Comments on: Why Play 6-String Bass Guitar?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 13:15:26 +0000

this Isn’t exactly accurate. I’ve already seen this stated but a typical 6 string has a thicker neck and is tuned B.E.A.D.G.C. I recently got a 6 string, and before that my main instrument was bass. I played some guitar but I never took any guitar lessons, but I got pretty comfortable playing guitar, and it still wasn’t comfortable for me to play. Currently I’m still warming up. Not to mention slap is a lot harder to play on a 6 string. If we’re only talking about this kind of 6 string bass then I can see that it’d be a bit easier. I can’t say myself since I haven’t exactly tried it.

By: Grahamissenile

Grahamissenile — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 23:27:33 +0000

Bass pedals on an organ or other keyboard do not extend to a C “in the octave BELOW where a 5-string Bass goes” because there is no octave below that, it’s the zero octave. A C-1 would be around 8Hz, or 16Hz in C0, the same octave as the lowest note on a 5 string bass, and that’s still well below the range of human hearing so Graham is full of it. Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you know what you’re talking about.

By: Graham

Graham — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 17:14:18 +0000

I am intrigued to read some of the comments here – I own 4, 5 and 6-string basses and have played a variety of different styles with different bands since 1961, so I set them up differently.
I also play keyboards, so I’m used to having Bass pedals which go down to a low C – in the octave BELOW where a 5-string Bass goes.
I normally have my 6-string ( AxL ) tuned down to the E an octave below the ‘normal’ 4-string bass, ( using heavier gauge strings ) then in equal fifths across the other strings. That way, as the neck has 24 frets, I can play the same fingering patterns anywhere I want, within a four octave range.
Bass is all about getting the effect you need, so don’t be restricted to ‘standard’ tunings.

By: cumi

cumi — Sat, 31 Oct 2020 21:07:29 +0000

John Lennon was indeed a revolutionary bassist

By: JLR

JLR — Sat, 09 May 2020 00:23:29 +0000

For the commenter, “John”, who left the comment that a “true 6 string bass” is the B-C version with the 34inch scale, the Bass VI bass guitar and it’s variant, such as the Teisco tribute here, were actually in production for almost 20 years -starting with Danelectro in the mid 1950’s- before Anthony Jackson commissioned the first 34 inch scale, B-C “true” six bass guitar in the early 70’s.

So actually, the Bass VI and it’s variants were the original, true 6 string bass guitars. Don’t get me wrong, I love my full-scale Ibanez 6 string, but there’s something special about the feel of a Bass VI that can’t be replicated on any other instrument.

By: Carter Reid

Carter Reid — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:54:31 +0000

Mark Sandman experimented with a lot of different bass guitars while in Morphine and the earlier Treat Her Right bands. He ended up with a two bass played with a slide, brilliantly. Most of my favorite bass players play a traditional 4 string bass and it really isn’t about the number of strings but rather the guy (or girl) playing them.

By: Jaden Black

Jaden Black — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 22:17:14 +0000

A six string bass is actually typically tuned to BEADGC

By: Kirk Bolas

Kirk Bolas — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 18:46:50 +0000

As pointed out, there are some significant differences between a 6-string bass guitar and the Bass VI (aka Tic Tac bass). While implied by another commenter, it should also be noted that the Bass VI lends itself to being played more like a standard electric guitar while the 6-string bass is played like, well a bass, e.g., like a 4-string bass but with the extended range afforded by the low B and high C strings. The Bass VI has more in common with its cousin the baritone guitar than the traditional electric bass guitar. I own and play all 3 instruments and maybe it’s just my style, but that’s how I relate and play the respective baritone, Bass VI and the traditional bass guitar (4, 5 or 6 string).

By: John

John — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 21:47:45 +0000

All I can say is that my Ibanez SR 806 6 string bass with black beauty strings is an absolute joy to play. You MUST travel up the neck! The clarity and jazziness it brings is just too much fun!

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 20:30:38 +0000

Bro, do you even play bass?

By: Derek Andrews

Derek Andrews — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 20:50:11 +0000

love this article.

Would you mind if I shared it on my blog?

http://www.livemusicinvancouver.info

Regards, derek

By: Bill Jones

Bill Jones — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 16:04:50 +0000

My creed is NEVER play a bass like a guitar!
“Great bass players go half way up the neck , then back down”- Keith Ferguson (Texas Blues Bass Legend)

By: Christophe

Christophe — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 15:56:31 +0000

I picked up a Squier VI while ago on impulse a while ago and it’s just a gas to play. A bass with a vibrato? How can you beat that?
I actually have a great time with it just sitting in front of the TV improvising my own bits of the soundtrack – a bit of bass here, some guitar there – it does it all!
Have a couple of drinks and flail at one for a while and you’ll be sold too!

By: Paolo

Paolo — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 15:48:38 +0000

As far as the Fender Bass VI goes, a great starting pont is Peter Green who used it on extended live jams of “The Green Manalishi.

https://youtu.be/AnXhgXEoUvA

By: John

John — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 20:28:01 +0000

A distinction needs to be made here between a true six string bass and what is commonly called a Bass VI. A true six string bass is usually tuned BEADGC in addition to having a 34 inch scale length and relatively thick strings like a standard bass guitar (with the inclusion of the even thicker low B string and the thinner high C string). A Bass VI, by contrast, is tuned in standard tuning (an octave below six string guitar tuning), has a 30 inch scale length and uses string gauges that are thicker than a six string guitar but thinner than a six string bass. As noted in the article, the string spacing and neck thickness (and radius) are generally different also.