No really! Everyone needs a low B in their life.

Prove me wrong.



























let's have some fun!

 

[Hardy]

Lemmy knows the answer.

 

[Bademeister]

from

 

[Hardy]

View attachment 21832 from

 

[Bademeister]

View attachment 21833

Don‘t make me post 5 string Buzzard pics

 

[Nachobassman]

Get a 4-string and tune it BEAD.


That said, as a "hired gun" playing for many different acts I agree you need to have a 5-string in your arsenal.

I play with a 4-string 85% of the time, though.

 

[DiMarco]

It's not really about playing lower then E. Check this pinky on the root note video.
You can play your runs in two directions easier on a five. More flexibility!

 

[DiMarco]

At rehearsals my guitarists keep switching guitars in between songs, or retuning their guitar if they have to play something that requires a guitar tuned down to C or C# (Like Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box').
Me I never adjust my tuning. I just keep playing the five string and can transpose anything to anywhere. ONLY when a song was written in drop-D I sometimes tune my lowest strings in A and D but if at all possible I will stick to standard tuning.

If I were playing a four string, I would need several basses tuned differently.

 

[Hardy]

I need 5 seconds to tune my bass to low C. For low D I use the drop D tuner. I tried it for a long time, but I don’t like playing 5 string basses.

 

[Hoggles]

The built in thumb rest on these things are a nice feature, I guess.

 

[Luc67]

The possibilities of a 4 strings are so endless ...
When I counted 2 times to infinity I would go to a 5 strings

 

[DiMarco]

I am trying to figure out for myself why I draw the line at 5 strings and not play a 6 instead. Can't really figure it out to be honest. A high C would allow me to play some lovely chords... Yet somehow I stick with 5 strings.

I'd like a high C string but I can't quite put my finger on it.

 

[Hardy]

I‘m thinking about stringing my 10 string EADGC. It only sits on the wall atm.

 

[DiMarco]

That would actually make a lot of sense, Hardy.

 

[Gnermo]

A five string does just that, add 5 notes.
Not really useful for what I do, and prefer the feel of a 4 string.


4 > 6 > 5

 

[Bademeister]

A five string does just that, add 5 notes.
Not really useful for what I do, and prefer the feel of a 4 string.


4 > 6 > 5

well, it also offers additional options / positions for playing the other 19 notes on that string

 

[DiMarco]

Each player has their favourite, and this thread is of course reasonably tongue-in-cheek.
I just love fivers for not having to move my left hand around so much, the ability to more easily play a dampened low E (hate the sound of open strings) and barely ever having to detune for any reason. You really do get used to the slightly fatter neck and once it plays as easy for you as any four string there is no real reason to ever want to play a four string bass again.

 

[Hardy]

 

[BrusselsBass]

Utter nonsense - wanna have fanned frets too ??? When you play a "42, you ain't need no B

 

[DiMarco]

Don't need one, I could also bring 3 four string basses instead of just 1 five string.