4-string or 5 string

[basstze]

4 or 5?

5 stringers doesn't necessary make for better slap pop. I've played with 4,5 and 6-stringers and the main difference is that with a 5 or 6 stringer you are able to explore the instrument more sonically. The advantage with a 6 stringer is that you have a low B and a high C which makes for greater virtuoso soloing and performance. The downside though, is that it is definitely harder to slap on a 5 string and more so for a 6 string. So if you like the fancy-pansy stuffs like double-handed polyphonic tapping and jazz-fusion soloing, go for the 6 string scylla monster of a bass. But if you're just starting out, start with a 4 stringer and build your foundations. Remember, FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION.

ps: Playing a 4 stringer doesn't make you a noob. Look at Wooten!!

ps(again): Just giving my two thousand dollars' worth.

 

[shinobi]

if you have SERIOUSLY small hands, a short scale bass like the fender mustang would be suitable. but to me its more of a char boh bass. alot of small guys are able to handle standard scale basses

ibanez got slim necks. if you go for fender, a jazz bass has a slimmer neck than a p bass. there is also a difference in nut width, but i'm not sure. gear-bass got a sticky on this

 

[Ocean]

haha, i think i will be able to manage the standard scale. perhaps i shall wait a little longer b4 buying a bass. Maybe wait for sweelee sale or maybe a good deal here at soft might come out.

 

[b33r]

i say wait for a good deal here, swee lee stuff is often overpriced.

but really, don't worry about having small hands. i have small girly hands on a big, long Thunderbird. i just move around on the fretboard alot.

 

[eieio]

1. 4 string or 5 string

4 string standard tuning ( E A D G )
5 string standard tuning ( B E A D G )

aah no wonder, so the 1st string is B
how do i start playing a 5 string fretless?

 

[rylche]

I don't think 5 string basses are for slap and pop bassists, as it's much easier to slap accurately with the wider string spacing of a 4. Unless you have really huge hands and can handle a 'normal-spaced' 5-string!

I find very little use for a 5 string as I simply detune my E string when lower ranges are needed. That said, I seldom find myself needing to do that unless I'm doing some heavy rock.

4-strings are much easier to learn on! You will find it easier to mute the strings while playing them as there are simply less of them to be dealth with. By the way, welcome to the bass fraternity!

 

[eieio]

im now trying my newly acquired fretless, like difficult to play like that.. heheh

 

[KeDraiv]

go listen to jaco pastorius

 

[Ocean]

thx to all who has advised me! decided im gonna settle on a 4-string bass.
Right now waiting and hoping for a good deal to appear, maybe waiting for sweelee sale

Good luck to all who's having o's right nw!

 

[eieio]

cant even hit proper sound, how to do jaco? :mrgreen:

 

[KeDraiv]

lol, u can look up for his video lessons.
steve bailey also has some pretty cool stuff.

btw
do you have the basics of playing fretless?

 

[hamison]

its better to start with 4 strings since most songs out there are mainly 4 strings and that for a beginner its better to start off with it and also if your hands are small yea 4 strings

 

[eieio]

hey great intro, thanks again.. the aria look like my 5fretless
will go through steve bailey stuff, the clinic with wooten is awesome!
basic as in? well im not trained, i can strum basic guitar but pathetic on bass lol

:mrgreen:

 

[Ocean]

hey great intro, thanks again.. the aria look like my 5fretless
will go through steve bailey stuff, the clinic with wooten is awesome!
basic as in? well im not trained, i can strum basic guitar but pathetic on bass lol

:mrgreen:

then wudnt it be better to start on a bass with frets? isnt finding the correct notes troublesome without frets if ur not used to it?

 

[eieio]

then wudnt it be better to start on a bass with frets? isnt finding the correct notes troublesome without frets if ur not used to it?

hmm you got a point there
who got 4string wanna trade with my 5string?

on a side note, its more like a 'fatal attraction' thingy
you know when you got that feeling, it just meant to be yours?

ok i'll elaborate later, trying to keep it short & sweet for now hehe
the pro bass players around here might be laughing their heart out reading this..


:mrgreen:

 

[yuujin]

im just wondering why did you buy a fretless when you just started?
the sales person didnt advise you not to?

 

[eieio]

yuujin, i bought over from a nice fellow guitarist
guess he's fret less experimenting mode gotten into me now
its like on a "reignited passion" trip, im all rusty & trying to start over again
gettin the hang of it, there're fret markers though so not that bad after all hehe

:mrgreen: