Beginner needs learning plan help: 5-string with pick, 4-string with finger style?

[Junta]

Beginner here folks! go easy...

I am an advanced beginner guitar player, and a pretty much novice bass player in his late 40s... No gigs, no jamming. Get drums from the computer, and record my songs - that's my passion, hobby, and pretty much all I do during the Canadian winter...

Demanding job, family, so I can only do online lessons (both guitar and bass).

I think my progress with guitar is not too bad. With bass, it is not going too well... I am doing well when I plug into a Darkglass Alpha/Omega on my Dingwall NG-2 5 string... We are talking heavy genres obviously. I might even be (very slowly) developing my own style: very distorted bass riffs PLUS undistorted, lock-with-the-kick-drum type fundamental second bass line, with electric guitar thrown in here and there...

It is all fine, but I can only do all that with a pick on my dingwall. I suck at 'loose string control' with 5-string with finger style. And yes, the genre does call for low B (Guitars mostly in drop C). With the 5 string, access to E with finger style is also much more difficult (FOR ME).

Here is what I would like you to weigh in on: I am thinking of buying a 4 string bass so that I can concentrate on my online bass lessons with that guitar. Finger style, string control, start with some simple chords, etc. I am thinking, IF I get better on the 4, soon I might see some improvement on the 5 too.

Insights from your own learning or teaching experience would be appriciated.

Cheers!

 

[Gearhead17]

I suggest spending more time playing finger style on the 5 string. Alternating middle to index fingers REALLY SLOWLY one string at a time with a metronome is a good way to start. Then slowly start playing the other strings. Sounds like you are trying to go the same speed with your fingers as you are with your pick. Bad move! You have to build up speed with the fingers.

For me, playing a 5 is much simpler and playing a 4 string is much tougher because the string spacing is so much further apart. I don't think it's a good idea to go to a 4 string for just finger style as the problems you have now with finger playing is guaranteed to follow you to the 4 string bass.

 

[Standalone]

Four string. Finger style. Keep it classic.

It’s hard to keep a low B string under control. It wants to flop around while you are playing the usual money making notes...

 

[two fingers]

I suggest spending more time playing finger style on the 5 string. Alternating middle to index fingers REALLY SLOWLY one string at a time with a metronome is a good way to start. Then slowly start playing the other strings. Sounds like you are trying to go the same speed with your fingers as you are with your pick. Bad move! You have to build up speed with the fingers.

For me, playing a 5 is much simpler and playing a 4 string is much tougher because the string spacing is so much further apart. I don't think it's a good idea to go to a 4 string for just finger style as the problems you have now with finger playing is guaranteed to follow you to the 4 string bass.

Agreed 100%.

Go back to the fundamentals on the 5. You have a GREAT instrument. There is no rule whatsoever that says you have to learn on a 4.

What you DO have to do is stick to the basics on finger style until you nail them.

Try using your plucking hand thumb to mute. Stick it in between the B and E strings when you are playing above them. When you move to play on tue E string, prop that thumb on the B string. When you go to play on the B, prop it on the pickup. It sounds complicated now, but eventually you won't even knkw you're doing it.

But, yeah. You own a Dingwall. You don't need another instrument to learn on.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

I use my thumb instead of a pick. Might give that some thought.

I do not own a five string. Gave it some thought and came to the conclusion, right or wrong, the only need I see for a 5 string is if I were to play from standard notation. Its here that the low B string can catch the low ledger notes found in standard notation sheet music. With a 4 string low ledger notes can become a problem.

But, as I never play, in public, from standard notation the ole 4 string does it for me.

Offered for what it is worth...

 

[Junta]

Thanks folks.

I know the ng2 is indeed an inspiring instrument - I should stick to it I guess. I might try a few lessons from pros on finger style. I think it will be money better spent than on a 4-string at this point.

I might visit the 4-string idea after making some progress.

Cheers.

 

[sean_on_bass]

I will say having a 4 string around is a good thing, but not for the reasons listed. Stick with the 5, i don't feel you will get anywhere any faster by switching to a 4 string at this point. Feel free to use that B string as a glorified thumb rest if those low notes are giving you trouble currently.

 

[Junta]

@Gearhead17 , @Standalone , @two fingers , @MalcolmAmos and @Seanto

Thanks so much again!

I caught my self several times in the last month lusting drool after an all-passive electronics, 4-string MusicMan Caprice... I think I am basically trying to 'trick myself' into buying that guitar with excuses about learning finger style ...

I mean look at it! drool

I almost bought it today! And... When I plugged it in, within 30 sec I realized that there was something wrong with the wiring of the knobs (the volume would not turn off what ever knob you tried). The bass went to the store's repair department, and I came home empty handed...

