James Jamerson's hand position on the neck

[El Pigo]

Hi,
Looking at different pics of James Jamerson playing, it seems that he mostly played in first position, using lots of open strings and did not seem to be moving his left hand high on the neck. Is this just a feeling I have or does this corresponds to reality. If so, boy, did he make good use of this first position. It makes me think that J.S. Bach wrote his sonatas and partitas for solo violin and the cello suites to be played mostly in first position.

Best to all,

ayp

 

[SoCal1]

Hi,
Looking at different pics of James Jamerson playing, it seems that he mostly played in first position, using lots of open strings and did not seem to be moving his left hand high on the neck. Is this just a feeling I have or does this corresponds to reality. If so, boy, did he make good use of this first position. It makes me think that J.S. Bach wrote his sonatas and partitas for solo violin and the cello suites to be played mostly in first position.

Best to all,

ayp

Everything you've observed is pretty much true. Jamerson played mostly first position, using open strings and ghost notes to enhance his lines. Amazing what he could do.

 

[dhsierra1]

Everything you've observed is pretty much true. Jamerson played mostly first position, using open strings and ghost notes to enhance his lines. Amazing what he could do.

a lot of his technique had to do w/him also being a double bassist, note the right hand one-fingered "hook", just astonishing.

 

[basswest]

What was it Family Man Barrett said on this subject? He allegedly gives a very short bass guitar lesson in which he instructs us not to play any higher than the 5th fret. Lesson over.

 

[lhoward]

I think that most double bassists, who primarily play pizzicato, are used to playing in the lower positions due to better and what I call cleaner tone, giving more definition to the note. I think both double and electric bass benefit from a cleaner, more defined tone on notes in the lower positions, its just that I don't think its as well defined on double bass in the upper positions as it can be on electric bass.

Lloyd Howard

 

[dhsierra1]

I think that most double bassists, who primarily play pizzicato, are used to playing in the lower positions due to better and what I call cleaner tone, giving more definition to the note. I think both double and electric bass benefit from a cleaner, more defined tone on notes in the lower positions, its just that I don't think its as well defined on double bass in the upper positions as it can be on electric bass.

Lloyd Howard

+1

 

[Tupac]

Erm... what does "first position" mean? I'd assume the first five frets or something?