Do same notes sound the same with different strings?

[sweetmarie58]

Me again, with a newbie ?

While I think my bass is well tuned (using the online guitar and bass tuner, and the 5th fret method), do all, let's say E notes supposed to sound exactly the same on all strings, and I do mean exactly. Seems like they're close but not exactly. Does the thickness of the strings change the exact sound?

I'm no tone expert but I've spent hours tuning my bass and not all same notes sound exactly the same. Am I beating a dead horse?

I've read that you try and stay in the same area to cover the notes that are to be used, this is the basis of my ?
Of course I do mean notes below the 2nd octave fretboard.

Sorry if my question doesn't make sense.

Thanks anyone.

[WayneS]

The note should be the same but the tone will be different on each string.

[WyrdoBass]

Yes, typically on the lower strings, the note will sound "fatter", like if you compared the tenth fret of the E string to the 5th fret of the A, the 10th on the E will probably sound somewhat thicker.

If the notes don't sound in tune in different places on the neck, then your intonation might be off. I think there's a sticky somewhere on how to adjust your intonation. A quick way to check is to compare the twelfth fret harmonic with the fretted twelfth on the same string. If the note isn't exactly the same (if the fretted note is sharp or flat compared to the harmonic) then your intonation is off.

[sweetmarie58]

Thanks guys, just starting to try and learn this beast. Actually my first beast.

[megadan]

Yes, they do have a different tone in different places on the neck.

Generally I like to play E on the 7th fret A string for verses/quiet sections, then drop down to the open E for an octave down or just 12th fret E to thicken it up.

Works well for B's and C's too.

[sweetmarie58]

Originally Posted by megadan

Yes, they do have a different tone in different places on the neck.

Generally I like to play E on the 7th fret A string for verses/quiet sections, then drop down to the open E for an octave down or just 12th fret E to thicken it up.

Works well for B's and C's too.

Just to clarify this, let's take E for example. There's 3 E's on the fretboard notation chart in front of me, on A,D and G string. Are they 3 different octaves?

Thanks megadan, I will be buying some books when I get into the city.

[megadan]

Originally Posted by sweetmarie58

Just to clarify this, let's take E for example. There's 3 E's on the fretboard notation chart in front of me, on A,D and G string. Are they 3 different octaves?

Thanks megadan, I will be buying some books when I get into the city.

The ones on the A and D strings are same octave.

There are 3 octaves of E below the 12th fret of a standard 4-string bass:

Open E string (E0 for examples sake, but not really)
7th fret A (E1)
2nd fret D (E1)
9th fret G (E2)

[sweetmarie58]

Merci buckets

[JustDavid]

Good question, & good ear!!

When played the exact same, I get very different sounds (tones) to me for these: 17th fret B, 12th fret E, 7th fret A, 2nd fret D. Key factors appear to be a fatter string & effectively plucking closer to the neck when you fret further down the neck. This is a good thing; ballads might want the 12th fret E while rocking out might prefer the D's 2nd.

My intonation is pretty on, so they are the same note (tuning) as well. Intonation (basically) is whether the open string & the string fretted at the 12th fret show the same tuning. They should, but if they don't it's an easy adjustment you can quickly do yourself.