major chords on bass

[IAmTheDood]

ok, here's how I'd play an A major chord on bass:

G----2----
D----2----
A----4----
E----5----

that's if I want to strum the whole chord.

of course the position would be the same throughout ..

why does it sound so funky?

I like to play a 1 - 3 - 8 major chord quite a bit .. or a 1 - 5 - 8 and they sound ok .. but if I try the 1 - 3 - 5 - 8 it just sounds off.

Am I missing something here?

[rakirksey]

Someone explained it to me that since the bass notes are so low the close spacing of the notes ends up sounding a bit muddy. I think if you want to define a major chord (vs. a minor chord), the 5 isn't that necessary anyway in the grand scheme of things. The 1, 3 and the 7 (in the case of 4-note chords) are the most important. The 5 only comes into play for diminished and augmented chords.

[stedtale]

That's right.

But when the notes are that low the HZ of the 1 and 3 (A and C#)are so close (55.00hz and 69.30hz) they will interfere with eachother more that when they are played higher. One octave higher the 1 and 3 (A and C#) (110.00hz and 138.60hz) are further apart and sound better.

Play it an octave higher

G----14----
D----14----
A----16----
E----17----

And you'll see what I mean.

[John Wentzien]

Try a double stop instead. Example for an A major chord 5th fret on the E srting, and 6th fret on the G string. Playing those 2 notes together will imply aan A major chord without muddying up the sound. I use this a lot in a 3 piece situation whe the guitarist takes a lead. You can imply a minor chord by lowering the note on the G string 1 fret.

[stedtale]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Try a double stop instead. Example for an A major chord 5th fret on the E srting, and 6th fret on the G string. Playing those 2 notes together will imply aan A major chord without muddying up the sound. I use this a lot in a 3 piece situation whe the guitarist takes a lead. You can imply a minor chord by lowering the note on the G string 1 fret.

+1

this is an even better way to do it.

[lemur821]

Playing 1-8-10 or sometimes 1-5-8-10 chords is another good bass option. When those notes collide in a high register they shimmer, but when they collide a few octaves lower the shimmer turns into a rumble that your amp probably doesn't reproduce clearly anyway.

[IAmTheDood]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

Try a double stop instead. Example for an A major chord 5th fret on the E srting, and 6th fret on the G string. Playing those 2 notes together will imply aan A major chord without muddying up the sound. I use this a lot in a 3 piece situation whe the guitarist takes a lead. You can imply a minor chord by lowering the note on the G string 1 fret.

hrm, sounds like an interesting idea .. that's the third up from the next octave isn't it?

[John Wentzien]

Just hit the root , and the 3rd an octave higher.

[John Wentzien]

If I play this above the 12th fret I'll throw in the 5th on the A string to fatten up the chord.

[Naminator01]

How are you playing the 3rd and the 5th?

I thought they were on the same string, unless you have large fingers or you are playing them with open strings.

[IAmTheDood]

Nam,

G----2----
D----2----
A----4----
E----5----

would be the same as:

G--------
D----7----
A----47----
E----5----

it's a hard strech on the lower frets .. but I can make it personally

[Naminator01]

Hmmm, yeah you are right.

It's pretty easy for me to get there.

After playing a 7 string bass, one develops good stretched muscles.

[stedtale]

just play:

G----6----
D----x----
A----x----
E----5----

[Andrew.Glose]

Or how about (Amaj7)

G--6
D--6
A-(4)opt.
E--5

Or for upper range (Emaj add9)

G--13
D--16
A--14
E--12

or (Emaj6)

G--6
D--6
A--7
E--x

[shostkontrabass]

Originally Posted by stedtale

Play it an octave higher

G----14----
D----14----
A----16----
E----17----

And you'll see what I mean.

+1. Notes that are close together always sound muddy when they are very low. That's why you won't see a lot of piano parts with huge chords in the very low range, they're usually just octaves, or higher up. I too play chords on BG up the octave; I like the tone I get and the notes are a lot clearer.

[HaVIC5]

If you want the A in that register, play the third displaced an octave. It sounds much better. It sounds even better an octave up.

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