Playing open...What should I do?

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by davesisk

I think you should choose where to play the note based on two criteria:

1) What sound you want. Play it open, it'll be brighter...play it at the 5th fret, it'll sound warmer.

2) Your comfort level and skill. Play whatever note where you can execute it the best, including tone, dynamics, muting, whatever.

If the drummer is such a great bassist, why is he playing drums instead of bass?

HTH,
Dave

That pretty much what I've settled on. I prefer a warmer tone on a lot of things, personally, but I'm willing to experiment. Doesn't hurt to diversify, and I need to. However, I won't play open unless I feel like I really should, and never at the expense of accuracy. He seems to have decided to accept that.

He's a pretty good guitarist, and plays other instruments, too. I've not heard him play bass, though. I don't doubt that he can, in light of the other instruments he knows, but I think he just prefers to drum.

Cherie

[iplaybassguitar]

a lot of times i will hit an open if i get lost and the song happens to be in a convienient key for that...also theyre useful when moving far up the neck
example, your playing a lick in E way up past the 12th fret and you need to get back to the open position by the next beat, just pull the open E and slide back down while its ringing, its a great way to fill space.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by iplaybassguitar

a lot of times i will hit an open if i get lost and the song happens to be in a convienient key for that...also theyre useful when moving far up the neck
example, your playing a lick in E way up past the 12th fret and you need to get back to the open position by the next beat, just pull the open E and slide back down while its ringing, its a great way to fill space.

Funny...I fret notes when I get lost. Everyone has their "placemarker", eh?

I do the slide-down on open E thingie, too. I love that. It sounds so cool.

It actually has helped me to try to use more open notes for passing tones. This drummer may have been rather snarky when he made his request, but...its like collard greens. I don't much like them, but they're real good for me. LOL!

Cherie

[fcleff]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

its like collard greens. I don't much like them, but they're real good for me. LOL!

Cherie

You don't like collard greens!? What's wrong with you, woman?

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by fcleff

You don't like collard greens!? What's wrong with you, woman?

I prefer mustards...better flavor!

I used to eat old-timey-style greens a lot, but got really burnt out on them. Got to where they made me make a face like medicine. But I do, every now and then, have some mustards with my CFS-n-gravy.

And, like taking medicine, I really do need to branch out on my bass skills. Playing open is a decent place to start.

Cherie

[fcleff]

I'm into Dandelion greens these days (not the kind that grow in your yard; different strain). Dress 'em up with buttermilk and goat cheese...yum, yum.

Whoops, this is getting really off-topic. I'm going back for some more blueberry pie (homemade, thank you very much).

[badstonebass]

I had the same problem when I switched to bass in a cover band. I play with a pick and it really bothered the guitar player......until I told him that all the AC/DC, KISS, Skynyrd, Grand Funk, Beatles we play were al laid down by pick players.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by badstonebass

I had the same problem when I switched to bass in a cover band. I play with a pick and it really bothered the guitar player......until I told him that all the AC/DC, KISS, Skynyrd, Grand Funk, Beatles we play were al laid down by pick players.

Now, there's another skill I need to acquire...the use of a pick. I like fingerstyle, but sometimes, you want that pick sound, you know? Children Of The Grave would be ever so much better with a pick. (Played it with my old band.)

That's weird that using a pick would bug a guitarist. You'd think a guitarist would understand better than anyone, huh? He must have had a real "set" idea of what a bassist should do. Glad you disabused him of the notion!

Cherie

[fcleff]

I thought that Geezer didn't use a pick.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by fcleff

I thought that Geezer didn't use a pick.

Not certain if he did or not. Just have had a lot of bassists ask me why I don't use one on that song. Figured it'd be worth trying.

Of course, in the current band, I will never...*never*...get to play that song. I'd have to form a complete other band to play stuff like I did with my old band. The one I'm in now is too blues for Sabbath.

Cherie

[badstonebass]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

Now, there's another skill I need to acquire...the use of a pick. I like fingerstyle, but sometimes, you want that pick sound, you know.

