Never used notes/frets...

[Sundogue]

OK, this is a weird thought I had, but it just happened to pop in my head this morning...

Are there any notes or frets on your bass that you NEVER use?

I don't think I have (in over 25 years of playing) ever played Ab (or G#, take your pick) on my G string (first fret). Anyone ever use it? It must be the cleanest spot on any bass I've ever owned. On the oldest bass I've ever had, the fret at that spot is probably still in mint condition.

I now return you to your favorite threads.

[Synplicity]

Anything above the 19th fret on G and D, and anything above the 15th fret E and A. There is a dirt curve where i dont use them frets. EDIT - I do use the G# on the G for Electric Uncle Sam by Primus. XD

[fretless Bob]

i have used the G# on my G string but it probably isnt the most used fret on anyones bass as far as im concerned, and i dont really think that i use the high frets on my low B that often either, like above the 16th fret


Dave

[Sundogue]

Hmmm, I can see it as a selling point in an E-Bay ad.

"Bass for sale, First fret on G string never used, mint condition."

[tonedeaf]

I've used the first fret on my G string quite a bit. If you ever play music that was written for horns or an orchestra (or transposed to a singer's range for a theater show), quite a bit of that stuff is in keys with a lot of flats, and depending on where you happen to start, the Ab on the G string first fret is the closest one available.

In my case, I rarely venture above the 12th fret of any string.

[Sundogue]

The cover band I'm in does a lot of polkas (with horns) when we play weddings. We play a lot of flats, but I usually play further up the neck to give it a more "tuba-like" beefiness.

This is more interesting than I originally thought. Well...OK, not really.

[Baryonyx]

I've used it plenty on both my basses, one instance I think of now is in the Jonas Hellborg song "it's the pits, slight return", it's the last note in a slap/pop run down the neck from the 12th fret of the G.

[TheEmptyCell]

I've never had any use for notes above the 17th fret on my B string, but I find myself using the 1st fret of G for a lot of jazz stuff in the open position.

[barebones]

I get paid by the note, so I use every note available on my bass... in every song... whether I need to or not...

Matt

[lemur821]

I'm not sure. I'd better go play them all now, just to be on the safe side.

[WillBuckingham]

I probably play that Ab more than anyother Ab besides the one at fret 4 on the E string.

[seanm]

Buck Owen's Buckaroo is in C# on the album, so you get to use the G#!

While there is probably no note on the bass I haven't played, if I am above the 15th fret I am probably just goofing around. I think the only time I have been above the 15th fret live is for a long glissando.

Hmmm, and if I am above the 12th fret I am probably on the D or G string.

[Chili]

i use pretty much every note on the bass, but i suppose i dont use the first 2 or 3 frets on the g string that often, but thats mainly becouse they dont make any sound lol, it just goes pff, i really need a new bass...

[steve21]

I go through every fret/string for warming up.

And in general I like going all over. The 1st fret on the G or C string sound like.

[invader3k]

I hardly touch the G string, period, other than mainly for open G notes and stuff around the 3rd, 5th, and 7th fret. I almost never go above the 12th fret on either of my basses at all...

[SuperDuck]

The one note that usually seems to elude me is the "right" note. That little bugger never gets any use...

[Slater]

I'm a converted guitar player, so I use 'em all!

[All_¥our_Bass]

I use almost al of them, cept maybe the highest ones on the E and A.

[sjleland]

I haven't really thought about such a thing....I'll have to come up with an answer sometime so I can actually contribute.

and about the G#, I hit that everyday when I play a Bb Mixolydian.

[beyondhairy]

i dont think i go anywhere past the 15th fret on my A or E string