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Music reading/position playing

T

TotteryManx

Jan 15, 2013
16
0
#1
Hey guys, I've been wondering something for a little while now; Lets say a key signature tells you a song is in A major, but the sheet music doesn't clarify a position to play it in(which is most of the time), how do you decide where to play it? I always lean towards playing in lower positions with open notes, but I've noticed other bass players playing on the 5th fret. Does it really matter? Is there a definite answer to this?
 
#2
TotteryManx said:
Hey guys, I've been wondering something for a little while now; Lets say a key signature tells you a song is in A major, but the sheet music doesn't clarify a position to play it in(which is most of the time), how do you decide where to play it? I always lean towards playing in lower positions with open notes, but I've noticed other bass players playing on the 5th fret. Does it really matter? Is there a definite answer to this?
Click to expand...

Jamerson played a great deal in the lower four-fret area and lots of open notes. Probably came from his Double Bass experience.

Position playing comes from experience and attempting to strive for effortless execution.
 
#3
Hm... As about me, I always try to have full control of my sound. I can't remember when I played anything with open strings. That's why I like to play 5 strings bass. Some songs require playing upper positions (shorter strings sound different). It's upon to you to make decision what sounds better and that defines your style and your expression.
 
#6
TotteryManx said:
Hey guys, I've been wondering something for a little while now; Lets say a key signature tells you a song is in A major, but the sheet music doesn't clarify a position to play it in(which is most of the time), how do you decide where to play it? I always lean towards playing in lower positions with open notes, but I've noticed other bass players playing on the 5th fret. Does it really matter? Is there a definite answer to this?
Click to expand...

Experience will teach you to read through the whole score/sheet and work out where you need to be in relation to the fretboard to play.
I very often picture how I can move through changes of position, I also play "air bass" by running through fingerings as I visualise myself playing them.
I call this, Fret Mapping, because you are mapping out a route to play, a route that will allow the fingerings you choose to be smooth and clear.
Experience is the key, the process can take seconds for you to see the options of route and decide on one( maybe a few) once you have it down.
The best way to practice this is to find out how many other ways you can play the songs you already know...the results can be an eye opener when compared to your already used choices.:D
 
#7
I play from fake chord, because, that is what the band uses. And fake chord does not tell you the key; as I rely upon the box I first figure out the key so I can place the box.

This Sunday (today) we have a song in E and I'm taking it to the 12th. Most of the time I would play E with open strings at the nut. I'm just not comfortable up around the nut on this song. That is a little extreme, but, that's where I'm going.

G @ the 3rd.
C @ the 8th.
A @ the 5th.
D @ the 10.

As you see, I seldom place the root on the 3rd string, I should work on that.
 
#9
I get what all of you are saying, but the longer I play the more I notice things. Lets say I need to play a C note that's on a ledger line, I have a few options here; 1. I could play it on the D string, 10th fret, or I could simply play it on the G string, 5th fret. According to sheet music these two share the same pitch since they can be played on the same line. The only thing I can see making a major difference is if the piece has a lot of legato/hammer ons-offs and such.
 
#10
Yea, that's what makes sight reading a challenge. The second time through the chart, you should have most of that scoped out. However, if reading a chart for the first time try to start and stay to the middle of the neck as much as you can. The thing that messed you up are the notes that can only be played in one place on the neck like the losest major 3rd (E-G#) or the highest notes.
 
#11
TotteryManx said:
I get what all of you are saying, but the longer I play the more I notice things. Lets say I need to play a C note that's on a ledger line, I have a few options here; 1. I could play it on the D string, 10th fret, or I could simply play it on the G string, 5th fret. According to sheet music these two share the same pitch since they can be played on the same line. The only thing I can see making a major difference is if the piece has a lot of legato/hammer ons-offs and such.
Click to expand...

Goes even deeper than that i'm afraid. Depending on the set up of the bass, the quality of the pick-up, the electronics suite, the string type and guages, intonation etc playing a D open, or fretted on the A string at 5th fret or fretted on the E at the 10th fret can have different dynamics and timbre....it may just may not fit what you hear, not others, but what you hear for a number of reason.

But as you say, the more experience you get the more certain parts of your playing you no longer think about, it becomes internalised, so that frees your thinking to notice other things going on...its common place and shows you are learning well.:)
 
#12
If you're pedaling that C note under a rock riff or jam, it might not matter if you are on the D string 10th fret or G string 5th fret. Other than, as has been mentioned, the timbre of the note.
But when you start playing 16th note passages or phrases that are 4 notes or longer, the more efficient starting points become evident. Usually at that point you're going for smooth position changes and string access.
 
#13
Well I pulled out my old Hal Leonard Bass method books. From reading around Ed says that a lot of music can be played in multiple positions. I tested this out, but found myself shifting a lot for higher notes on the G string. I may try the "moveable position" approach since I wouldn't have to shift as much.
 
#14
TotteryManx said:
I get what all of you are saying, but the longer I play the more I notice things. Lets say I need to play a C note that's on a ledger line, I have a few options here; 1. I could play it on the D string, 10th fret, or I could simply play it on the G string, 5th fret. According to sheet music these two share the same pitch since they can be played on the same line. The only thing I can see making a major difference is if the piece has a lot of legato/hammer ons-offs and such.
Click to expand...

Where to play that "C note that's on a ledger line", it depends what came before and where is the line going.

Unless you like jumping all over the neck.

I'll refer to my initial post: "Position playing comes from experience and attempting to strive for effortless execution."
 
#15
Our instrument is a three octave instrument, if ledger notes are below our E string, yes we have to move up an octave. Most songs we will run into are two octave songs, with perhaps one or two notes into the third octave.

After looking at the entire piece of music, decide which octave you will be using for this specific piece of music.

Or...... get a 5 string. The 5th string will normally take care of the few ledger notes you run up against.

IMO.
 

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