What is the difference between four and five string bass guitars?

Answer 1

Bass Guitars A four string bass has an open string arrangement consisting of E, A , D , and G (from thickest to thinnest). This is the standard bass arrangement. The five string bass also has the E, A, D, and G arrangement, but adds an extra low B string above the E. This allows for a broader reach in note pitch since you are allowed for extra notes with the B string. For instance, on a standard four string bass you would have to tune down the E string two frets to get the dropped D pitch. But with a five string bass, there is no need to tune your E string since the D can be played on the third fret of the newly added fifth string (the B string). This lower B is especially popular with the modern hard rock/thrash metal crowd, and some of the screamo bands. For many players, there is a struggle with the low-b being "sloppy", which can largely be corrected by using a longer scale neck (35" at a minimum) and/or a different brand or gauge of strings Standard four string bass: E A D G Five string bass: B E A D G Six string bass: B E A D G C NB: you can also, if you wish, instead of using the extra string for a low B, you can retune the first four strings into standard tuning, I.e, E-A-D-G, and have the highest string as a high C. This arrangement is used quite frequently by bassists who prefer tighter strings, and an extra range up high, as well as getting a deeper, more bass-y sound from the thicker E string.

Answer 2

The bass among other things gives the music and rhythm depth. The more strings the higher the possibility in pitch; to high and the bass loses its original purpose of depth and beat. That being said, there are now basses that are five string instruments.

immrsam:

For starters, they reduced the amount of strings because of the thickness of the strings. It is a lot more comfortable to play. Yet you can find just as many 5 string bass's as 4 strings. There are also many 6 strings on the market. I have also seen up to 8 string bass's on the available for sale, as well as private guitar builders who have made them with as many as 14 strings. Although the were played almost as an upright.

*Correction: the number of strings was never 'reduced', the electric bass was developed from the upright bass (aka Double Bass or Contrabass) shortly after the introduction of the electric guitar. Jazz bassists were finding it hard to be heard over the top of the highly amplified electric guitars so followed the "if you can't beat them, join them" approach and created Bass guitars, with the same scale length, strings and tuning as a Double Bass since that was what they knew. (the similarities in standard tuning between the lowest strings of a guitar and the 4 strings of a bass is a coincidence as far as I am aware)

The Double Bass is a member of the string instrument family, a group of instruments (violin, viola, cello and double bass), descended from the viola da gamba and similar old bowed instruments, which have developed to have four strings (and occasionally, more recently, five), as the best solution to the many problems surrounding their construction.

Since Bass Guitars, with their solid construction, have no issues with the weight-strength-tension capability ratio, they have been able expand the number of strings to give players a more extensive range. Although Pastorius never needed more than four so I don't see why anyone else should :P

Answer 3

First of all, a "bass-guitar" is not a "bass-guitar" it's a electric bass. To tell the difference between a electric bass and a guitar is the electric bass has a lower sound to fit into the beat and the guitar has a higher pitch sound, even a acoustic guitar.

Answer 4

This is like asking, "what's the difference between a shark and a dolphin?", because they are very similar and very different. I just did a paper on the differences, so here goes:

GUITAR:

-6 strings

-shorter neck

-has different EQ adjustments

-USUALLY has more of a right-handed cutaway

-strings are about 3x thinner (no joke!) Average measurement of a guitar high E string's thickness starts at .1

BASS:

-4 strings (most common)

-long neck

-has more of a bass-adjusted EQ

-string gauge starts at low E at .4

Sorry about the gauges, they're not comparable because I chose different strings for both.

Answer 5

You should start with a four string. Then once your metal enough for a five string go for it.

Answer 6

Because the Bass Guitar was conceived as a "guitar" version of the upright double bass, and is tuned to the same pitches. The upright double bass has - four strings.