How often do you venture above the 12th fret?

  • Never

    Votes: 7 2.0%
  • Extremely rarely

    Votes: 30 8.5%
  • Rarely

    Votes: 45 12.8%
  • Occasionally

    Votes: 118 33.6%
  • Fairly frequently

    Votes: 58 16.5%
  • Frequently

    Votes: 28 8.0%
  • Often

    Votes: 24 6.8%
  • All the time

    Votes: 41 11.7%

  • Total voters
    351
I suppose it does make a difference and matters whether you play 4 or 6 string bass though, as with a 6 string you got a high C.

If I was playing traditional 4 string bass I would probably spend a lot less time above 12th fret that is the case now, where I mainly play a 4 string short scale bass in tenor bass, A#1 standard, tuning, and that it is the main instrument in the musical project I am working on, which means I play considerably more melodic, and use chords considerably more than I otherwise would, really applying a playing and composing style that is somewhat of a crossover/fusion of what you would use for regular bass and then tenor guitar (in standard fourth tuning mind).

Still interesting and fun to see how people play their bass, and their opinions on utilizing the "dusty end" of the fretboard.
 
Frequently....and I play a 6 string bass.

Context: I mainly just run through tunes in the Real Book. I work up the melody for some of the songs and play them way up the neck. I also frequently play above the 12th fret when soloing over the changes.

When walking, I occasionally go above the 12th fret on the G string.

For other styles of music, I rarely play over the 12th fret, but it is occasionally required. Years ago I played a cover of a country tune and one of the fills from the original recording worked best high on the C string.
 
I'll venture up there for bass intros and fills. Also in solos.
I play mostly original t00ns [rock, pop, R&B, funk, country, swamp] anymore in a trio or four piece setting, so pretty free to do whatever. Try and be tasteful about it - don't spend a whole lotta time up there - just like don't spend a lot of time down on the low B if using a fiver. peace
 
There are a lot of pieces written for piano. Very few of them use all 88 keys. Just because you can doesn't mean you have to. Or should.
I have also played cello music which has greater range than the bass, so context is key to having to go high and playing the whole neck. While i might not play every note, I have played my lowest and highest notes in the same song, I'd call that using the full range because you need to.
 
I voted rarely.
The music I play doesn't require it but I started playing SKA music and some Jah Wobble recently and have found, not only a change in technique and bass setup is necessary and required but i find myself playing up in those regions more often than I've ever been in the first 25 years of bass playing.
It's been an eye opener and a valuable lesson
 

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