My bass has 24 frets, and this range is totally wasted on me. I wondering if I'm alone.
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How many frets do *you* need on your 4-string?
- Thread starter Ricky Rioli
- Start date
From exercises to sight reading classical music I’ve always been grateful for twenty four frets. Regular grooving of course doesn’t take that much if you choose but if you do choose to use more, that should be your choice not the bass’s.
I was very careful not to say anything along the lines of "I don't use anything beyond the 19th fret and neither should anyone else", and think it a wonderful thing that the bass guitar market seemingly offers at least something for everyone.
(I wish I had done a better job of identifying the bass which best answered my needs, but that's another matter)
Your poll included “15 would be more than enough to be honest” so I assumed you knew there were plenty people here who had that opinion. And it’s an opinion I respect since the majority of songs don’t require more than that. I was only stating I like the freedom to go higher. It seems strange to me that fender don’t regularly offer the option of three full octaves as one more fret shouldn’t hurt but I imagine there are technical reasons as well as the issue of tradition. 
Need and want are such different things.
Even with an extended fingerboard I don't get much past the 17th fret unless I'm making a point of doing so.
Still, it's fun to play up there from time to time.
Even with an extended fingerboard I don't get much past the 17th fret unless I'm making a point of doing so.
Still, it's fun to play up there from time to time.
I needed to have an option that I could vote for, and just hoped that I wouldn't be the only person ticking that box!
I was watching some vintage guitar clip on youtube, one of the usual suspects, and there was, iirc, a late 50s Strat which had severe wear on the first three frets and nothing beyond
I only really need four frets. I can play everything in that span, although it may not be in the correct octave, it can be done. I prefer 21, and only have 20.
If it doesn't have 24+ frets I don't buy it. I went as far as modifying 21 fret models to 24 so I 'd feel comfy.
i'd rather have two octaves but i don't "require" that. i have axes with 19-20 usable positions, up to 24: i like 'em all!
Tips:
- Learn to play all scales up to the highest frets to get familiar with that register of your bass.
- Learn to play all bass lines up an octave & above the 12th fret. You’ll quickly become comfortable in that part of the neck.
- Learn to jump up 12 frets and down again during any bassline. (Similar to a pianist moving up/down an octave).
I use all 20 frets on my P bass at every gig - mostly double stops and cool fills.
I have 24 frets on my 5 string but rarely go past 21st fret (due to ergonomics).
- Learn to play all scales up to the highest frets to get familiar with that register of your bass.
- Learn to play all bass lines up an octave & above the 12th fret. You’ll quickly become comfortable in that part of the neck.
- Learn to jump up 12 frets and down again during any bassline. (Similar to a pianist moving up/down an octave).
I use all 20 frets on my P bass at every gig - mostly double stops and cool fills.
I have 24 frets on my 5 string but rarely go past 21st fret (due to ergonomics).
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21 does for me. My two main four string basses - a Cort Rithimic and Peavey Palaedium, both Jeff Berlin signature models - fit this configuration. For me, that is more than enough to cover most of what I want to do with a four string. I say this because my main inspiration, Jeff Berlin, manages wonderfully with just 21 frets.
I do like having other basses with more frets or even more strings though I could happily play 21 fret four strings for the rest of my days and not feeling creatively or musically limited by that.
I do like having other basses with more frets or even more strings though I could happily play 21 fret four strings for the rest of my days and not feeling creatively or musically limited by that.
Although I like the idea of a full 2 octaves on each string: for the symmetry and ease of transposing scales from the 1st octave to the second, it really isn't any kind of deal breaker for me. 24 frets also affect the placement of the front pickup and sometimes the area available for slapping or popping the higher strings.
If you are noodling around at home or with a looper making pseudo-guit@r sounds then maybe it's useful, but honestly, the times I've found myself wailing away on the 15th or higher frets in a band setting are less than zero. The name 'bass' usually gives me enough impetus to understand what role I should be playing -and I try as much as possible to stay in that register -holding things together -without intending any offence to those into 7 strings or extended higher ranges - because I was there once too. IMHO, IMO etc. etc.
If you are noodling around at home or with a looper making pseudo-guit@r sounds then maybe it's useful, but honestly, the times I've found myself wailing away on the 15th or higher frets in a band setting are less than zero. The name 'bass' usually gives me enough impetus to understand what role I should be playing -and I try as much as possible to stay in that register -holding things together -without intending any offence to those into 7 strings or extended higher ranges - because I was there once too. IMHO, IMO etc. etc.
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The tastefulness of my playing is inversely proportional to the number of frets on my bass.
I hope you aren't mistaking musical choices for a lack of technical wherewithal?
With 24 frets someone could probably play Eruption on their bass! 
I selected 15.
I selected 15.
Rest easy, I ticked it too.
I do play above the 15th fret at home, playing some Stevie Wonder riffs etc, but I never really get up there on a gig.
