Standard bass: 4 strings, E-A-D-G. Modern 5-string adds a low B below the E (B-E-A-D-G). The low B lets you play notes a 4th lower than a standard bass, which matters for drop-tuned rock, metal, gospel, and any genre where keyboards play low notes the bass needs to match.
When you need 5 strings
- Modern rock and metal: songs in drop-D or drop-C often go below low E.
- Worship / gospel: arrangements frequently use low Eb, D, or C as the root.
- Doubling synth bass: keyboard bass parts in pop often go below low E.
The tradeoffs
Pros: more range, no need to retune, easier to play in low keys.
Cons: wider neck (harder to reach the high strings), more weight, higher cost. The low B can sound flubby on cheaper instruments. The B string is the hardest of all bass strings to keep in tune and feeling good.
Conversion: navigating the new layout
The bottom 5 frets of the B string put you at:
- Open B: B0 (very low)
- B fret 5: E1 (same as open E on a 4-string)
So the open B is a 4th lower than the open E. Most riffs you know on 4-string can be played in the same physical position on a 5-string, you just have an extra low string available when you need it.
Try one in a shop
Before you buy, play a 5-string in a music store for 15-30 minutes. The neck width is a real adjustment; some players love it, others hate it. Don't commit until you've actually held one.
For this track
Everything we cover assumes 4-string. The techniques (slap, walking, Dorian) all work on 5- and 6-string basses too; you just have more notes available. The fundamentals don't change.
Next: playing along with Stevie Wonder's Superstition, our intermediate masterclass song.