How a 5-String Bass Guitar Works

How a 5-String Bass Guitar Works
By Keith Dean

Even though we mainly address issues concerning guitar players in these columns, as we grow with our skills on the guitar, and eventually start making music with other musicians, it's helpful to become aware of some of the nuances of the other instrumentation we may encounter in a group situation.

One such instrument is the bass guitar. The bass has the responsibility in a group or band, of carrying the bottom end of the rhythm section.

The bass player works closely with the drummer, and a top notch rhythm section is one in which the bass player and drummer work seamlessly together, nearly as one unit.

On a normal 4-string bass guitar, the four strings are tuned just like the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings on the guitar. The difference being that the bass strings are much "thicker" in diameter and gauge, and are tuned to a lower "octave" than a guitar string.

The strings on a 4-string bass are tuned like this:

E A D G

Most bass guitars are of the 4-string variety, but an ever increasing model that has been in existence for quite a while now, is the 5-string bass.

On a 5-string bass, and extra string is added to the low end of the bass guitar. In most cases, this string is of a large diameter thickness, and is tuned to a low "B".

This tuning allows the bassist to extend the low end range of the instrument beyond that of a normal 4-string bass, which can add a whole new dimension to the music.

Then notes on a 5-string bass are tuned like this:

B E A D G

Although this extra "B" string would obviously add some new tonal possibilities for the bassist in the key of "B" - one of the more common ways the extra 5th string is used is when playing in the key of "D".

On the extra 5th string, the "D" note is located on the 3rd fret of the new 5th string. With a normal 4-string bass, the player is limited to the open D string (or the 5th fret of the A string), to give them the lowest possible bass note when playing in the key of D.

Now, with a 5-string, the bassists can "reach down" an octave from that and add some serious bottom end to songs in the common key of "D".

Bass players that are used to a 4-string bass, and then attempt to play a 5-string bass, sometimes face a challenge making the transition. The reason is, that they are used to the "E" string being closest to them when playing, but now that is replaced by the new "B" string, so a big adjustment must be made.

But, in the end, most bass players find that the increased choices in range and tonality are well worth going through a brief period of adjustment.

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Keith Dean is founder of http://www.AdultGuitarLessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for Jason Aldean, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

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The Perfect Acoustic Bass Guitar

The Perfect Acoustic Bass Guitar
By Chris Jonas

I did not no this until recently, but the difference between a poorly made instruments and a high-quality one is enormous. Acoustic bass guitars can vary tremendously, and the one I had been using before was in pretty bad shape. The neck was bent and warped, which made it very difficult to finger correctly. The intonation was also a little bit out, so it didn't even stay in tune very well. New, it would have been a very high-quality electric bass, but my dad hadn't taken very good care of it and it showed.

I resolved to take very good care of my own acoustic bass guitar. Every day I used it, I would start by wiping it with a dry cloth, tuning it up, and checking to make sure that everything was in working order. Acoustic bass guitars are actually pretty low maintenance instruments, so as long as you keep them in the right conditions, they are not too hard to take care of. You don't want to expose them to excessive moisture or to get them too hot or too cold. Most of all, you don't want to have radical temperature changes. Basically, don't leave it in the car or in your unheated apartment in winter if you can avoid it.

It is amazing what having a nice sounding instrument will do for you. I have experimented a little bit with playing bass before as I told you, but it has never felt anything like this. The sound was so rich and full on the acoustic bass guitar that I just couldn't stop playing. My fingers were practically bleeding by the time I was done practicing every day, and the next day I was always ready for more. I knew that, if I persisted, I would be good in no time.

In a lot of rock bands, the guitar player with the inferior skills ends up playing the bass. As a result, there are a lot of lousy bass players out there. When I first touched this acoustic bass guitar, however, I knew that I would become good. I would not just be another second string musician. I would specialize in playing the acoustic bass guitar and really investigate all of the sonic possibilities. I'm not there yet, but I'm definitely making progress. Any day now, I will be the bass player I want to be.

Chris Jonas is a chef working in Soho, New York. Check out these great Guitar Lessons reviews and articles or the more specific Learn Bass Guitar articles and resources.

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