Moving On Up (the fretboard)

[dbsfgyd1]

I've seen a couple of famous bassists over the years advising newer players to focus their learning the fretboard from the nut to the fifth fret. The advice is usually along the lines of "the lowest frets are your 'money makers' - where most producers and bands will want you to play".

Back when I was in an original band, I do recall most of my bass parts used (relied on?) open strings, and I played most of the time around the nut to 5th fret.

Many years later, I'm playing in an accoustic duo now, and I've noticed that most of my playing - of other people's songs, in keys that my guitarist partner is able to sing in - is around the 4th to 8th frets.

I do of course embellish with higher frets from time to time, and also go to lower frets as needed. However, most of my playing seems to be in the zone of the 4th to 8th fret, and I even tend to fret notes on the 5th fret rather than playing open strings.

In which zone do you tend to spend most of your time on the fretboard?

I work in horn bands so there are very few songs where I’m using open strings. Playing by ear, I typically play by intervals of a scale when I’m up the fretboard. Call it the Do-Ray-Me style.

Once I locate the lowest possible root note of a song, positionally everthing is relative fret wise. For instance, going up the scale the 5th note of a major scale is always one string closer the floor, and two frets up the fingerboard, regardless of where the root is located on the fingerboard.

The trick to play like this you need to hear and remember what those intervals sound like. Having relative pitch is useful.

I will also say this works reading standard notation as well. Hope this helps.

 

[KidAmnesia]

I find it is a great advise for beginners. Staying on the lower frets means getting used to the longer stretches and extension of the arm. It also lends itself to simpler, rythm-centric basslines, so it encourages to learn the fundamentals of bass playing before moving to more melodic, flashier territories.

As for myself, most of the time Im playing is spent between the 3rd and 7th fret. I rarely play open strings or venture beyond the 12th fret; and I don't think I ever played anything higher than the 15th on a song.

 

[JonathanPDX]

"The bass mostly plays in the lowest octave and that's how you get gigs" makes sense in a pre-Jaco world where Carol Kaye is the peak of flashy bass work. It also makes sense if you live in a world where amplifiers are very basic and only sound good in a very narrow sonic range.

If you actually look at the modern world you see not only accomplished soloists like Victor Wooten, but "support" guys like Nathan East and Roscoe Beck utilizing the entire fretboard. Great players study the entirety of their instrument and use everything available to create music.

It doesn't mean you are going to be up on the 20th fret in every song, but if you need to learn a melody, take a solo, fill out a chord, etc. you better know how to get there and make it work. Because if you don't, the next guy will and he'll take your gig while you are sitting at home practicing your "money notes."

 

[Auspuff]

I've seen a couple of famous bassists over the years advising newer players to focus their learning the fretboard from the nut to the fifth fret. The advice is usually along the lines of "the lowest frets are your 'money makers' - where most producers and bands will want you to play".

Back when I was in an original band, I do recall most of my bass parts used (relied on?) open strings, and I played most of the time around the nut to 5th fret.

Many years later, I'm playing in an accoustic duo now, and I've noticed that most of my playing - of other people's songs, in keys that my guitarist partner is able to sing in - is around the 4th to 8th frets.

I do of course embellish with higher frets from time to time, and also go to lower frets as needed. However, most of my playing seems to be in the zone of the 4th to 8th fret, and I even tend to fret notes on the 5th fret rather than playing open strings.

In which zone do you tend to spend most of your time on the fretboard?

I play a fretless, so I use all of the fretboard.

And, it is a lot of fun, the higher you go, on the neck.

 

[djmay]

I guess they never played “Cotton Tail.”

 

[bassdude51]

Speaking for myself and that means nothing...............the 14th fret tends to be my high end limit. As much as possible, the 9th fret and lower. "To each his own."

 

[bassdude51]

Don't much wander past the 5th fret unless the song calls for it.

Amen!

