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Six-String are used for virtuoso bassests.Listen to John Myung Or even Better Go to Yahoo and Search for "John Myung" for vidios and find a movie called Solar Groove...six stings can be used for many things an can be very power full add ons in the band.the open high C on an anp sounds amzeing aqnd is very pretty.they can play harmonies in between the bass and the guitar and thus creating the lager and fuller sound.then creating a better song in return.in In Fact today i was ordering strings fo my guitar and playing the six string Ibanez and having the best five minutes of my life(crying couse he has no six string) crying Very good for(dont laff) speed licks and mettle for the string spacing.Hope that answers any qustions you have if not just ask!! mrgreen
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I play a six string bass, and the real difference is that you have a whole lot of freedom when your playing. One can create chords, or even play solos in higher and lower registers. Its mostly a matter of taste. If you dont understand what kind of freedom it can create, just playing one can confuse you. Try out a 5 string bass after playing with 4 for years, and you will realize that you will have a whole new expansion of things you can play. Not saying that the 4 is less useful, but if your a jazz performer, or someone who wants to play wherever he feels like, its nice to have the extra ranges.

The high C string dosnt even have to be for playing in the octave register. It can be used to play a scale without having to run up and down the G string when your in 1/2 and 1st postion areas. (near the head of the bass)

Just give it a go sometime. Listen to what I do with it at www.myspace.com/phoenixfromtheashes

and look up a bass duet from Victor Wooten called "Chick from Koria" (not sure if thats the right spelling. Its extremely close. Just go look up victor wooten in youtube, and find that song. You should understand what you can do with it.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. The freedom aspect is what I see, but I too am old fashioned, but I don't see 6-strings as pointless, just something to work up to, you need to fully understand what you're doing a 4-string before you make the jump to anything higher in my honest opinion.

I play the double bass as a music major in college. It takes a lot of getting used to, to carry that monster around, but its totally worth it.

Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey GUESS WHAT! 6 STRINGS!

Todd Johnson. Almost had a lesson with this guy, but I never got back to him. Expensive lessons. But another 6 strings!

Steve Bailey again

and finally one more steve bailey. You cant tell me thats not impressive.


In the end all I gotta say is that the pros DO use them. Its all a matter of how well you can play your bass, and what your gonna do with all of it. I have a strong jazz background, but when you mentioned that vic wooten didn't play with the 6 string bass, I had to show you up. His solo with Bailey is insane.

If your gonna tell me your gonna watch that video and say, "nope wasnt my idol who played that" then your nuts. Wooten was playing the 4, but he did a duet with a 6. You all asked why you should play on a 6, which IMO is a dumb question, because the answer is to make music! Bailey does things on his bass that you could never achieve with 4 strings, but its still tasteful for a bass line. What about Todd Johnson? Dont tell me hes not good.

Six Strings are for the elite.and those who like freedom to do freak out tap sessions and sound good.ever tapped entire choards before?