Open strings or not?

[keaau bass]

If your playing a fretless ,open strings give your ear a reference to listen to the correct note.

 

[bassandbeyond]

Another great thing about open strings is that you can use them to make large interval jumps quickly. I like those kind of surprises sometimes!

 

[Bob the bassist]

I use open strings wherever I can to allow my fingers to be playing other notes either simultaneously or in quick succession. I find writing with open strings in mind enables me to play more involved lines.

 

[cowsgomoo]

it's interesting how your conceptualising of the fingeboard adapts to overcome deficiencies of a bass..

eg I hardly ever play open D's unless I specifically need to 'bounce' off that open D... the D on the 'A' string (here we go... a pedant like onlyclave will say 'there's more than one D on the A string) invariably sounds better to me... wheras any time I need a strong 'A' the open A usually gets chosen

 

[funkalicious101]

Usually only when I use it as a drone or when it is completely necessary.

I like the control I have over fretted notes.

 

[Bob the bassist]

...I like the control I have over fretted notes.

Good point! I think the lack of control I get from using lots of open strings probably contributes to the way I phrase things. . . never really thunk about it before.

 

[kencasino]

Thanks guys for all the replies. I actually sat down and started practiced using some opens on the songs that I play near the nut.

I also agree that the use of an open now and then on the fretless, gives you a reference to where you are. (I do not look at the fingerboard or dots on the fretless, only to start the song. It is surprising how one can train the ear to keep in tune.

SInce I have been playing the fretless, I also notice that if I just start playing a riff by myself, I can tell that it is not on a key!
What a breakthrough for me!!!

 

[Jeb]

Open strings sound very nice on recordings.

 

[mambo4]

As a beginner, I used open strings a lot. As I progressed I stuck to closed scale shapes since they are so movable it made "learning" all the keys easier.

After getting into Jamerson, I started really exploring the lower frets. I went back to using open strings a lot more. I kind of like seeing how each key feels unique under my left hand, it really underscores that I'm 'thinking' in a particular key.

I like to drop low open strings a lot in the keys/chords E A D G when I'm fretting the 5th fret and up..nice contrast to the tone of higher frets.

also , I use Jamerson's frequent motif of throwing in a very muted open string note as a percussive anticipation or off beat, regardless of what key i'm in.

 

[BullHorn]

I mostly use the open E when I need a long low note, but otherwise, I usually use the 5th fret of the next string instead.

 

[Bruce Lindfield]

I think when I was using 6 and 5 string basses with fairly bright strings and eletronics, then I tended to avoid open strings or used my right hand thumb to mute the sympathetic ringing.

But as I have played Jazz more and got into Double Bass I find that a lot of great bass lines make extensive use of open strings - so the more transcribing you do, the more you realise how the 'greats' used open strings hugely!

In fact I would say that some of the written bass lines I have been given to play as part of Jazz tunes are virtually impossible unless you use open strings - so otherwise there are huge leaps and impossible stretches.

But use the open strings and the lines start to make sense and are easier to play without fatigue.

 

[Winterpegbass]

I'm also with the crowd here who switched to using more open strings after learning James Jamerson lines. He transfered that way of playing from his upright bass playing. I believe that Jaco listed him as an influence as well.

Using open strings more has helped me to develop efficient string muting skills and has improved my tone and overall playing.

I would suggest buying the "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" book/cds as it has great transcriptions of Jamerson lines with the use of open strings. You have to be able to read music as it does not have tab.

 

[lomo]

When I started playing I read a Phil Lesh quote I live by: "Don't play the open strings unless you mean it". A concise agreement with Doc Bop's answer, methinks.

 

[Sonicfrog]

I'm also self taught, and have found myself favouring closed notes. It wasn't a conscious decision. The closed notes just sounded better. Plus I love slidy notes, as played, for example, by two o my fave players, Guy Pratt and Richard Page. Ultimate slider, Pino Palidino - I just can't figure that guy out he's sooo good! Anyway, over the last couple of years I have been working on using more open notes. It does give you freedom to get around on the neck that you don't when closed.

 

[iplaybassguitar]

in phil lesh's book, he says that the best single piece of bass advice he got was "never play an open string unless you really have to."

i dont see the logic behind this.

playing open strings makes sense, its obviously a lot easier to do than fretting the same note, and allows you time to change positions. also, open strings sound different than fretted notes, and are very good for adding some balls to your bassline.

 

[iplaybassguitar]

When I started playing I read a Phil Lesh quote I live by: "Don't play the open strings unless you mean it". A concise agreement with Doc Bop's answer, methinks.

i dont think your answer is that concise in its agreement with what docbop said, for the record.

 

[santucci218]

i dont see any reason why somebody shouldnt use open strings.

 

[onlyclave]

in phil lesh's book, he says that the best single piece of bass advice he got was "never play an open string unless you really have to."

i dont see the logic behind this.

playing open strings makes sense, its obviously a lot easier to do than fretting the same note, and allows you time to change positions. also, open strings sound different than fretted notes, and are very good for adding some balls to your bassline.

Playing a stopped note (let's say A on the E string) has an attack and tone consistent with the Bb one fret higher. The open A is more harmonically rich and sounds out of place. This can make the bass jump out of an otherwise nice blend when it plays E A D or G. Also, the stopped note shortens the string and allows that note to speak faster because of the reduced string length. And, as an added bonus, if you happen to be out of tune you have better luck wrestling around a stopped note than an out of tune open one.

I prefer to play the stopped notes myself for those reasons I just gave. It helps me to connect the notes and be more musical.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Another great thing about open strings is that you can use them to make large interval jumps quickly. I like those kind of surprises sometimes!

+1 One of the good reasons - allows you to move or change position to catch some notes or complete a riff.

I think you have to play all of the instrument - choosing open versus closed it a matter of economy and the sound you want - but seriouly who does not pound on the open E???

 

[StyleOverShow]

If your playing a fretless ,open strings give your ear a reference to listen to the correct note.

That's why I use them!!!

They are best for pedal tones too.