Idle thoughts: why is the G string string "1"?

[51PRI]

OMG I read this whole thread...


it was awesome.

 

[Vinny_G]

I installed some Labella strings last night, and they have those little handy die on them that tell you which is which (even though it's obvious). And it made me wonder - when you see tab, instructional books or setup guides that reference the strings on a 4-string bass, they always call the G string "1" and the E string "4." I believe this is true of 5 strings and guitars as well. It makes no sense to me, which might be just because I am a bassist. To me, just like I read left to right, I think of a string instrument from the lowest note up. So if I was in charge, the E string would be #1. Of course, I am not in charge, even in my own house, so this will remain an idle musing.

It's a convention that comes from classical stringed instruments. All the useful information is in the thread below.
Good reading

How do you reference strings when not using notes?

 

[lermgalieu]

It's a convention that comes from classical stringed instruments. All the useful information is in the thread below.
Good reading

How do you reference strings when not using notes?

I believe much of that is covered in the foregoing 8 pages, but thank you!

 

[mrperkolator]

For more info on string numbers click here. Interesting tread

 

[MasterMonkeyMan]

 

[Dennis Pence]

When I began playing I wondered the same thing but it did not cause any problems. The concept of high/low did. Why do you find the higher notes lower to the ground? That one took 2 or 3 minutes to comprehend. Maybe Leo got it backwards after all. The simple answer is sometimes we just accept traditional knowledge and leave the musing to important things like which half of the pie is larger.

 

[lermgalieu]

When I began playing I wondered the same thing but it did not cause any problems. The concept of high/low did. Why do you find the higher notes lower to the ground? That one took 2 or 3 minutes to comprehend. Maybe Leo got it backwards after all. The simple answer is sometimes we just accept traditional knowledge and leave the musing to important things like which half of the pie is larger.

The high notes ARE lower to the ground, lol, but I don’t think I said that. I’ve been playing for 35 years, not a beginner. Believe me, this isn’t keeping me up at night, just thought it curious.