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Common Sense Observation on Using the Whole Fingerboard
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
The meek have a perfect 300,000 year history of getting their butts’ kicked.
Their track record isn’t so long, but I think 5-fret bass players have the same history.
0:51
"It's worth pointing out that I am being slightly facetious here. Because, at the end of the day, what those people are really saying is: When playing bass lines, don't noodle around up there on the high notes like a lead guitarist, if you want to get hired"
"There's no money above the 5th fret" is Not so much a "myth" as a platitude
"It's worth pointing out that I am being slightly facetious here. Because, at the end of the day, what those people are really saying is: When playing bass lines, don't noodle around up there on the high notes like a lead guitarist, if you want to get hired"
"There's no money above the 5th fret" is Not so much a "myth" as a platitude
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He says playing the same notes on a lower string have more bass because the string is fatter. It'a actually due to comb filtering - the pickup position is closer to the center of the active area of the string when playing on a lower string further up. But, practically, I agree that playing further up helps. A 5 also helps, because you don' t have to go down to the lowest frets when playing low E, F, G, etc..
Is there be any validity to the idea that the bass should stick more to the low notes in really dense music and has more freedom to play higher in music with a lot of space? Or are there other specific times when this rule should be followed (please don't say when it serves the song 
)?
)?
Or are there other specific times when this rule should be followed (please don't say when it serves the song
OK how bout : If it sounds good it is good?
As for musical density requiring a more defined bass line (lower notes) I think there is some truth there.
If all the voices in a passage are paying zero attention to range and roles,
the music is likely to suffer - especially in a well defined style
the bigger the team the more important it is to define the roles
the smaller the team, the more jumping roles may be useful
I think it is useful to distinguish between a bass line or bass part vs a bass guitar or instrument
A bass line / part has certain expectations for expected range and relationship to the harmony & rhythm
where as bass guitar/instrument is only limited by the practical range of the instrument.
you don't have to play a bass line just because your instrument is a bass
but someone looking to hire a bassist probably expects bass lines to come out.
