Switching Between 4, 5, and 6 String Basses (Video)

by Ari 25 Apr 2019 2 minute read

Multiple Basses – Switch Routines! (Talking Technique)

Love options? Me, too.

have 4-string, 5-string and 6-string basses (I know there are way more, but those three serve all my needs). Sometimes when switching from one to the other, it takes me a second to adjust. This is even true when using different basses with the same number of strings. It’s also the case with the same brand, same number of strings and equal string spacing!

The bridges of my Marleaux basses have little riders that allow for adjusting the string spacing. Even when those are set exactly the same, on the same model with the same number of strings it still feels different!

So I developed a few routines to help me do the switch with more ease.

Whether you are switching between different numbers of strings, models or string spacings, you will appreciate these drills!

How many strings does your ax have and why?

Download the PDF here.

Here is the original post on no treble: Talking Technique: Switching Drills For 4-5-and-6-string Basses

Reader Question Answered: Switching from a 4-string to a 6-string bass

I use Marleaux Basses, RevSound Cabs, TC Electronic Heads, Tsunami Cables, GruvGear Fretwraps and Dean Markley SR 2000 Strings

Sound by wolftrackaudio.com

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Hi. I'm Ari.

As a bassist, I have toured/played/recorded with a variety of rock, Jazz, and funk bands, I have worked with some incredible producers (Keith Olsen) and musicians (Paul Hanson, Muriel Anderson) and I toured Brazil with Stu Hamm as a duo.

 

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When I started playing bass, I excelled very quickly because I had an amazing teacher who taught me using a powerful method. This method transformed my playing so quickly that I passed a bunch of high-level university auditions and even tested out of entire classes at university even though I had been playing for only a very short time.

 

That’s what, many years later turned into one of my books, co-written with Wolf Wein, called “The Pattern System for the Bass Player”. I created entire systems of learning based on some of these ideas and wrote books and created courses together with Wolf. Our bass books have sold over 30,000 copies and garnered rave reviews.

 

I started teaching online in 2009 and have embraced technology as a powerful learning tool since then, never losing sight of the importance of providing feedback and personalized guidance to learners.

 

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