Still wish I wasn’t talked out of a 5 and settled for a 4 when I started. Still feel that was a mistake on my part.
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That’s the way to think of it. Keeping in mind, the G string is string 1, D is 2, A is 3, E is 4, and if you go to a 5 string, B is 5. It’s not the other way around.
Is this what you’re saying @John_E ? If so I concur.
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Jaco only needed a 4.
Sorry couldn’t resist. 
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So very true. And other greats, too.
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When I started thinking that way, the 5 string, and even the 6, got way easier
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I agree, 4 string is the way to go unless you’re one of those people who’s going to play a genre that needs a 5 string.
I got my first 5 string about 5 months after doing the B2B course and I’d already I’d spent a lot of time working on muting so that was never a problem. I wanted to learn to play a 5 string in case I did any musical theatre stuff and it’s great for a lot of synth bass lines like Stevie Wonder pieces.
I’ve got 2, 5 string basses, a Sire M7 and an Ibanez Gary Willis GW35 fretless. I love them both, the B string is great on the Sire and I love the ramp on the GW35. but they’re specialist instruments to me and I only play them when a song requires them. I do really like the 16.5mm spacing on the GW35 though! I find it’s more challenging to go back to a fretted bass after playing fretless for a while than it is switching from 4 to 5 strings.
I play mostly jazz type stuff so my 4st pbass is what I play most of the time. I do most of my theory work on the 4 string now because when I was doing most of my modes, scales and work learning the fretboard on the 5st, it completely screwed me up going back to the 4st. I find it easier to go from the 4st to the 5st, adding a string than I do the other way around and removing a string.
I don’t like slapping on a 5 string, I don’t slap a lot but I do have a 4st squire jbass for that. I like open strings and playing down the neck and I really don’t like the sound of the B string up past the 5th or 7th fret so I rarely take advantage of playing across the neck on a 5st instead of down.
I think one should just play whatever inspires them as long as they know that maybe it’s not the most practical thing and they might have to work harder at it.
I wonder if cello noobs are always asking “should I play a 5 string cello???” 
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Will have to say that Noob Josh made the video once again
For me personally, this video married all my beginner situations. I purchased a 5 string from a buddy that wanted to dump the bass and focus on the guitar. I had no clue as to what the Flock Of Seagulls to do next and camped out on YT videos. Obviously, this is how I discovered Josh Man
When noodling around, never plugged in. Once I became comfortable enough to amplify my scale patterns, need I say more.
Having said all of this, I am so thankful I began with a 5 string. Why?? Because the first time I held a 4 string, insert birds singing and light rays shinning down, I instantly became comfortable and could simply play.
When I think back to that first day, wish I had seen this video. In my own opinion, as Josh Man so clearly pointed out, a 5 string is a beast and makes us second guess our own hand-eye coordination. Now, I so appreciate the simple mute application, the light weight feel, and those magical root fifth, and octave patterns.
Then, when I pick up the 5 string, that deep C and D feels so dang good. Talk about feeling a good vibration. Take care all and come in on the boom!!
We Can All Do This,
Cheers
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John Simon Ritchie?
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Mine has a pretty good B string and I still rarely prefer that sound from the upper frets 
If you need to go from upper frets to an F, there’s almost always a chance to play some notes lower down on another string before that to get you part way or even a slide. C on the B string is pretty common and I find that’s way more awkward to make than the jump to an F.
To me, playing a 5 string is like towing a trailer behind my car all the time: it might be useful but more often it’s just a lot of trouble I don’t need
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Wouldn’t that fall apart with the move to a 6 string?
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Only because it doesn’t really make sense; everything in music pretty much gets counted as going up (except guitar strings) and in no way is the G string my home base.
When going from 4 string to 5 string, I just think of the B as 1+4 and a 6 string is 1+4+1
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Yep 
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…and then BEAD messes you up instead 
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Yes, timbre is something to be aware of, and it can be an issue. However, until it’s a landing tone, it is probably not a big deal. For me, a quick high octave-low octave jump between the 8th and 6th frets is much easier than the same between third and first frets (for my gnarly fingers) 
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By the way, singer dude is really giving you the stink eye, it seems, @JoshFossgreen - hilarious (when it happens to someone else) 
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I noticed that too! Not subtle and not cool. It breaks a cardinal rule of playing live - don’t react to mistakes, your own or others. Best advice I’ve ever had from a music teacher and one I’ve been on both sides of myself for sure.
You just shouldn’t do that, looks completely amateur hour when that happens.
Terrible karma too; what comes around goes around on that one
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Not necessarily as you already are now experienced with adding a string on the other side so should be more seamless.
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Really jazzed to see this episode this morning. I remember myself and a few others asking about this topic in recent memory, and I for one am glad I was a solid year into (dedicated) practice before I got my 5-string. I mean, I had a little guitar background when I started bass and back then I would have figured “Aw, well, it’s just one more string.” and yeah, just a year later… no. It’s almost like having a different bass-adjacent instrument, I feel.
I don’t think we’ll ever shake the prevailing attitude of “B-strings are cruise control for cool”, especially in the metal-garage-band-with-your-buddies arena… but it’s important newcomers can find videos like this before they go in and end up not having as great a time with playing as they expected.
Really enjoyed it. And yeah, not ashamed to say I need to keep working on my muting – so thanks for the kick in the pants to do that, Josh.
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ADDENDUM TO MY EARLIER COMMENT:
Josh mentioned one of the reasons to start off on a 5 string is if you have a burning desire to be a 5 string player. That was me!
Prior to making the decision to learn to play bass, I was inspired by the bassist in a local band. She’s a itty bitty gal who could tear it up on her 5 string. She was my idol and I knew I would want to be a fiver myself.
When i started B2B, it made perfect sense for me to learn on a 5 string since ultimately that’s what I would be playing. I don’t feel it handicapped me at all, but rather gave me an advantage.
My point is, if one suspects they may desire a 5 string in the future, they should learn on one like I did.
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I noticed that too! Not subtle and not cool. It breaks a cardinal rule of playing live - don’t react to mistakes, your own or others. Best advice I’ve ever had from a music teacher and one I’ve been on both sides of myself for sure. You just shouldn’t do that, looks completely amateur hour when that happens. Terrible karma too; what comes around goes around on that on
At least he wasn’t “throwing tickets”
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