Divine intervention? I think so! Soooo, I am determined to give my best to learning finger style with my 5-string Dingwall. I tried to learning 'got to be real' by Cheryl Lynn... I liked this teenager punk's effort! He is feeling it...



That got me in contact with slap style for a few notes!

I would be curious to find out if you fell the 'same way' (depending on your advice) with slap style with a 4-string vs a 5-string... And perhaps equally important, about all-passive electronics vs active electronics with slap style ...

Cheers!

 

[sean_on_bass]

Good question and i do feel the same way. With slap, the big difference between the 5 and 4 string is the space between the strings. Since 5 strings usually have tighter spacing, it can be slightly more challenging to be accurate with your slaps and pops, but in no way deal breaking. I did quite a bit of slap on my 5 string and never felt hindered by it. If anything, it made me a better slapper...lol. Mike Gordon slaps quite well on a 5 string.

 

[vindibona1]

Good question and i do feel the same way. With slap, the big difference between the 5 and 4 string is the space between the strings. Since 5 strings usually have tighter spacing, it can be slightly more challenging to be accurate with your slaps and pops, but in no way deal breaking. I did quite a bit of slap on my 5 string and never felt hindered by it. If anything, it made me a better slapper...lol. Mike Gordon slaps quite well on a 5 string.

An interesting observation. I'm only a "newly serious" bass player with a lot to learn and I see where the OP is coming from and like what Seanto wrote. I've got three basses- one 4-string and two 5-strings. One 5-string has 19mm spacing 48mm nut while my other has 18mm spacing and 43mm nut. And what Seanto says is true. Slapping is a bit more difficult on the narrower stringed one because you have to be more precise. But the advantage is that; that is helps you become precise. Interestingly, my 4-string has the same string spacing as my larger 5-string, but in a 6 week period I've become less and less eager to play it. For whatever reason I've grown used to that extra girth of both 5 strings and can move between them relatively effortlessly.

I guess the bottom line is that you'll get used to what you practice with. Of course there will always be something that works a bit better in one situation or another. And guys like us always get GAS. And that's ok, cause sometimes the new toys keep us playing and practicing.

 

[J Posega]

Four string. Finger style. Keep it classic.

It’s hard to keep a low B string under control. It wants to flop around while you are playing the usual money making notes...

Not on a Dingwall.

@Junta - just practice everything on your NG2. ‘Learning’ something on a 4 won’t really help much with your (IMO bizarre) issue with accurately playing the E on a five string. It’ll be boring, but focus on extended scales rather than songs.

 

[Standalone]

Not on a Dingwall.

For a beginner?

I’m not talking about scale length and the type of response of the B string. I’m talking about novice players who make all kinds of unnecessary muddy noise with a fiver by accidentally setting the string in motion.

 

[vindibona1]

For a beginner?

I’m not talking about scale length and the type of response of the B string. I’m talking about novice players who make all kinds of unnecessary muddy noise with a fiver by accidentally setting the string in motion.

While a 5 string bass has some things that one has to be aware of develop a technique suitable muting technique, IMO learning on a 4-string isn't going to help you learn to do that. Of course it poses an additional challenge for someone who says they're struggling with bass development. The OP already has an investment in a Dingwall NG-2 5 stringer and at some point he's going to want to learn to deal with it. I don't see how avoiding the issue of the extra string is going to help? Is there a risk of picking up bad habits on a 4'er that will have to be broken on the 5?

 

[Standalone]

A top notch four string player will be better on a fiver — some technique surely transfers. I don’t think there’d be any “bad habits.”

If the goal is to be a master of the fiver, then I guess go right to the fiver. If the goal is to become a decent player more quickly/easily— a four should do nicely.

 

[J Posega]

For a beginner?

I’m not talking about scale length and the type of response of the B string. I’m talking about novice players who make all kinds of unnecessary muddy noise with a fiver by accidentally setting the string in motion.

2, 4, 5, 8 or 13 strings, it doesn’t matter. Proper plucking, fingering, and muting techniques don’t change all that much due to the number of strings. The B is only a problem for bass noobs when the music they’re trying to play is traditionally done on 4 strings. The best ways to fix this are through practice. Work on scales and arpeggios that use the B, learn the notes on the neck, and transpose or shift 4 string tunes to incorporate the B.

 

[Standalone]

The OP already has an investment in a Dingwall NG-2 5 stringer and at some point he's going to want to learn to deal with it.

Ha, to be honest I skimmed over that detail. In that case you’re right.