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We're all familiar with how to play 4-string basses, I'm sure, but what about when you start adding strings to it? I've seen people who have just assumed that the 5th string means that they should play in B instead of E, and that a 6th string likewise means that they should simply play in G. Once in a while you'll find someone who knows what they're doing, but they seem to be few and far between amongst amateur players.

As for myself, I've got a 5-string that I tend to use in one of two ways:

1) D E A D G - Using the low string as a drop-D alongside the E so that I don't have to retune to get it

2) D E A D A - A specialized tuning I used for one piece I composed because it made playing certain parts on the high strings easier and also needed the low D as well as the E.

Anyone else out there have ideas for effective ways to implement additional strings into your technique and thinking outside of the 4-string box?

it really depends on the key of the song you're playing. i like to have my fifth string up to a "c", you can get all these easy inharmonic fingerings with eadgc. so yeah, it changes with the piece. generally with rock you'd just keep it a b, with jazz it's a d, and so on.
i usually play on a 6 stringer, so i keep it like a guitar-- EADGBE. hope this helped.

I would like a 5 string bass for standard tuning (as said above) Because if you retune yourself, it's easier for the entire band to learn a song when they have the same tuning, and deadg would be pretty complicated. If I wanna go low, I just go to cgcf. yar.

I generally keep my five string in standard B tuning, plainly because it allows me to do a drop D or go lower if I need to... Keeps my options open. Just hit the third fret when you're on B tuning and you got your drop D.

I like to keep my 5 string in standard tuning (BEADG). I basically think of it as a 4 string with a lower string, so Not too much changes for me. At first, it was hard because I was always playing the string above the desired string (i.e. playing the E string when I wanted to play the A string) because I counted down from the top. To me, E was the top string, A the 2nd from the top, D the 3rd from the top, and G the bottom. If you think of it the other way (G on the bottom, D one above the bottom, A 2 above the bottom, E 3 above the bottom), it will always work for you. And when you get comfortable with string location, you won't have to put thought into it.

I also like to tune to ADGCF, AEADG, CEADG, BEADA, and BEADF#. They give me some sonic and finger position variety. They also make it easier to play chords with harmonics.

My friend has a 7-string. I tried it, and it's crazy as hell...

He can get his whole finger top-to-bottom on the neck. Trying that hurt me hand for a week.

Rickenbacker makes a 8 string bass. eek

I've seen 14 string basses.

The neck is incredibly ******** fat, but you kinda...fingertap when you play it.