Moving On Up (the fretboard)

[Bar Band Bassman]

Play the break in "Sir Duke". Primarily pentatonic but starts in the middle of the fretboard, goes ALL the way up and ALL the way down. Also lots of fingering options that helped me get more comfortable with all of the fingerboard. Play "All Right Now". Lots of cool stuff going on above the 12th fret. Play the bass break from "Pictures Of Home". Another fingerboard traversing extravaganza. Lots more like this. Oh, and "Come Together" starts on the "E" 12th fret and goes UP from there!

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[Old gold]

Yup, Sir Duke runs all over the fretboard, mainly in a pentatonic, but the real challenge of a song like that for me is to play it without peeking. After the 7th fret, I start to get shaky on playing without a glance or two, especially if not playing on the G string. After the 12th fret, all hope is lost without a firm stare at the fretboard. Add a quick shift up to the first few frets and I start to sweat.

 

[Watchootognbout]

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

 

[chris_b]

I use some open strings, but only if there isn't a fretted alternative.

I'll play anywhere that the riff, song or band leader requires, but I guess I'm at home down the "money making" end.

All those Stevie Wonder riffs are great exercise pieces.