"The Dead Zone" of the fretboard.

[Tupac]

You know what I'm talkin' bout. Almost every note in the middle of the fretboard can be reproduced up top or down lower, making it "the dead zone". So, experienced musicians, what are your thoughts and opinions on it?

[BKBassDude]

I disagree. I'm almost always playing between the 5th and the 10th frets. Best combination of tone and distance between frets for comfort. Plus you can always just move up or down a position, a luxury which you don't have at the other extremes.

[Unrepresented]

My natural left hand position is centered around the 'dead zone.'

It gives me room to move higher or lower as need be and get most of the notes that are on either end without having to be stuck there.

[ShredderMaximus]

I spend most of my time between 5 and 12 fret. Easy to move higher or lower.

[GrinningMouth88]

agreed, same here. guess it's not so dead after all.......

[AdamJames306]

Even though an A at the 7th fret of the D string is the same note as the 12th fret of the A string and the 2nd fret of the G string, they are three different sounds. Not to mention the issue of string tension, sustain, and the percussive aspects of each one… I think most seasoned string players would agree that there's a time and a place for each one, and they aren't simply interchangeable notes on a fingerboard.

When you call the middle of the of the fretboard the "dead zone," it seems to be giving it a negative connotation. Timbre is almost as important as pitch. I think a major aspect of achieving mastery of an instrument is both understanding and taking advantage of the full range of tonal capability of said instrument.

But, then again, I've had quite a bit of vodka.

[IronLung1986]

Originally Posted by AdamJames306

Even though an A at the 7th fret of the D string is the same note as the 12th fret of the A string and the 2nd fret of the G string, they are three different sounds. Not to mention the issue of string tension, sustain, and the percussive aspects of each one… I think most seasoned string players would agree that there's a time and a place for each one, and they aren't simply interchangeable notes on a fingerboard.

When you call the middle of the of the fretboard the "dead zone," it seems to be giving it a negative connotation. Timbre is almost as important as pitch. I think a major aspect of achieving mastery of an instrument is both understanding and taking advantage of the full range of tonal capability of said instrument.

But, then again, I've had quite a bit of vodka.

this all holds true regardless of the vodka

i've heard a few bass players talk about the middle of the fretboard as an undesirable place to play but i've always kinda liked it. if a song is in the key of A (and LOTS of them are) i usually prefer to center around the 5th fret of the E string, rather than the open A string. the notes sound chunkier in that area, which is good for more rhythmic playing, and there are also more melodic options from that point.

[Marton]

The "dead zone" is usually the most worn place on old basses necks. Just a thought...

Edit : My spelling is horrible tonight.

[ShredderMaximus]

Originally Posted by IronLung1986

this all holds true regardless of the vodka

i've heard a few bass players talk about the middle of the fretboard as an undesirable place to play but i've always kinda liked it. if a song is in the key of A (and LOTS of them are) i usually prefer to center around the 5th fret of the E string, rather than the open A string. the notes sound chunkier in that area, which is good for more rhythmic playing, and there are also more melodic options from that point.

Agreed, and in all honesty, except for a few exceptions, I sorta avoid the open A, D, and G strings, especially when playing mostly fretted notes. I just find them a bit harder to control cleanly and would much rather play the fretted octave.

[teleharmonium]

The sound of any stringed instrument changes as the scale length of the fingered notes gets shorter. Selecting the right position for each note is a powerful form of EQ and envelope control, if you take advantage of it. Good players use it to give their parts a consistent apparent volume or to apply more thickness or more attack at the right moments.

[lunarpollen]

Sure, the basic pitches of the notes can be reproduced elsewhere, but not the tone of the notes, nor their relation and proximity to other areas on the fretboard. It's good to have multiple options! The "dead zone" isn't dead at all, it's full of life!

[Pilgrim]

I'm safe. 90% of the time I'm on the 5th fret or below.

[ggunn]

Not for me. Differences in feel and timbre aside, it's about choice when I am building a bass line. It makes a difference, for example, whether I am playing in a major scale or a blues scale which direction I go on the neck to get from the 1 to the 5. Also, playing in the middle of the neck without open notes it's a lot easier to transpose. Another thing: my hands are kind of small, so it's much easier for me to span three or four frets up in the middle of the neck than down near the nut. Nope, the middle of the neck is no dead zone for me.

[AcidFripp]

Typical thread. OP makes a common observation and all the people who feel the opposite way post to own him.

...

I'm one of those people.
Sorry, OP, but the dead zone is pretty cool.

[jaywa]

Totally depends on the instrument. My 78 Precision with a maple board absolutely sings between the 7th and 12th frets and I go there quite a bit. OTOH my Ibanez BTB with a rosewood board is dead as a doornail in that same region so the same notes on that bass get fretted completely differently (i.e., closer to the headstock).

[Tupac]

Originally Posted by AcidFripp

Typical thread. OP makes a common observation and all the people who feel the opposite way post to own him.

...

I'm one of those people.
Sorry, OP, but the dead zone is pretty cool.

No no, this kind of information was exactly what I was looking for. I don't mind getting owned, I just want to hear opinions on it.

[FromTheBassMent]

Originally Posted by AdamJames306

Even though an A at the 7th fret of the D string is the same note as the 12th fret of the A string and the 2nd fret of the G string, they are three different sounds. Not to mention the issue of string tension, sustain, and the percussive aspects of each one… I think most seasoned string players would agree that there's a time and a place for each one, and they aren't simply interchangeable notes on a fingerboard.

THIS ^^^^

[Rafael]

Well, to the extent that a stringed instrument doesn't haven't even timbers like if it where a synth, I find the "dead zone" both a boon and a bane....you just have to know where to grab that note when you need it....in my role as a bass player in my current band I often almost rubber band on the E string since nothing pounds like that D at the 10th fret, even if it requires a shift up-neck. The mass of the E string gives a timbre not available for that note anywhere else on the neck. Then in other instances playing say a box pattern in the second position is the only way to make a lick flow, so be it. I"M just glad that for the most part grabbing notes around the fretboard doesn't involve that weird anomaly in a 6 string guitar at the B string...

[jay tay]

I'm in the dead zone about 45%-55% of the time, just feels like home...

Hey I live in the Dead Zone... That's kind of cool!

[uethanian]

depends on what i'm playing. when it's jazz walking stuff i stay around the nut a lot and shuffle up the G string when i need to. when it's rock/funk i'm definitely boxing around in said dead zone.