Ha! I wish I could get a handle on fingerstyle. I do like playing with my fingers....at practice......but it seems when it comes time to play a show I just HAVE to have the pick. All my stage moves are based on playing with a pick If I go fingerstyle it seems I just get stuck standing in one place looking down

I know Geezer, Steve Harris and FLEA all jump around fingerstyle, but I just can't get it...........YET!

[fcleff]

Yeah, I was pretty sure that Geezer used his fingers. Ah, the memories of my first high school band. All we played were covers of Black Sabbath and Rush. We had, I think, two originals. I love those old Sabbath tunes.

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by badstonebass

Ha! I wish I could get a handle on fingerstyle. I do like playing with my fingers....at practice......but it seems when it comes time to play a show I just HAVE to have the pick. All my stage moves are based on playing with a pick If I go fingerstyle it seems I just get stuck standing in one place looking down

I know Geezer, Steve Harris and FLEA all jump around fingerstyle, but I just can't get it...........YET!

Yeah, I can't do that much jumping around, when I'm playing. I used to...but that was when I was starting out and playing roots and real easy stuff. As I got to where I could play better bass lines, I couldn't move around as much. It makes me mess up.

Since I never played guitar, I never did get any pick skills. I started right off on fingerstyle. The first exercise I tried was in an article on 3-finger style by John Myung. I had no idea it was over my head! I just started doing it. So, I've always played 3-finger.

You know all those people who say that playing bass is easy? They really have *no* idea how many skills we need to acquire, do they? LOL!

Cherie

[txbasschik]

Originally Posted by fcleff

Yeah, I was pretty sure that Geezer used his fingers. Ah, the memories of my first high school band. All we played were covers of Black Sabbath and Rush. We had, I think, two originals. I love those old Sabbath tunes.

That sounds like fun to me! I love Sabbath, too. I want to do War Pigs, but the current band says "no".

Hey, send me that blueberry pie recipie! Gotta be fueled up just right to learn all this open playing and picking!

Cherie

[fcleff]

Originally Posted by txbasschik

That sounds like fun to me! I love Sabbath, too. I want to do War Pigs, but the current band says "no".

Hey, send me that blueberry pie recipie! Gotta be fueled up just right to learn all this open playing and picking!

Cherie

Head over to the 'Dark Side' (DB forums). Look in the 'Off Topic' forum and you will find the thread entitled 'Blueberry Pie'. Uncletoad wanted the recipe, too. It is posted in there. Another guy posted one for a nice Blueberry Buckle as well.

[Bassic83]

Not to hijack this thread, but I started a thread several months back for favorite recipes...

Check it out! There is some really good stuff in there! Favorite Recipes Thread

[fcleff]

Originally Posted by Bassic83

Not to hijack this thread, but I started a thread several months back for favorite recipes...

Check it out! There is some really good stuff in there! Favorite Recipes Thread

I checked out that thread. Near the end there is a discussion about Puttanesca Sauce. The dish was originally called 'Spaghetti alla Puttanesca' which translates, literally, into 'Spaghetti of the Whores'. Prostitutes in Italy would make this dish because it was very quick and easy to make. Therefore, they could catch an easy meal between tricks. It is also said that the aroma would lure men to the brothel. Either way, it did originate as a 'brothel' dish.

I made some nice fish tonight; very easy.

1 pound Orange Roughy (or any fish)

1 large Fresh Tomato, Chopped
2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Basil
2 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Mint
4 Cloves Chopped Garlic
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Course Sea Salt
Dash of White Wine Vinegar

Preheat oven to 400.
Mix the Tomato through Vinegar in a small sauce pan and heat gently.

Season the fish with salt and pepper and bake the fish at 400 for 8 - 10 minutes. Transfer fish to a plate and top with the tomato sauce. Serve immediately. This is a very Provencal dish and goes great with a bone-dry Provencal rose wine. It will impress anyone, male or female.

Bon Appetite! I play open and closed positions, too.