Played guitar for over a decade and, when playing bass, mostly stick to fours simply because finding a fiver that sounds good, plays good, weighs good, and costs good has eluded me thus far. The only sixes I've played were a Rogue (meh), a few Ibanezes (meh), and a couple of Ken Smiths (weird + $,$$$). Find me a P5 that has a B like that old Warwick but weighs less than eight pounds, balances right, and I'll be a five player.
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Do Bassists who start out as Guitarists prefer 6- or 5- or 4-string basses?
- Thread starter Big Shrek
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- 4-string bassists guitarists start
- Feb 5, 2013
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- Endorsing Artist: Used Fender Lead Sleds and Hartke cabs with bent grills
Been playing guitar since I was 6 or 7 yo (now 54 yo), been on electric guitar since 14, and got serious on bass just over ten years ago, starting on Ibanez SR 4 bangers. Just bought my first 6er in January. So 4-strings took me a long way. But a 6er was inevitable. I'll never buy another 4 since I've quickly warmed to what the low B can bring to the table.
For me, one has nothing to do with the other. I played guitar for about a year in high school before starting bass, but I could already play several other instruments and knew how to read.
Not a thing I’d ever given a moment’s thought to. Interesting idea but not applicable to me at all.
We will expect a “carrots” option in your future polls.
Not a thing I’d ever given a moment’s thought to. Interesting idea but not applicable to me at all.
We will expect a “carrots” option in your future polls.
I prefer 6 but I used to play 7 string guitars. The tuning between guitar and bass is different anyway so it's not like chords or scales are transferable on the higher strings either. I like a 6 string bass because of the range of notes available in one position and the upper and lower range. It's not really anything to do with the time I spent playing guitar as the way I play bass is totally different to how I played guitar.
I started playing bass after 40 years of playing guitar. I went with a 5-string as my primary bass to learn on specifically because I didn’t want it to be so familiar. The last thing I wanted was to play bass like a guitarist.
started on guitar 30 years ago
then transitioned to bass 5 strings
then transitioned to 4 only
4 is enough for me
then transitioned to bass 5 strings
then transitioned to 4 only
4 is enough for me
I played guitar for about 15 years before adding bass to the mix.
I got a 4 because basses have 4 strings. If I want 6 strings, I’ll pick up a guitar.
Now 5 is an interesting number. When I first started playing bass, it really bothered me that they (standard 4 string electric basses) didn’t go as low as "the sound in my head". However, the more I played bass, the more I started hearing them for what they are, range-wise. Accordingly, the desire for a 5 has definitely dimmed over the years. The parts I hear in my head (without a bass in my hands) now translate right onto the 4 string and all is once more well in my world.
Even back when I was jonesin’ for a 5er a bit (occasionally quite a bit), I never did get one because I don’t like the look, people talked about needing a certain amp to do the low B justice and I was already tapped out for $ with 2 basses and 1 nice amp, none of the bands I like use 5 strings, the fretboards seem intimidatingly wide, I definitely don’t need any more weight in an instrument and did I mention I don’t like the look? However, the prospect of going much lower than guitar, really being able to take it down to another depth, does have its attraction.
Beyond that, also playing guitar makes me want a 6 string bass less, not more. However, if I had never played guitar, being the melodic kind of guy I am, I could see me wanting to take excursions up into the higher notes such as only a 6 string (or differently tuned bass with fewer strings) would allow if bass were my only means of musical expression. However, that would only be in a kind of solo home way — doing it in a band would be getting pretty far away from the type of music I actually enjoy listening to on a regular basis.
Overall, playing guitar makes me think guitars have 6 strings and basses have 4, and working from there, each is awesome in its own way
I got a 4 because basses have 4 strings. If I want 6 strings, I’ll pick up a guitar.
Now 5 is an interesting number. When I first started playing bass, it really bothered me that they (standard 4 string electric basses) didn’t go as low as "the sound in my head". However, the more I played bass, the more I started hearing them for what they are, range-wise. Accordingly, the desire for a 5 has definitely dimmed over the years. The parts I hear in my head (without a bass in my hands) now translate right onto the 4 string and all is once more well in my world.
Even back when I was jonesin’ for a 5er a bit (occasionally quite a bit), I never did get one because I don’t like the look, people talked about needing a certain amp to do the low B justice and I was already tapped out for $ with 2 basses and 1 nice amp, none of the bands I like use 5 strings, the fretboards seem intimidatingly wide, I definitely don’t need any more weight in an instrument and did I mention I don’t like the look? However, the prospect of going much lower than guitar, really being able to take it down to another depth, does have its attraction.
