Fingering for the head of So What

[StevieC63]

I've come up with various fingerings for the head of 'So What' but don't feel comfortable with any of them. Is there a recognized 'best'?

[anonymous0726]

If you do it up an octave you have all four fingers and it's easier to do Short of that, I play it closed, meaning I start with the D on the A string. I've seen guys start with the open D string. I never could get comfortable with that fingering -- but didn't spend more than about 15 seconds with it. You could also play it TP, starting on the D on the E string or, like I said above, the D way up the A string.

[StevieC63]

Thanks for the reply Ray.

As you may have guessed I am a beginner to upright (25 years on bass guitar - although it's starting to feel as though that is more of a hinderance than a help!).

I like playing it an octave higher but I'm definitely a bit hit and miss with the intonation up there.

Is this what you mean?

-------------9--------
-----9-10-12--10-12--
---12-----------------
-10-------------------

I'm not quite sure what you mean by the closed one. Something like this?

--4-5-7-9-5-7------
-7------------------
5-------------------
--------------------

The 'open D' one, if you mean this:
----------7-9----7--
o-7-9-10-----10-----
--------------------
--------------------
feels good on the guitar but not the upright. It also seems with this that even when you shift up a semitone you'd still have to start with the open D.

I'm probably spending too long thinking about this but I'm really starting to realise how much easier life will be later on if I get the fingering right now.

[anonymous0726]

Tab makes no sense to me, but:

(dashes indicate notes on the same string)

Closed, starting on the D string:
1 5 1-1-4-4-1-4
or
1 5 1-2 1-4-1-4

Closed, starting on the E string, TP, fingers numbered T-2-3-4:
2 4 T-2-4 T 2-4

[jazzbassnerd]

Your tabs are what Ray had suggested.

Except the one with the open D. I'm not sure how some people play it with the open D, but I would suggest the closed D on the A String. (the one that starts at 5 on the A string).

[jallenbass]

I have a video of PC playing it and he starts in 1st postion shifting up the G string.

[musicman5string]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

I have a video of PC playing it and he starts in 1st postion shifting up the G string.

yeah, and I could never figure out how he was comfortable like that. I prefer to play it in "closed" position, meaning 1st finger on D on the A string on what would be the 5th fret. Then crossing the D and G strings. That way, you can use the same fingering for the modulation.

I'd really like to know this though:

How did Ron Carter play it on the Plugged Nickel sessions? You need some chops to play it at that tempo, even if he does, ummm......."paraphrase" the head.

But nevermind the head; to walk at that tempo for 13 minutes is a feat to behold.

[StevieC63]

Thanks for the replies guys,

Musicman, if you mean this for the closed pos.....

G --4-5-7-9-5-7------
D -7------------------
A 5-------------------
E -------------------

I can't get on with the sliding around on the G string (even on a guitar!).

Think I'm going to persevere with

G --------------------
D -----------2--------
A -----2-3-5--3-5-----
E -3-5----------------

even though I think the opening G should be a lower D. Sounds as good though (when I get it right).

and work on...
-------------9--------
-----9-10-12--10-12--
---12-----------------
-10-------------------

when I'm having a 'good' day (i.e. when I haven't had a beer and my intonation is acceptable).

Cheers guys,
this site rocks!

[Jonas J]

L.H.: 4 fingers:

------------7-9-----7-
-0-7-9-10------10---
-----------------------
-----------------------

[droo]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

I have a video of PC playing it and he starts in 1st postion shifting up the G string.

Sounds like the fingering I used last time I had a look at it - it was:

G ---1-/-2-4-/-1-4-\-1-4----
D -0------------------------
(fingerings, not tab, /=shift up, \=shift down)

or if you were to write it in tab:

G ---2--4-5--7-9--5-7----
D -0----------------------
A ------------------------
E ------------------------
which looked pretty weird when I first came from BG to the DB, but once you're used to shifting...

[godoze]

Just me but I always play it in TP.