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[Fynn]

It very much depends on the tone I need. Generally, I don't really pass the 9th fret often at all, but I don't stick to such a narrow band. Fifth fret E string sounds very different to the open A. Even more so, the open D sounds way thinner, than the 5th fret A string. So depending on what sound I need, I'll try to play around the area that makes the most sense. I play alot of different tunes, so I'll change constantly. And sometimes I even jump from way down low to high up, just because I want a note on the lower string.
To answer the question, I couldn't tell you, because it changes too much

 

[Fynn]

There are famous players who aren't necessarily great teachers.

We learn for the future, not the past. The music world is transforming. Much as I love rock music, it's in decline, and its rules don't define my future. For some of us, the "money zone" is a joke -- we abandoned the money side of playing music long ago, and owe it nothing. I get paid for gigs, but certainly not enough to support a family.

You don't have to tell the electric guitarists, or even the electric bassists, that you're learning more frets.

/rant

There are A LOT of famous players who aren't great teachers. Many of the real famous people tend to be known for doing one thing really good, and it generally has to do with the music they play. So if you start adopting their technique, and their knowledge, but trying to apply it to the music you like to play, then that can cause problems.

But then again, there's also famous players who are known for their great diversity, who have a lot of great information, or who really know how to adapt to situations.
I wouldn't want to learn from Flea, when trying to become an amazing session musician probably

 

[salmon256]

Personally I'm someone who prefers the 5th to 7th area of the fret. It's been a reason why I wanted to get into 5 string for a bit to encourage me to stay in the 1st to 5th zone. It's all what the song, music, sheet music I feel is easiest, theme and what you play. Blues? I'm gonna probably stay in the first position the most. Light Indie? I'll maybe play in the 7th more. All depends. Music is subjective friend, it's whatever works for anyone and you and what helps you to have the most fun. Just my 2 cents.

 

[fdeck]

I guess they never played “Cotton Tail.”

... or disco.

 

[J Wilson]

There's music where the first five frets is enough, and lots more music using the rest of the fingerboard.

I'd also say that after years of playing neck through instruments, often with 24 frets, Fender Shaped Objects and the like make it far harder to reach over that darned heel block. Play something like a Ric or any bass where virtually the entire fingerboard is clear of the body and heel, it's MUCH easier to play 'up there', what with the deep cutaways and the neck flowing into the body with the smooth transition.

 

[skycruiser]

I'm mostly learning and playing light rock songs from the 70s right now. I'm surprised how much I have to run all over the fretboard, especially for the special little fills and riffs. Generally I avoid opens strings for reasons others have already stated. Can be useful for a quick run but the 5th fret often has better tone and control.

 

[sean_on_bass]

i guess most of the time i play between the nut and 12th fret, but still go up to the top from time to time.

 

[2thAche]

IMO get comfortable all over the neck, but don't start thinking NOT to play certain positions. Use what is right for the music.

 

[ELG60]

I'd say that my comfort zone is within the first 5-7 frets, and one of my goals is to get much more familiar with those higher sections of the neck.

 

[logdrum]

Even with roots music. Flats with a mile high action. Hitting the strings up high past the 12th fret is actually a different kind of vibe and in some cases punchier. The upper frets are not only for bass solos. It will work for groove playing

 

[basslayer]

I play 90% between the nut and the 5th fret. I play a lot of open strings. I used to never play below the 5th fret, but I just feel in love with James Jameson style and changed my approach.

 

[pfschim]

"The bass mostly plays in the lowest octave and that's how you get gigs" makes sense in a pre-Jaco world where Carol Kaye is the peak of flashy bass work.

hmmmm ... Good Vibrations anyone ? Carol was waaay above the lowest octave on that one

personally I have worked on learning the entire fretboard and I use the full range of my instruments to fit the needs of the music I'm hired to play. Sometimes that goes well above the 12th fret, but not all the time. Gotta serve the music

 

[teh-slb]

It depends on what I'm playing, mostly between the second and twelfth frets.

Here's a fun video: