5 String vs 4 String Bass: Breaking Down the Key Differences 

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So essentially it's the age old question To B or not to B

I only could afford a 1 string bass

I chose a 5 string even though they say you should start on a 4 string because a 5 string is 2 basses in one: i just play it like a 4 string and use the B string when I need it for sutff like Korn or Slipknot

I have a 5 and a 4 string and for the genre I play, I find myself using the 4 almost exclusively. The only place I like to use my 5 is when I'm playing funk or metal.

It is not the amount of strings, it is how you use them.

To me the most important difference is that you have an extra string to mute (against resonating). String damper at the end of the neck does assist, but only partly. Resting your dumb on it is convenient, but then still the E to mute. Resting on the E and with your dumb damping the B at the same time is also an option. Nevertheless, it is more to take care of. For having a decent sound of the B-string a certain stiffness af te neck is needed. However, I play a 5-string fretless, and that one gives more harmonics on the lowest string than a fretted one. The B-string is not used often, but sometimes it is fine to have it. Low D is well usable as a main note. Low B or C sometimes for intermediate notes (like a A - low C - Low D - low E sequence). Must say that it took me several weeks to get used to 5 strings. Somehow my right hand 'counts' downwards, and my left hand upwards. So, sometimes confusions between the hands.

B E A D tunning is a great option

Great vid and well explained, adding my experiences ive played four and five but aside of the added range I gave up my five as spent most of the time with my thumb resting on the B and i also found that most of the bass cabs i was using responded better to the low E and got muddy when going below for d, c, and b. Its a preference thing too and it didn’t matter how many times I tried to get comfortable with 5 strings, I would always be drawn and enjoy playing four strings better. So, i sold the 5 only play fours and have never looked back. A seasoned senior bass player once told me, the best bass guitar is the one that makes you want to play it! For that I have my Fender P and my Vintage VJ74 Jazz. Thank you for all the effort you put into your vids, you have a great channel.

The B string is so much thicker and heavier that it affords you flexibility in working with the rest of the band. If the lead is playing something complicated that needs to stand out, it is better to play the E and A strings so as to put out less bass energy. If you are doing a bass solo, the B string will add energy and give you some serious punch that you can't get from the other strings. The B string lets you adapt to the type of music also. A slow and soft ballad can sound better with the bass playing the higher strings. A heavy metal riff can sound louder and more punchy when driven with the B string played closer to the bridge.

I use a 4 string but with BEAD tuning instead of the standard EADG. For me 4 strings are enough

A couple thoughts (haven't tried this out myself): A 5-string bass might actually be better for people with small hands, because the same 4 strings you would have on a 4 string can be closer together. Also, if nothing else, seems like the B string would make a nice thumb rest when playing on the E string, which you don't really have on a 5 string. So even if you never use the 5th string as a string, it still serves a purpose.

I'm new to the channel, so I'm digging what I see. You made the comment "if you tune it in 4ths", that made me think, you should do a video on tuning in 5ths,this is something I've been messing with for a couple weeks, takes getting used to but the melodic lines I create now, WOW, defiantly worth a video on its own!

Enjoying your videos...lots of great info so far, really enjoyed your intro to slapping. I'm getting a pretty nice bass to start on this weekend from a coworker...you will definitely be seeing more comments from me lol

before i use to despise 5 string basses. i used to see them as being abnormal like for instance when u see a person with 11 fingers.. that type.. but now for some reason i always play 5 string. i think it looks more impressive plus u have much more notes.. would advise everyone to play 5 strings over 4s any day of the week

I play my 5 string like a 4. I never play the open E on it. It's always the 5tj fret on the B string. If you use the B string as a thumb rest then use a 4

nice video. Been wanting to add a 5 string to my collectio . I think this video helped me make up my mind.

Five string basses are a little more difficult at first, because the neck is wider. But it also a little easier because I don't have play as much to get two octaves.

I play 5s &4s & I love 4s &5s. More Tools for the job. I also love 6rs, but I have a severely injured neck that has constant pain down my arms into hands. That makes playing 6ers more of a wrestling match of pain, than just enjoying playing. I choose to enjoy playing.

Ty for this video!

Also you get lower notes obviously on 5 surely, I like the low sub option, or lower notes...

Thanks you for explaining this. Im a beginner and i didnt know if i should get a 4 or 5 string… because i have small hands.

I have three basses and they're all 4 strings. My next purchase, before my original band fizzled out, was going to be a five string but hasn't happened yet. I started playing seven string guitars back in 2003 (blame Korn) and have never gone back to six strings since. I currently play in a cover band (with over four hours of material) and I've learned that having more strings can make remembering songs harder because you can play the same song in the same key in two different positions on the neck. This can make it tricky in live situations when you've forgotten where your hand goes and you're relying on your ears to figure it out.

Nice video, thanks and subbed!

i owned a 4 string for the first 2 month than i switched to a 5 String and pretty much sold my 4 String.. I can play anything i could play on a 4 String and since i only play metal, its just easier than just have to tune down every time...

Look at rex brown, he had the 5 string there to create that octave below to distinguish the sound and let the Dimebag shine more. A low B string is an asset that really allows the guitar to standout beacuse the lowest ABC and D notes sometimes just aren't low enough.

I thinks its all about your personal sound you need. I love 5 string bass because i love deep tones of H string. Of course you can drop your E string to low but its not the same like H string. But maybe E string sounds better on 4-string bass than 5-string. Its very difficult. Another big question is fingers or pick, i prefer fingers because more bass is more bass :D

Very informative thanks

Great video Hugh. Never heard it explained that way Thanks "🎸

i like the thin neck of a 4 string. but i also like 5 strings with lower notes.

