Which Fingering Do You Prefer?

[MistaMarko]

I'm always in constant debate with myself on choosing which fingering to use for a riff. For instance, would you choose to play D to E as 5-7 on the A string, or would you choose the open D string and fret 2 on the D string to play it? Or would you even go 10-12 on the E string?

Sometimes I choose fingerings based on the fact that different strings offer different tones; the lower strings offering more bassy tones and the higher ones obviously giving more punch. I sometimes think about which riff will look cooler from an audience member's point of view when they see me play it...almost like which one looks harder, lol. To me, it seems like cheating or 'the easy way out' is to use open strings as opposed to 5th frets a string down. Just naturally it feels more proper to me to stray away from frets 1-4, and use the 5-12 range more often, but does it really matter at all?

But, if you aren't going for flashyness, or tone, which fingering do you choose in your riffs, and why?

[Zappstorius]

Depends on where the line is going from there, or where it was before that. Most of the time is would use 5-7 (A string), but sometimes I will use the others. A slide from 10-12 (E string) sounds good, gives good dynamics. Totally depends on the piece as well. What type of song? What tempo?

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

Depends on where the line is going from there, or where it was before that. Most of the time I would use 5-7 (A string), but sometimes I will use the others. A slide from 10-12 (E string) sounds good, gives good dynamics. Totally depends on the piece as well. What type of song? What tempo?

+1

I play mostly in the area (approximately) from the 3rd to the 9th fret, but for effects I use other positionings to. Sliding high up on the E or A string gives very powerful effects in rock songs, but in funk I think I prefer the G and D strings for special effects (popping or vibratos).

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by MistaMarko

I'm always in constant debate with myself on choosing which fingering to use for a riff. For instance, would you choose to play D to E as 5-7 on the A string, or would you choose the open D string and fret 2 on the D string to play it? Or would you even go 10-12 on the E string?

depends on the tone I want and where the line came from and where it's going... but if I want a normal, nicely defined sound I prefer 5-7 on the A string

[chaosMK]

I like to play on the range of frets 5- and up. Slightly darker tone. I rarely use the low frets on D and G or the open strings. They sound a little thin and bright the way I run my setup.

In one song we recorded, I use 3 D positions progressively for a subtle change.

[Swift713]

On a fretted bass, I tend to favor the middle of the neck and stay away from open strings unless there's a reason. Playing fretless there is a very pronounced tone difference between open strings and fingered strings. I use open strings sometimes for a stable reference or anchor if it works, like an open A in the key of A. But an open string in the middle of a run kind of sticks out.