Yamaha BB 415 : How To Play 5 String Bass
January 18th, 2008 § Leave a Comment
I bought this monster recently. I’ll be playing it tonight in the 12 Bar Club.
Playing 5 string is easy all you have to do is to not think about what key you’re playing in and just play by ear. Also use the 2 frets across and 2 strings away = the octave. Once you have that then it’s all systems go.
By the way: What are the tunings of a 5 string bass? The 5th string on a bass is a B string. It’s bassier than the rest. What are the tunings of a 6 string bass? 6 string basses have the same low B string but have an added string which is skinnier than the rest and therefore more trebly. It’s tuned to the 5th fret also so it’s C. (That string on a guitar is tuned to the 4th fret and is B. But this is bass. Not guitar).
So what’s a Yamaha BB 415 like? This bass is quite excellent. I have an American Fender Jazz and when it comes to recording rock (or even funk!) I seem to prefer the Yamaha. It has a brighter sound, but then that could be down to the fact that my Fender has flat wound strings. I use the Fender for those smooth slow tempo songs where I want the electric to be closer to that of a double bass.
In short, this baby cost me £250 new and it sounds like it should be at least three times its price. Go for it. Let me know what you think
