The guitar bass 6 string can be an ideal option for jazz musicians who favor fingerstyle playing or those looking for something with more low end. Usually tuned an octave lower than standard basses.
Be mindful that a 6-string bass is still a bass and should be treated accordingly; tuning it like a guitar could create serious issues.
Scale Length
No matter if you are starting from scratch or seeking to upgrade an instrument that you already have, choosing a bass guitar with the appropriate scale length is key to enjoying its full potential. While standard scale length for basses is 34″, some players prefer shorter scale basses which offer easier fret access and unique feel while others may prefer longer scale basses for their classic tone – it all boils down to personal choice!
Those seeking greater variety in their playing will find that a guitar bass 6 string guitar is an excellent option. While 4-string basses only provide low B and E strings, 6-string basses offer an additional high C string on top which allows bassists to access higher notes on the fretboard while adding more trebly sounds into their music.
Five and six string basses have become more and more prevalent in metal music and other heavier genres. While bassists may use them primarily to add a low B string, these basses also help maintain an consistent sound and feel when using extended range basses or downtuning.
On a 6-string bass, you have plenty of opportunities to experiment with various pickups to find what best fits your style and sound. Passive pickups may provide warm tones while active ones offer modern snappiness – when selecting your ideal set, any desired sound can be achieved! Choosing pickups that complement both the instrument itself and your personal playing style is paramount.
Fretboard
When playing, your fingers will come into contact with strings via the fretboard, which contains many different notes that must be memorized for future reference. One effective method for doing this is learning the CAGED system as this will assist in rapidly finding any notes you require on the fretboard.
Learning the fretboard on a six string bass guitar takes time, since there are more strings to take into consideration when playing chords and arpeggios. Plus, its wider neck makes getting comfortable more challenging at first.
At first, playing on a 6-string bass may seem daunting due to its multiple octaves; this may be confusing for beginners but once understood will make learning the fretboard much simpler. Plus, all fret markers are mirrored so if you remember where notes are located on one side of the neck they should also appear easily on the opposite side.
Your choice of string for your bass will have an immense effect on its sound. There are various brands and materials to consider, so experimentation may be required in order to find what best fits you. Elixir, DR and D’Addario are popular brands; each offers its own distinct sound suited for specific genres of music; some feature more natural tones while others deliver harder, louder sounds.
Strings
The bass guitar string is at the core of its sound, and choosing from different gauges and winding techniques can dramatically alter its sound. Roundwound strings tend to produce brighter tones while flatwound strings offer deeper tones; some players swear by thermal treatments as a way of improving tone further.
All these factors contribute to the sound of your bass’s overall tone, so the best way to find the ideal strings is to try various options until one works for you. Keep in mind that you should change out the strings regularly as oil, rust, and repeated playing can deteriorate them over time – keeping them fresh will keep their sound vibrant for longer!
A sixth string has opened up an incredible variety of notes that give bassists greater creative control when creating musical styles of their own. From low B to the powerful high C notes, 6-string basses have become essential weapons in bassists from every genre’s arsenal.
Since its introduction, the Bass 6 has become a favorite instrument among some of music’s greats including Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Joe Perry from Aerosmith, Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses, The Cure’s Robert Smith and Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus from Blink 182. No wonder its use remains so ubiquitous around the world; visit Music Scene to select your perfect set of strings for your Bass 6. Additionally we provide full string installation service at $20!
Pickups
Your bass pickups can have a big effect on its sound. Although most basses come equipped with adequate pickups, switching them out for something else may open up an entirely different world of tone and phrasing possibilities. Not every style requires one type of pickup so don’t be afraid to experiment to find out which works best for you!
Single-coil pickups employ a coil of wire wrapped around a bobbin with pole pieces underneath the strings to convert vibrations into an electrical signal, creating a full sound with an expansive top end. Other bass pickups include J basses that employ eight magnetic polepieces per string for focused tone–popular among jazz musicians; piezo pickups which sense vibrations through direct bridge contact as well as optical pickups which use light waves to convert string vibrations into an electrical signal; as well as piezo pick-ups which use contact between bridge and strings to detect vibrations then convert string vibrations into electrical signals – creating full sound with rich top end sounds.
Most bass guitars feature active or passive pickups equipped with pre-amps to give more control of frequency range. Setting this up can be more complex, but ultimately gives more creative expression in terms of sound design. Once balanced, check to ensure all strings have equal volume before tuning your instrument further.
Humbucker pickups for bass guitars can help reduce interference between individual coils to produce a full and deep tone, often known as ‘noiseless bass pickups. These may come as either split-coil or stacked options on a single bobbin configurations.
Accessories
An extra string can expand players’ possibilities for chording and arpeggio playing. Some find that adding a C-string unlocks positions and voicings they weren’t previously able to access with their standard 4-string bass.
An additional string also allows a bassist to explore more melodies, which is great news for anyone who enjoys leading lines. While it may take some getting used to initially, over time it will become second nature and easier.
An essential accessory for a six string guitar bass is a fretwrap, which helps muffle unnecessary sounds when playing. This feature can especially come in handy for beginners learning the ropes of bass playing – helping prevent mistakes that could otherwise compromise their sound and compromise its integrity.
Tuners are another tool many bassists find invaluable when performing live. A tuner with an LCD display makes viewing easier under low lighting conditions; adding one with a metronome feature will ensure rhythmicality among bandmates.
Though there are various kinds of basses available, the six string bass has become an indispensable tool for musicians across multiple genres. Famous artists including Robert Smith from The Cure, Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green and Led Zepplin’s John Paul Jones all utilize it extensively for practice purposes and technical development purposes – while its wide range of tones makes the guitar bass 6 string an excellent option for anyone wishing to advance their bass playing abilities.