Question for 5 string players?

[Milk_Steak]

do you prefer to play lower on the neck closer to the nut on the E string for your root or do your play the root higher up on your B string I know its a tonal choice, preference and opinion but which do you choose?

[Mirios]

I am comfortable in many positions. Really depends on what I am doing but I do not prefer one over the other, I use both. For really repetitive songs I've been known to do both. Just to cut back on the boredom. That is if it doesn't adversely effect the song some how.

[Means2nEnd]

Depends on tuning and what I'm doing in the song. I tune B, D, A, D, G 99% of the time and I like the tone of the second fret E on the E string. If you’re standard it will ring more and be a little louder as an open string note. Good for chorus and build ups. Nice laid back verse the B string E is mellow and won't stand out as much. I see it as a pallet of colors the same note in different positions on the neck. Up on the B presents efficiency of movement most times as well.

[newbold]

Of course it's not an absolute rule, folks...

...resist the urge to have the definitive answer.


I LOVE the shorter scale notes 5 frets up and a string down.

I can play big and fuzzy and fat all day up there and drop down the neck to drop big bombs.

That being said, I so often forget about playing open strings as I would on a 4 string that I should probably hold off with the fatman basslines sometimes.

[Epitaph04]

Really depends on what Im playing. Sometimes I like the notes on the B string..sometimes on the E.

[F Clef Groovist]

This more than likely has a lot to do with my bad bass, but i defenitly prefer playing in as low of position as possible on the E when it comes to things like that. I think the tone rings out a lot better than playing on fret 5 B, and cuts in the mix more, but again just my bass more than likely. I also prefer this because I play both 4 strings and 5 strings interchanglably very often. This makes it easier to pick up a 4 string. The only time I ever root my hand on the E on the B string is if I'm playing some lick that invlolves all 5 strings in one position. Also, playing with an open E allows for an open string obviously. I can play a lot cooler licks when i have open notes in the key signature, especially when i have the tonic as an open string.