I know this is a basic question, but I have never played a 5 string bass and was wondering if a 5 is more difficult to play than a 4 string. I have small hands and was just wondering if a 5 would work for me. I know it is kind of a silly question, but I really would appreciate your opinion based on your experience. Thank you!

well, considering theyre YOUR hands, i dont think anyone here can be of much help... the neck is obviously a bit bigger, but its still manageable

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Go to a friendly music store and play a couple of 5 strings. See how they fit you. The best way to tell is to just do it.

Hi fourfend and welcome to the forum. I bought my first Bass guitar last september, a MIM Jazz five strings and I love it. I guess that I have normal sized hands for a man and I never played Bass before and I'm not aware of added difficulties because of the extra string, and I'm sure I'll manage the beast. As Venturesfan said, go try a few ones and don't think of it as a problem before you try it. Good luck.
Claude.

It shouldn't really matter how wide the finger board on a bass is in comparison to the size of your hands due to the technique of bass playing, 4-5-6- string basses then your into the world of ERB's with monster sized fingerboards.
If your going from a four string bass to a five the only issues you might find is getting lost for a second or two (confusing the low B for the E etc) but after a few hours you should be able to get your head around it, as mentioned get yourself to your local music shop an try a few out, the size of your hands is irrelevant

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Dan...

Fender 1987 MIJ Stratocaster, Texas Special Loaded.
Fender 2007 MIA Jazz Deluxe.

ck out some of the Ibanez Soundgear...I had a 6 string, I play the JBass due to the small neck, and the 6 stringer was like my old 5 stringer JBass. I too have small hands

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VT Bass
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Not a bad transition.
Like was said before.
Very short time to get used to the B string.
But when you want that low freq. "growl".
There it is.....
Rok on
"Bud"

'Bought a Line 6 Variax 5-string bass on closeout like 3 years ago. Super-afs cheap (grin).

High quality, excellent-sounding-playing bass. Just as easy to play as a 4. Really hip look and vibe, tonal flexibility from Chicago to just outside of Kuala Lumpur.

Regular "gig" is bass at church, weekly, 227 Masses and services to date. In this opinion, having that big honkin' B string on the low end sounds great with the organ (only occasioally played), but...

...whelms the piano, flute, clarinet, acoustic guitar, does not always work with the choir, especially if it's small...

...and confuses the ever-lovin' snot out of this player.

Ain't yet figured out how to "think past" that super-low string being where the E is supposed to be, when to use it, when not to...and goof up a number of times per playing session. Needless to say, it's 98% a 4-string bass doing the job.

Welcome to the Forum fourfend! Five string bass guitars are extremely versatile in modern music. If you have the opportunity to pick one up (hopefully a Fender) do it Bro, you will catch on very fast.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

ok, I'm going to open the can-o-worms no one has mentioned yet. Given that the neck feels 'good' in your fretting hand, a five string should be easier to play for someone with smaller hands than a four. That is unless you are silly enough to try to play everything up by the nut in first position. Go ahead and use it like it was intended, slide on up to the fourth fret and hang out there. You'll find it alot friendlier and things will smooth out more than you think. Check out the country bass guys that play fives and see what I mean.