Gidday Radar,
Quote
on a 5 string bass as opposed to a 4, does it generally have 1 higher or 1 lower string? If lower, does a bass really need a lower string, and could a higher string be used?
Generally a 5-string bass will have a "top" (when viewed while wearing the bass) string tuned to B, however, some 5-string basses used in jazz areas have a "bottom" string tuned to C, as an addition to the normal set of 4 strings.
The reasoning behind the whole 5-string bass came about in the 60's-70's, where the music written in pop circles could not be accommodated with a normal 4-string.
This was a product of the disco era and has carried on since then, with a lot of bassists using a 5-string to give thier sound more "low -end".
A 6-string bass has the tuning B E A D G C.
Here is a list of the actual open string frequencies:
  • B: 30.87Hz
  • E: 41.20Hz
  • A: 55.00Hz
  • D: 73.40Hz
  • G: 97.90Hz
  • C: 130.80Hz

Mildly interesting fact about the electric bass, when it was first introduced, some record producers refused to use it, in favour of the upright bass, stating that it would damage thier recording equipment. [Linked Image]