Bass Guitar vs. DB Fretboard Range. . .

[lefty007]

Mods: please move this to the most appropriate forum; I thought this could be okay here.



I've been playing BG for many years, but have no experience with upright at all, and I'm about to get into it.

I'm wondering what's the range of a typical 42"-bass in comparison to a typical 34"-scale BG. . .

In other words, how many "frets" does a typical DB has? 18, 20, 22, 24? I figure there might be custom basses with all types of fretboards, but I'm talking about the typical 42"-scale, 3/4 side upright, if those dimension matter at all.


Thanks! And sorry for the noob question. . .

[Will Yager]

I can play a high C# on my bass. I think that'd be like 30 frets or something.

[Dbassmon]

Lefty, the range on the upright and EB is essentially the same. There are 5 string DBs as well as EBs. When you start talking about extended range basses 6, 7 or more than that's a different story.

The big difference you will experience is the scale. A whole step from F to G on the E string is about 5 inches. That's huge for electric players. So the challanges of scale present some techical issues that require alot of practice to deal with.

You will need some help from a teacher. The fingerings are completely different and the body of the DB makes playing in the upper registar a whole different animal. Although they play in the same range, a bass viol (DB) and an electric bass guitar are completely different instruments.

[JazzDude]

lefty -

It's called a fingerboard around here. The other term has caused trouble before.

I can play a high C# on my bass. I think that'd be like 30 frets or something.

Yikes! I think I found that note once - I can't remember where I put it

[lefty007]

Thanks. I'm specifically trying to find out how high most people go using a 4-string. . . Let see, a normal Fender bass has 20 frets, that is a high D# ? (20th fret, G string).

So is that normally the range you will use in an upright, or do you usually go higher?

Although I'm an upright iliterate, I do have a huge collection of DB music (Chalie Haden, McBride, Carter, Milt Hinton, Scott LaFaro, Brian Boomberg, Patitucci, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Edgar Meyer. . . you name it),

and it seems to me that most of the more contemporary players venture to really high notes (Patitucci, Broomberg...) but the traditionals stays within a more conservative range.

[BassZen]

Most DB fingerboards I've come across can technically get either to the D or the C# two and a half octaves above the open G. Realistically, though, it's real hard to play in tune above the G two octaves above the open string, and even that takes a whole lot of time to get in tune. As you may already know, on DB you can't just find the fret and play the note, you have to know where the note is on this blank 42" piece of ebony.

[EggyToast]

Some of the high notes, from bowing at least, are just harmonics as well, which you can't do on a bass guitar since you can't really bow one.

[Audiophage]

Originally Posted by EggyToast

Some of the high notes, from bowing at least, are just harmonics as well, which you can't do on a bass guitar since you can't really bow one.

On BG you can pluck harmonics much more easily than on an Upright.

[fingers]

yeah... well... my bass is bigger than yours.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Audiophage

On BG you can pluck harmonics much more easily than on an Upright.

- I don't really agree. Check out Stefano Scodanibbio. I can pluck harmonics just as well on either, it is easier to do it with one hand on double bass (thumb stopping the harmonic and plucking with a finger, usually ring).

[musicman5string]

Originally Posted by lefty007

Thanks. I'm specifically trying to find out how high most people go using a 4-string. . . Let see, a normal Fender bass has 20 frets, that is a high D# ? (20th fret, G string).

So is that normally the range you will use in an upright, or do you usually go higher?

Although I'm an upright iliterate, I do have a huge collection of DB music (Chalie Haden, McBride, Carter, Milt Hinton, Scott LaFaro, Brian Boomberg, Patitucci, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Edgar Meyer. . . you name it),

and it seems to me that most of the more contemporary players venture to really high notes (Patitucci, Broomberg...) but the traditionals stays within a more conservative range.

You've got a nice collection of jazz bassists to listen to there.

Regarding playing higher on the DB, it's called "thumb position" and the technique is different in the left hand.
Whatever range you play in on the DB, the main issues are: the notes are farther apart because of the scale length, and intonation is a constant issue because of it (and the fact that there are no frets).
I remember coming from BG and trying to play the bassline to "Walking On The Moon" on the upright my first day.....
LOL!!!!! "Where the hell are the notes??"

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by lefty007

Thanks. I'm specifically trying to find out how high most people go using a 4-string. . . Let see, a normal Fender bass has 20 frets, that is a high D# ? (20th fret, G string).

So is that normally the range you will use in an upright, or do you usually go higher?

Although I'm an upright iliterate, I do have a huge collection of DB music (Chalie Haden, McBride, Carter, Milt Hinton, Scott LaFaro, Brian Boomberg, Patitucci, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Edgar Meyer. . . you name it),

and it seems to me that most of the more contemporary players venture to really high notes (Patitucci, Broomberg...) but the traditionals stays within a more conservative range.

Fingered notes on a standard DB fingerboard end around high C or C#. Some DBs (Edgar Meyer's, for example) have extended fingerboards that allow them to play even higher.

If you factor in artificial harmonics, the sky's the limit for both DB and BG. Neither one "wins" based on high notes (and isn't that a horn player fetish, anyway?)

[jfv]

Originally Posted by Audiophage

On BG you can pluck harmonics much more easily than on an Upright.

I'm sure a BG player would say that, but I have no problem
plucking, and try matching the power of a bow'ed harmonic
on BG

And BTW, the notes in what Rabbath calls 6th position
are not harmonics, they are stopped on the fingerboard,
in fact, what on a BG would be the 24th fret is the start
of 6th position, its normal to play stopped notes from there
to the harmonic D at the fingerboard tip, in other words
that would be a 31st fret.

Course, you need a good solo setup to not kill yourself trying
to play up there.

The Power!!