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Transitioning From a 4-string to a 5-string Violin (and Back)
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Buying Guides
One of the most common questions we get at Electric Violin Shop is “what do you think about 5-string violins? If I’ve played a 4-string all my life, would you recommend it?” This is a tough one, since every player will come to an instrument with a different set of skills and preferences. Though 5-string violins have been around for a long time, we’ve seen interest and popularity increase over the last few years. For reference, I’m a classically trained violinist and fiddle player, and I play both a 4-string and a 5-string violin in two local bands. I’ve put together a list of common 5-string topics to consider if you’re thinking about making the leap.
Who may want/need a C string on a violin?
- Violinists or fiddlers who also love the low, rich tone of the viola C string.
- Violists who are also comfortable with the violin scale length, and want to keep that C string and add the brighter flavor of a violin E string to their playing.
- Teachers / instructors may want a violin and viola on hand to play certain passages for their students. A 5-string enables one to play violin, viola, and even cello parts (an octave higher than written).
- If you like to improvise in any musical style, whether it’s bluegrass, jazz, hip-hop or rock, and wish you had a little bit more range to do so. You can also surprise the guitar or piano players that you might be trading licks with!
What happens to the string spacing and the neck?
The comfort and playability of a 5-string violin -- for someone who is used to the standard 4-string -- depends on how the extra string fits on the fingerboard. The compromise will be that of widening the neck to accommodate the extra string, and preserving good string spacing without widening it so much that it is no longer comfortable to play. There is some variability in string spacing on 5-string violins, but we don’t tend to sell any 5-strings that squish the strings too close together to be playable, or that make the neck unnecessarily wide. For comparison, the average 4-string has a fingerboard width of about 24-25mm at the top, or the nut.; spacing between strings is about 5.8mm-6mm. Here’s a list of some of our electric and acoustic-electric (ac/el) 5-string violin measurements:
| Model | Fingerboard width at nut | Spacing between strings |
|---|---|---|
| NS Design NXTa-5/WAV5 | 30mm | 5.7 mm |
| Bridge Lyra 5-string | 29 mm | 5.5 mm |
| Bridge Golden Tasman 5 ac/el | 29 mm | 5.5 mm |
| Wood Violins Viper 5 | 27 mm | 5.5 mm |
| Realist 5 ac/el | 30 mm | 5.5 mm |
| Vector Prodigy 5 | 32 mm | 6.0 mm |
| Yamaha SV-255 violin | 29 mm | 5.5 mm |
| Jordan 5 string / Barbera | 31.5 mm | 6.0 mm |
Is it hard to switch back and forth between a 4-string and a 5-string?
This will depend entirely on the player, but most of the players we’ve spoken with about this topic do mention the “mental transition,” which is an adjustment period of between 5 and 15 minutes when you get back on the instrument that you haven’t been playing. For my part, I try to run several scales when I pick up my 5-string in order to get reacquainted with having a C string on the bottom. Some players talk about the 5-string forcing them to clean up their technique on the G string, since it’s easy to accidentally hit the C when you’re not yet used to it.
Why go with an electric or acoustic-electric 5-string?
If you want to be heard in a different setting, such as in a band, or playing in a louder space, a violin that can be amplified is critical. There’s also an advantage to getting an electric “extended range” instrument (5, 6, or 7-string) in that you are not as bound to the resonance of the wooden object within a space. In other words, the richness of the lower strings is amplified and projected without relying on the larger body size of the viola or cello. This is the same reason that Octave Violins have gained popularity (what violinist hasn’t secretly dreamed of playing the Bach Cello Suites?).
How should I choose without having played one?
If there is a 4 and a 5-string violin available for the same model of electric or acoustic-electric violin, we often recommend trying out the 5-string first, since it’s usually possible to exchange it for the same instrument in a 4-string if it just feels too different. If you don’t think you’ll use the C string very much at all, it’s probably not worth it to make that mental transition. If you have questions about the possible effects of playing a 5-string on one’s technique as a violin student, see our article “Will A 5-string Violin Harm My Technique?”, and feel free to give us a call at 866-900-8400, or email at info@electricviolinshop.com. If you are a violinist who ends up falling in love with a 5-string violin the way I have, then whether or not you “go back” may be the more important question!
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