Hey bro! I have a 4 string bass but I'll to play metal and want to low tunings... What type of bass do you recommend for low tunings? Drop A or BEAD tunings for example... Do you think a 34" scale can hold these low tunings or should I look for a 35" scale bass?

I play a 5 string, I started on a 4 but I've found that the 5 string is more comfortable on my hands for some reason. Might be the wider neck. I rarely have to use my B string but it just feels nicer.

I was originally (and still am) a guitar player, who plays bass sometimes. I have only ever had 5 string basses. On the odd occasion I have tried 4 strings they feel like a toy.

I chose a 5 string even though they say you should start on a 4 string because a 5 string is 2 basses in one: i just play it like a 4 string and use the B string when I need it for sutff like Korn or Lamb of God

I have only played on one 5 string bass and I found that the E string is a lot more trebly and punchy sounding and not much low end. Not sure if they are all like that.

Thank you. What year is that Precision? I have a brown '70s P with a maple fretboard, but I think the rosewood + brown looks brilliant.

Great job...thanks....going with a 5 string.

hi, i've been playing guitar for 4 years now and been a fan of bass. i mostly listen to prog and love the heavy sharp bass tone like TOOL, TesseracT, Karnivool. should i get 5 string bass?

I do well on 4 strings and it will be forever 4. Thanks for this educational clip.

Hey so I have a 5 string and the B string seems really loose and smacks the frets. Could you tell me why it does this and how to stop or fix it?

I'm a guitarist that mostly plays Metallica covers so idk what bass to get since I want to learn. I know Jason and Cliff used 4 string, Rob uses alot of 5 strings from what I've seen. What would be better to get to start? Edit: Which would also give me more versatality when I start trying to write my own stuff?

Hello, I've been playing guitar for over a year, and planning to buy a bass... Which type of bass will you recommend? A 4 string or 5 string bass?

I use 4 string cause my music with 4 string is enough for genre pop punk

I'm a guitar player and considering this issue when thinking about getting my first bass. For me it would be mostly home studio use to have a tool for new ideas. And because I need to learn it kind of the beginning, it would be ok to learn right away with 5 string. No hassle with alternative tunings and more flexibility with just one bass. So I'm leaning towards 5 string :). Have been looking Marcus Miller V2 gen2 5-strings. That seems to have more narrow neck (46mm) than what you have in this video. My Les Paul is 43mm, so not a big difference there

I'll stick with the 4 string, on a 5 string the B string is nothing but a thumb rest for me, i just play 70s and 80s rock anyway, to each his own, great video 👍🏆.

My first bass is 5 string but its heavier than my friends 4 string bass 😂 when we play i always sit because i cant last 10 mins. While im standing My rate is 9/10 9 for 4 string 10 for 5 string Because you dont need to tune when you play some songs in drop tuning and also my tuner is playing hide and seek to me 😂

I played 4 string for 15 years. I started with 5 string aproxx.15 years ago. I still use 4 string a lot ...but I love that low B string. The low string is usually only used as an " accent" to a song normally. But through the right P.A. system that "b" ( or lower).really kicks butt. I use alternate tunings a lot...its a personal choice. Don't be scared of a 5...they are awesome.

I get 5 stings and just don’t use the G string so it’s basically BEAD tuning instead of BEADG

Wow, couldn't you find a 5-string with a wider fretboard 😂 - nice video man, and actually very on point. The extra string isn't for everybody. And I'll go one step further, if you play a 5-string, going high-C isn't for everybody either. Good vid 👏

X,Y and Z keys are different between 4str and 5 str. for example Z major needs thumb in 5 str

you're cool. nice video. thank you.

Meanwhile, I think most 5-string basses have a wider neck than my 4-string. I wanna get a 5-string now though.

If you have small hands. I’d rather you pick 4 stringed bass If you have big hands. It’s up to your choice.

I've never seen a 4 string that uses the B, E, A & D from a 5 string. I wonder why... 🤔

4 string for life

I liked the 4 and 5 string bass, so I started with one of each... 5 string bass can get complicated.... I really have to concentrate....

If I buy a 5 string bass, can I learn effectively from a 4 string method book, or would I need a 5 string method book?

I plan on playing metal so 5 string right?

I never saw the benefit other than, “I have one more string”. Just get a hip shot lever set for drop D. That low B is hardly ever gonna be used. Even Les Claypool with his six string bass hardly goes beyond those middle four strings. To be honest, most bass players use only EAD strings the vast majority of times…..what people mean to say is that it feels better with neck width for their larger hands. That’s about it. That low B is pretty much muddy sounding, no matter who plays it.

Does a five string have a wider range of playable notes/octaves than a four string?

More strings more options to play simply as that

I just tuned one of my basses to B-E-A-D. I find that I simply don't like the sound of the G string, and some notes are more comfortable to reach with that B being there.

I'm 13 and paying 5s is hard for me since the neck is soo wide and I have small fingers

Microphones matter

So the hardest is 4 string?

I love playing a 5 string but I will admit, muting is a son of a bitch. I couldn’t imagine living with a 6 or 7 string

5 strings bass name please

Apologizes for shoddy audio quality then proceeds to have delicious tone lol

4 string is better

The B string is for show, nothing more nothing less. Look at any popular metal band...Metallica,Slayer, Pantera, LOG....ect. All the bass lines are written on 4 strings. And I'm pretty sure they had the "money" to buy five strings and lay down tracks with them, but they didn't. No different then having a double bass drum. There really isn't a "need" for a double bass drum...other than to look cool. Anything that a double bass drum can do a single can do...except not look nearly as cool while doing it.

So I should get the 4 string, so women will be more amazed and impressed watching me move my hands more? 😂

5'er For Life! 😆

B E A D tuning on 4 strings doesnt really work , dont really like the tone and light gauge is unplayable

Marching band a five is better

Hot basses

Jesus is King by the way