Octave E on the 7th fret > Octave E on the 2nd fret

Harper · #1 11-04-2009, 01:43 AM

I know it's the same note, but it's just *better*....right?

Maybe it's just me.

Poobah1 · #2 11-04-2009, 05:04 AM

It's a good one, since you don't have to skip a string to do an octave over your low E, and it has a rounder sound than the one on the D string. Depends on the tone you want, and what position your fretting hand is at before you need to play the octave E.

LightGroove · #3 11-04-2009, 05:21 AM

Better....I dunno ..I always like to think of them as one... Sometimes I like to do driving parts on the 7th fret E and more barking/fingerstyle on the 2nd...As mentioned all in what your going for tone wise...Each does there own thing

rorykins · #4 11-04-2009, 07:53 AM

That have a different timber for sure.
I think that's part of the beauty of the bass, same note in a different spot has a different character. sometimes, I will use both depending on the sound I want.

bass player 48 · #5 11-04-2009, 09:04 AM

Well, I will admit that the middle E at the 7th fret gets a lot of mileage in the music I play. That's a great position on the neck to be playing in. There is a slight difference in timbre, but in the mix with the band I really don't hear much difference and it is NOT a determining factor in where I play that middle E - the determining factor is what position I'm playing in. If I'm playing slow and have time to fret it any place I want - I will play it at the 7th fret almost every time.

jgroh · #6 11-09-2009, 09:20 AM

I prefer the 2nd fret and mostly dont go above the 5th fret on the E string.

MarkTAW · #7 11-09-2009, 05:55 PM

The A string is all around a very good string tone wise for me.

I prefer the C on the A string to the C on the E string, for example too.

Lichtaffen · #8 11-10-2009, 11:04 AM

I think it depends on the actual bass. Some don't vary in timbre very much, others do.

Mr wiggl3s · #9 11-10-2009, 12:15 PM

I like the octave E more. A lot cleaner crisp E.

Don't get me started on the D though.

73jbass · #10 11-10-2009, 01:00 PM

Just depends on which one works better at the moment.Neither is better than the other.

megadan · #11 11-10-2009, 01:40 PM

Big fan of the A string here.

If the notes call for an 'E' this is generally my go to position. It is a good position to be in. Right next to the D, a simple string down for the B and C, open for the A, little higher for the F# and G. Good place.

bass player 48 · #12 11-10-2009, 03:07 PM

I just thought of another thing about notes high up on the neck (this is kind of a silly thread - so I just HAVE to take it very seriously)

I realized this just last night as I was jamming something I've played a lot, and always played a C at the 3rd fret... well the last couple of weeks I've been sliding down off of that C note, and I just realized last night - if I play that phrase up higher on the neck I can play that C at the 8th fret and pull off a much better slide. One more reason that 7th position is better than 2nd? (or in my example, 8th and 3rd) ...I don't know if the 7th fret is really "better" than the 2nd fret, but I think we all know it could win in a fight!

MakiSupaStar · #13 11-10-2009, 03:11 PM

I like the E on the D string for funky popping notes.

bass player 48 · #14 11-10-2009, 03:12 PM

BTW - Question....

In the title it says "octave E" - is that what everybody calls this note? If so, what is the E at the 9th fret? Double octave?

I always say 'my middle E' because I play 20 fret Fender 4 string necks, So I have every note exactly 3 times each with no exceptions - every note, I have a low, middle, and high... So that's what I call them. Am I wrong, should say low E, octave E, double octave E?

How do you guys say it?

Poobah1 · #15 11-10-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass player 48

I have every note exactly 3 times each with no exceptions - every note, I have a low, middle, and high... So that's what I call them. Am I wrong, should say low E, octave E, double octave E?

How do you guys say it?

That's a funny question! You're certainly not wrong; that's a very clear way of naming the notes, and sounds like a good habit. If you play five string in standard tuning, you may have to come up with some extras since you have four of some notes, such as B.

I've never really thought about that, but I just name the notes by the letters only, such as "E" and "F#". If it is assumed that I'm talking about a different octave to the one intended, I'll usually then clarify by either saying "low", or sometimes "up the neck" to indicate the approximate position on the fret board.

MarkTAW · #16 11-10-2009, 05:02 PM

These notes are named after their piano counterparts - either "2 Es below middle C" or E1, E2, starting from (presumably) the lowest E on the piano.

Practical musicians just say "The E on the 7th fret on the A string" or something like this, but it never really comes up since I wouldn't presume to tell another musician what notes to play, much less where to play them, unless it was seriously causing problems for me. I just tell them what I'm playing if they ask & v.v.

Harper · #17 11-10-2009, 09:43 PM

Great point on the naming; I was basing it off the open E (obviously).

EADG mx · #18 11-12-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass player 48

BTW - Question....

In the title it says "octave E" - is that what everybody calls this note? If so, what is the E at the 9th fret? Double octave?

I always say 'my middle E' because I play 20 fret Fender 4 string necks, So I have every note exactly 3 times each with no exceptions - every note, I have a low, middle, and high... So that's what I call them. Am I wrong, should say low E, octave E, double octave E?

How do you guys say it?

I prefer scientific pitch notation for this sort of thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_pitch_notation

A lot of people use Helmholtz. It's good to be familiar with both.