Well I think the stretch is very hard on beginners...I think the bass in fact can be hell..LOL(being new on bass and owning a few 6 strings)..I kinda think it would depend on just what song is being learned...Take something like "Smoke on the water"...heh, I think this was quite easy to learn on a 6...or something like "Come as you are"...by Nirvana...The 6 can be quite simple depending on just what one is trying to do first...and again..shooo That stretch on the bass as well as them cables for strings..LOL can be rough..IMHO