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open or closed notes
- Thread starter garya
- Start date
The string length and string size are different so the sound of the note will not be the same.
It's only a small difference and players in the studio or with extra special ears might notice, but, on a gig, most of us will not notice it.
I avoid open strings if I can. Not because of the sound but for fingering and "shapes" reasons.
It's only a small difference and players in the studio or with extra special ears might notice, but, on a gig, most of us will not notice it.
I avoid open strings if I can. Not because of the sound but for fingering and "shapes" reasons.
I've seen threads in which people discuss various ways to try to make those two notes sound the same by way of technique, choice of strings, etc. Personally, I think of the difference as a feature rather than a bug. I usually stick to fretted notes for both fingering reasons and tonal reasons, but sometimes only an open note will do. As Phil Lesh once said, "Only play open an open note if you mean it."
I agree 100%. It's just another option rather than an all or nothing choice. I personally don't subscribe to this "always avoid open strings" view point that I've heard a few times in the past. It always depends on what kind of music you are playing and what sort of sound you want. For playing music like Tool or Pantera it can be the most perfect thing ever but for playing some other things it can be the worst thing in the world. I think the most important thing is not to always assume it will be one or the other and just work with the music and the situation in front of you at the time
"Strange people" who are striving for MONOTONY.
As a wonderful feature!
I would not take that kind of advice from Phil Lesh, or ANYBODY else.
That's the beauty of the stringed Instrument, especially the Bass Guitar.
If you are able to pass the "educated" stage of PLAYING THE NOTES, you'll see the importance of all those subtle timbre/tone/dynamic (and technical) nuances for your Articulation of riffs/grooves/phrasing, etc... by using those "sound differences.'
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Also because one is being stopped against a metal fret and the other is being stopped by a piece of plastic or bone that is much softer. Different materials reflect the energy in the string slightly differently.
That's one of the primary arguments for a zero fret.
but the metal fret (5th fret A string) sounds deeper/fatter than the open D on the plastic nut. I would think it would be the other way then by what you say. I have to believe it is more about the string gauge then from what I just said about the tone. The open D sounds thinner than the fretted 5th on the A string. I have 40 to 100 round wound D'Addario strings.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
generally, I prefer the sound of the note playing as close to first postion as possible. Different length, different overtones.
Yes.
Also, maybe the 5th fret is closer to the pickups than an Open String?
Yes, the sound variates depending on the position.
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Generally, I fret notes, but there are times when the only way to get around quick enough is to pop an open note here and there (a 6 string advantage - I can play 6 open notes - WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!)
I'll sometimes hit an open for the first note, buying myself time to get into position for the next note.
For instance, in "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here" by Porcupine Tree, there is a place where the first note of one of the riffs is in D (Steven Wilson LOVES Dm - "the saddest of all keys"), but I'm way up around the 19th fret and I have to drop instantly to hit the D (same octave as in open D). Open string to the rescue! So I hit the first D of the next line with the open note (to buy time to get in fretting position), but now I'm in position to 1) mute the open string, and 2) fret the remaining eighth notes. So an open string buys me enough time to reposition for the next part.
Once it's in the mix, unless it's really jarring or weird, no one will notice the open string, ever, especially when it's used for a note here and there.
Plus I play with fretwraps (string mutes) and when I know I'm coming to a section where there are a lot of open notes (some Dream Theater stuff, for example), I'll move it into position to help kill unwanted overtones. Works perfectly.
I'll sometimes hit an open for the first note, buying myself time to get into position for the next note.
For instance, in "Arriving Somewhere but Not Here" by Porcupine Tree, there is a place where the first note of one of the riffs is in D (Steven Wilson LOVES Dm - "the saddest of all keys"), but I'm way up around the 19th fret and I have to drop instantly to hit the D (same octave as in open D). Open string to the rescue! So I hit the first D of the next line with the open note (to buy time to get in fretting position), but now I'm in position to 1) mute the open string, and 2) fret the remaining eighth notes. So an open string buys me enough time to reposition for the next part.
Once it's in the mix, unless it's really jarring or weird, no one will notice the open string, ever, especially when it's used for a note here and there.
Plus I play with fretwraps (string mutes) and when I know I'm coming to a section where there are a lot of open notes (some Dream Theater stuff, for example), I'll move it into position to help kill unwanted overtones. Works perfectly.
Along with the effects of string width and fretting versus open and other factors, pickup tone varies per string, based on string length, tuning and pickup location.
Check out this article:
Response Effects of Guitar Pickup Position and Width
Bottom line is that each string is essentially its own instrument with a characteristic sequence of nulls (and roll off due to pickup width) based on the string length, tuning and pickup location.
Otto
Check out this article:
Response Effects of Guitar Pickup Position and Width
Bottom line is that each string is essentially its own instrument with a characteristic sequence of nulls (and roll off due to pickup width) based on the string length, tuning and pickup location.
Otto
I confess that it is kinda fun to play open string walking in some songs. It's a little unnerving when you play a fiver all the time and you fret the E and then play the same songs on a four string. The hand training is different. You suddenly find yourself NOT fretting what you are used to fretting.
If it sounds better open, I play open.
If it sounds better closed, I play closed.
If I have to choose one or the other, it is due to impossible fingerings.
If it sounds better closed, I play closed.
If I have to choose one or the other, it is due to impossible fingerings.
It was a beautiful song, beautifully named...
No, wait, scratch that last part.
- Oct 18, 2012
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Recently I've been learning bass tunes by the late, great James Jamerson and he uses open notes/phrasing a lot. If I am not mistaken I do believe I read that The Funk Brothers tried to make the music uncomplicated and using open notes was part of that strategy.
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Exactly. And that's where the ease of fingering comes in. But sometimes I may choose a more difficult fingering, if it makes a big difference to the sound.
I know upright players do this all the time. Using open strings when walking because it makes it so much easier to get around a neck of that size when playing fast songs!
