Open strings or not?

[dvh]

Now that I've started on upright I'm seeing the obvious benefits of playing open strings:

- less stretching
- intonation reference
- playing faster on upright (goes along with point one)

On electric bass I hardly ever played open strings but I'm changing that also with the upright influence.

 

[LeoFromPortland]

I was originally taught not to use open strings. But I was not playing for quite a while, got back into it in the past year, and when rehearsing for a gig, found places where open strings really made sense. I have switched to using flats of late. But still, I had the same argument re: not being able to control the tone, but I guess I just try and practice my tone with the open strings. Some of what I've seen on here has helped with some of this too.
I started my musical life on classical piano, which probably made me a bit too conservative at times when it comes to technique. I find the varying perspectives on here refreshing and most helpful.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Coming in late --- I decided to stay with fretted notes, because if I have to decide open or fretted the song has gone off and left me. So I decided long ago to go with fretted. No other reason than that. Sound had nothing to do with my decision.

 

[ThudThudThud]

+1 on Jamerson. His transition from DB to Electric took his use of open strings over.
Also, I know there are a lot of Tool fans here on TB, and Justin uses open strings all the time.
Sting is another player who embraces the open string.

 

[geddeeee]

Using open strings is all about tone and timbre.

A fretted low 'A' sounds different in tone from the open 'A'. I will use open strings if it gives me a clangy, ringing tone.
Just another tool in the toolbox of tricks....

 

[natobasso]

Sounds like a person who's digging deep and investigating things (the person who asked you that question).

Personally I don't use open strings much so I can transpose any song to any key, but when it counds I drop those sub bass bombs with my hipshot extender key (down to D) and lower if I have a 5-string (dang I miss having a 5-string!).

Don't sweat it, you're on your path.

 

[tlc1976]

On a fretted bass I use them a lot, gives my fretting fingers a break.

On a fretless bass I usually avoid them because they give a considerably different sound. Unless it's part of the song where I am actually looking for that sound.

 

[davidhilton]

Don't let anyone else tell you how to play!

I use a mix of open and fretted or "closed" fingerings. The nice thing about using closed fingerings like you do is that they are intuitive and easy to move around the fretboard. It is a very natural and comfortable way to play the instrument.

Obviously, you need to use open strings sometimes if you want to play songs in E.

"Don't let anyone else tell you how to play!" .... Unless you're playing completely wrong! hahahaha

 

[electracoyote]

I concur with comments that point out the occasional obvious tonal differences between open and fretted notes, and to avoid an open string when it results in an awkward tonal disparity.

Otherwise, I couldn't care less if the note comes from an open or a fretted string, as long as it's the correct note.

 

[NullPorch]

I used to hardly ever play open strings because I would play scale patterns following learning the modes. These were easiest to manage and go through changes and progressions with if I always rooted on a fretted note on my bottom string and played up from there. However, I've since expanded out to play across pretty much the whole fretboard (some really wide interval jumps) and so for expediency's sake I've learned to drop in open notes where they fit. It can really add to your playing when you can write lines that incorporate fretted notes that aren't just the octave of the open string with dropping to the string being played open in such a way it feels natural yet interesting.

 

[mambo4]

On electric bass I hardly ever played open strings but I'm changing that also with the upright influence.

When I think back , I see how getting my URB also influenced me in a similar way.

 

[Chicory Blue]

I used to make a fierce effort to avoid open strings just so I wouldn't accidentally make a habit of using them in a pattern I might want to play in multiple keys. As a bassist I'm proud of my instrument's ability to transpose with zero effort- it gives me a little ego boost when someone asks what keys I'm comfortable in and I can just smile at them.

Now I'm not so afraid of them, but they're still unfamiliar when they're not my root or my fifth. Gotta work on that.

--^@

 

[Schlyder]

Open strings are your friends ... and to not use them is limiting to your technique. Half position is the first position you learn as a beginner, and should be the first position you master on the fingerboard. Advocating not to use open strings is totally wrong headed.

 

[Badwater]

I like to play open strings. On guitar it's essential for Blues, and Travis style, as well as slide. On Bass, I use it if the open note fits with the bass line. And sometimes that fat fretted E string sounds much fuller than plying a open A. I always try to adapt to the open notes before trying to play in the box farther up the neck. But again, it all depends on how that open note sound in the song.