Beyond that, also playing guitar makes me want a 6 string bass less, not more. However, if I had never played guitar, being the melodic kind of guy I am, I could see me wanting to take excursions up into the higher notes such as only a 6 string (or differently tuned bass with fewer strings) would allow if bass were my only means of musical expression. However, that would only be in a kind of solo home way — doing it in a band would be getting pretty far away from the type of music I actually enjoy listening to on a regular basis.
Overall, playing guitar makes me think guitars have 6 strings and basses have 4, and working from there, each is awesome in its own way
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As someone who plays both guitar & bass comparing the number of strings to choice of bass seems rather daft. First off: they are - for all intents & purposes - completely different instruments IMHE. Second: if I was doing a project that called for a 6-string I’d play a 6. The same for a 5-string. In my current situation anything more than a 4-string would be overkill.
As far as guitar goes: I tune down to D standard as my base tuning and go from there. Drop C; Drop C partially capoed at the 2nd fret (which creates a D sus tuning); Standard tuning by capoing the 2nd fret, etc.
You pick an instrument and you make it work for your needs...
As far as guitar goes: I tune down to D standard as my base tuning and go from there. Drop C; Drop C partially capoed at the 2nd fret (which creates a D sus tuning); Standard tuning by capoing the 2nd fret, etc.
You pick an instrument and you make it work for your needs...
I still am the guitarist in my band, but i play bass for enjoyment, my first bass was a Squier VM 70s Jazz (Natural). I bought it because the wider neck felt better in my hand, i did not like the low B, so i bought new strings and tuned it E-C.
rtav
Millionaire Stuntman, Half-Jackalope
Your poll results are obvious, and the comments support them.
Among guitarists who take up the bass, there is no correlation between a guitar usually having 6 strings and a bass having 6 strings, for reasons given in the comments.
There is zero evidence that such players choose 5 strings due to any influence from playing a 6 string guitar, either.
The overwhelming majority play 4 string basses for a variety of reasons, just like everyone else.
Although it’s a infinitesimally small sample, it is clear that there is no correlation at all between the number of strings on either instrument and what s musician decides to play.
Among guitarists who take up the bass, there is no correlation between a guitar usually having 6 strings and a bass having 6 strings, for reasons given in the comments.
There is zero evidence that such players choose 5 strings due to any influence from playing a 6 string guitar, either.
The overwhelming majority play 4 string basses for a variety of reasons, just like everyone else.
Although it’s a infinitesimally small sample, it is clear that there is no correlation at all between the number of strings on either instrument and what s musician decides to play.
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Impossible to answer unless you are the specific guitarist converting to bass.
When that is said I think most guitarists who converts to bass would use a 4 string, just like I did.
Mostly because 4 string basses are overall most common, but also I think because the neck would be more comfortable coming from a small guitar neck.
Also since 5 and 6 string basses are not usually tuned like a guitar there wouldn't really be any advantages of using those coming from guitar.
When that is said I think most guitarists who converts to bass would use a 4 string, just like I did.
Mostly because 4 string basses are overall most common, but also I think because the neck would be more comfortable coming from a small guitar neck.
Also since 5 and 6 string basses are not usually tuned like a guitar there wouldn't really be any advantages of using those coming from guitar.
Yea, I have to agree that there's really no correlation. I started out as a lead guitar player, switched over to a 4-string (back when there was no such thing as a 5-string bass), but have switched to a 5-er, and couldn't be happier. All it has to do with is the range of the bass. Six is just to clumsy for me.
Depends on the genre. If you've played indie classic rock as a guitarist, a 4 string will likely be adequate. I was a metal guitarist and got a 5 string when I switched since the low B was crucial for drop C tunings and such. Switched to a 6er after a few years and fell in love with the darkside. As far as guitarists switching straight to 6ers I would say it's a completely different animal and my guitarist who is a pretty good bassist on a 4 can't make it work on my 6.
I started out on guitar. I still play regularly. When I started on bass, 4 string was "the norm" and there were way more options, even though 5'ers and 6'ers were kind of available, so I guess I didn't really have too much of a challenge to make a decision. Bass has been my primary instrument since I made the switch. I've since owned all 3 options. I currently own 2 of the options. 4 strings are just "where it's at" for me. Being used to 6 strings on a guitar had nothing to do with my decision.
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I had a 5 string bass back in the ‘90’s when 5, 6, 7, .... string basses we’re all the rage. But, I realized I rarely played the fifth string. It was just a thumb rest.
So I sold that bass and have played 4 string basses since then.
So I sold that bass and have played 4 string basses since then.
Guitar was my primary instrument for about eight or nine years (though I never took it seriously enough) and I think when I switched to bass I wanted to experience the instrument in its "original" or "intended" form. I wanted to learn the best learn fundamentals I could. I never owned an 8 string guitar or anything so why jump to a new instrument and add on extra strings? I thought maybe I'd "move up" to five or six strings later, but I've never felt a need to. Just something about a 4 string - elegance in simplicity I suppose.