I'm banning myself from using the first five frets

[Fassa Albrecht]

Seriously I have a major bad habit of sticking to the first five frets.


So I'm banning myself from using them. I might play decently now.

[DRay521]

I'm actually going the opposite direction. I tend to play alot of solos in the upper register, so I'm trying to keep everything in the low end and play less. It's kind of a challenge in a progressive jazz trio, but I like it. All my time spent climbing into the attic only to move back to the basement. Oh well.

[Fassa Albrecht]

I've got 24 frets....they're there for a reason...

[Benjamin Strange]

There's no money to be made above the 5th fret.

[HardRockBass]

I actually started doing that for reading music since its so easy to stay in the first five frets...It helps you learn how to get somewhere quicker in the higher notes (6 n higher)

[xlows]

It's not a bad habit to stay down there, but you should still be able to use the rest of the fretboard. If you feel like you can't do that, work on it, but still use the bottom five.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by HardRockBass

I actually started doing that for reading music since its so easy to stay in the first five frets...It helps you learn how to get somewhere quicker in the higher notes (6 n higher)

What I'm planning to do...

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

There's no money to be made above the 5th fret.

Tell that to Peter Hook who mostly plays above 12th fret.

[Contra(Band)]

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

Tell that to Peter Hook who mostly plays above 12th fret.

Do that, and you may as well play guitar or baritone...

[capnsandwich]

I used to do this when I first started playing. I would only go above the 5th fret when I wanted to play a little run or something. I've now learned that I can pretty much play anywhere I want since I've learned the fretboard a little better. The lower 5 frets were my comfort zone. I knew exactly where I was at down there but now I've become accustomed to playing anywhere and everywhere. I get tons of compliments on how I use the entire fretboard.

I'd say do it. It will discipline you to learn all the notes and where to find them. You'll realize that the fretboard isn't that hard to learn. It's the all same notes down in the lower 5 frets, just spread out.

[funkalicious101]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

There's no money to be made above the 5th fret.

Thats too bad, theres no fun to be made below it.

[Spencer!]

Say goodbye to playing in bands...

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Contra(Band)

Do that, and you may as well play guitar or baritone...

Yeah, well....there is so little guitar in New Order songs that someone needs to give it something melodic.

[Benjamin Strange]

Originally Posted by funkalicious101

Thats too bad, theres no fun to be made below it.

I guess that would depend on how much power your amp puts out. Low notes + big watts = big fun. And pooped pants.

[Fassa Albrecht]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

I guess that would depend on how much power your amp puts out. Low notes + big watts = big fun. And pooped pants.

Epic!

[Nyarlathotep]

LOLZ

This thread made me think of "Bombtrack". Good song. Both "main" riffs are in the top 5 frets almost completely IIRC. At least the way I play it.

And it sounds/feels good. If its wrong.... I DON'T WANNA BE RIGHT

[Fassa Albrecht]

The first five frets are evil...

[winstonthecat]

I'm doing the opposite, trying to stay lower consistently, and use more open strings. I tend to default to the E and A strings, and then climb the neck to get higher notes. I've always liked the sound of a 7th fret A String E, rather than on 2nd fret D string. Just seems to have more presence.


I'm spending more time working the D & G, so I become more comfortable there, and not having to switch position so much.

[Fassa Albrecht]

I just feel I'm not using the bass properly...

[bassbully]

1st five frets last five whos cares. If it fits your music and your style do it. Why set rules or program your mind to change something that works?
I play where i need to play a song for comfort on the fretboard and sometimes for a feel..notes are notes right

One of the best local giging bassist i have ever seen was at a summer concert a few years back. He played in the first 5 frets all night had the best fretting handwork i have ever seen live. I latter found out thru the bands website (motown) he was a longtime nationally known player. The guy killed in the 1-5 fret range.

[OtterOnBass]

The tone is different at different parts of the neck. That's the reason to move around. Try it and listen for the difference.