Do you play open strings?

[Surprise Panda!]

I do sometimes...what about you ?!?!?!

[Infernal Affair]

Yes. Especially if the song calls for a low E.

[Basshole]

Depends on the sound I want for that note, and where it lies in the music.

[Marley's Ghost]

Sure. Saves your hands and fingers. Muting is important.

[Bassist4Life]

I voted yes. An open string has a different sound than a stopped note. I don't see one as being better, just different. Also, playing an open string allows me to shift to a new position when there isn't a rest.

Note: The choices "yes" and "sometimes" are kind of the same thing in this context. I don't always pick an open string over a stopped note, so I guess I could have picked "sometimes".

Joe

[capnsandwich]

I do a lot of pull offs and hammers with open strings in my riffs. It's kind of like having an extra finger on that note.

[megadan]

I love me some open A.
But sometimes you have to hit it on E string to get the tone right.

I admit, when there's a jam in E, my go to position is 7th fret A. I find this 'better' than open E because I can go both up and down from it.

Once I have a line established, I'll pedal off the low E to give it power and punch where it needs it.

[jayp883]

why yes..yes I do!

[Fnord Explorer]

I try to avoid it whenever possible. Fretted notes just sound "thicker" to me. Maybe I should just get a bass with a zero fret?

[Montsegour]

Ask trash metal bassists... They'll tell you all about it, heh!

[Wootsticks]

Check out Muse' Hysteria song.

[Surprise Panda!]

Originally Posted by Wootsticks

Check out Muse' Hysteria song.

I've probably listened to that song at least 100 times

[theshadow2001]

Playing open strings is more of a function of what I'm playing at that moment and what I will be playing next rather than tonal.

But if someone asked me to play straight eighths on an A note. Chances are I'd do it on the E string.

[*smb]

I love that open string tone, and it's handy to have notes available that are outside of your left hand position.

[Dave Muscato]

I play 5 & 6 string basses, and the only time I really use an open string is the low B. With fretted notes, you have much more control over the release, not to mention vibrato, bending, glissandi, etc. If I played 4-strings, I would probably use the open E a lot, but as it stands, I stick to the 5th fret for my low Es.

[detracti]

My instructor showed me to short notes on open strings to fill in a bass line - particularly useful for jamming, I've found, or when pulling a solo line out of your a$$.

Even when it is not in the chord you're playing over, since it's played like a transitional, it sounds ok.

I use them occasionaly to insert a note between two that are fretted too far apart for me to play in sequence quickly.

[theshadow2001]

Originally Posted by detracti

My instructor showed me to short notes on open strings to fill in a bass line - particularly useful for jamming, I've found, or when pulling a solo line out of your a$$.

Even when it is not in the chord you're playing over, since it's played like a transitional, it sounds ok.

I use them occasionaly to insert a note between two that are fretted too far apart for me to play in sequence quickly.

I do that too I think. I've never really thought about it though.

[Valerus]

of course

[funkalicious101]

I preffer fretted, as I have more control over them (vibrato, bendling, sliding ect.) like Dave Muscato said.

[tmw]

I always felt a lack of control on open strings. Hence the fiver, it keeps me comfortable. I guess I'd have to admit to being a control freak in that regard...