No open strings?

[Aussie Player]

open strings are harder to control, they also sound different. Your tone is more consistent when fretting all notes. zero fret anyone? Obviously E & B are exceptions.

I find this true, but also based on initial influences as my first teacher was a one finger per fret guy, who stressed the importance thereof before venturing onto scales up the neck. 4 finger work on bass he felt, was a primary skill.

If you go back in time, there were a lot of 3 fingered claw players who strummed with a pick, probably more today, but its more accepted these days.

 

[Flyboyandy]

I was told when I started playing bass (many years ago)
"A good bass player never uses open strings."
I still find that odd after 37 years playing.
Any opinions on this?

I was told the same thing, but my teacher told me that there a really good exceptions... he then taught me Day Tripper to show me why. This is so funny because I have been playing for 45 years AND still try to play without using them. My god.

 

[salmon256]

I was never outright told, in fact I was told the opposite when working on reading exercises. I prefer to play closed fretted strings in the 5th because personally I like how it sounds and for playing certain lines and feels better, but there is nothing wrong with playing open, some basses if you pluck right you can't even tell the difference IMO personally.

 

[stringthrough]

Use them as needed

 

[60bass]

LOL A good bass player uses ALL strings. Open, closed, every position and OMG shock, sometimes two or more strings at once!

 

[JazznFunk]

Total crap. Especially coming from an upright bass perspective, where open strings are crucial for position shifts and more. Open strings allow you to check tuning in an instant, shift positions more easily, solve problems mid-song if necessary, etc.

 

[Chrisenbacker69]

I avoid them because I think open notes do ring differently than a fretted note and are harder to manage in terms of muting and attack. But I don't consider anything to be cast in stone. Whatever works best to serve the song.

 

[HolmeBass]

For slower passages or long held notes, I try to avoid open strings.

For many fast passages, and for droning, double-stops and such, I have come to rely on them more and more. I have had to practice using them to get them to sound better.

 

[socialleper]

I've never heard that, and that is a weird opinion to have. Where would your low E on a 4 string come from?
Sounds like dumb advice from someone that wasn't as witty as they thought they were.

 

[hasbeen]

I was told when I started playing bass (many years ago)
"A good bass player never uses open strings."
I still find that odd after 37 years playing.
Any opinions on this?

Who told you that and what were their "credentials"?

 

[Kael]

I guess that if you avoid open strings it is slightly easier to transpose keys on the fly perhaps? Other than that, I'm calling BS.

 

[lethargytartare]

Using open strings also means more first-position playing. Playing there is physically harder -- your fingers have to stretch more. So defiantly insisting people avoid that is really just a sign of owie-stretchy-finger-syndrome. So we should show some empathy to people who have such tender fingies. And then send them to Hans and Franz:

 

[BigJohnAZ]

I was taught that as well, but found that open strings work better on some occurrences. Geddy, Sting, Mcvie used them when needed. I'm sure all the greats do/did.

 

[JazznFunk]

Open strings also come in handy, if the key and/or section of the song allows, to keep the low end going if you need to adjust your amp, scratch your nose, etc.!

 

[JazznFunk]

I find this true, but also based on initial influences as my first teacher was a one finger per fret guy, who stressed the importance thereof before venturing onto scales up the neck. 4 finger work on bass he felt, was a primary skill.

If you go back in time, there were a lot of 3 fingered claw players who strummed with a pick, probably more today, but its more accepted these days.

This depends as much on the bass and your left hand technique as it does anything else. One of the things I love about my Laklands (especially the 5 string axes) is that fretted and open notes are very consistent in terms of tone. If your muting technique is up to snuff with your left hand, you can work open strings in almost imperceptibly.

 

[Jefenator]

I'd say a good player knows the scales and the neck and how to get a good sound.

 

[5StringBlues]

Okay, no open notes and no notes above the 5th fret. I'm down to 20 notes total now. Thanks.

 

[JKos]

I'm down to 20 notes total now.

You only need 12.

 

[5StringBlues]

If I want to be a incredibly boring swing/blues bass player, yes.

You only need 12.

 

[mambo4]

I never got the memo
Been mixing & matching open an closed positions all my bass playing life.
I use technique to keep the sound consistent - a fun challenge
I'll use them for a random rhythmic accent or anticipation in an otherwise closed position
I enjoy how every key feels physically different when you force open strings into the fingering